Son Of Former Michigan Coach Hired As Co-Defensive Coordinator By Ohio State 

Son Of Former Michigan Coach Hired As Co-Defensive Coordinator By Ohio State

Florida State’s rival in Gainesville has made a few changes to its coaching staff this offseason. Head coach Billy Napier secured his status in 2024 and he’s looking to continue building the Gators around potential future star quarterback DJ Lagway.

Florida will even be bringing on the son of a former FSU assistant coach. According to 247Sport’s Matt Zenitz, the Gators have hired Jacksonville State defensive coordinator Vinnie Sunseri as their co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach. The Gamecocks just officially introduced Sunseri as a member of head coach Charles Kelly’s staff earlier this month but he’s already moving to a new job.

Philadelphia’s offense was a top-10 scoring unit once again this season. The Eagles’ biggest improvement came in the running game as Philadelphia was the NFL’s no. 2-ranked rushing offense in 2024.

The difference maker in the ground game was free agent acquisition Saquon Barkley.

The former New York Giants running back became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards or more in the regular season. Barkley had led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards in 16 regular season games this season.

The Giants opted not to re-sign or place the franchise tag on Barkley before the 2024 season. Football fans got a view into the decision-making process in New York thanks to the “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” show on Max. That process included a conversation that, with the benefit of hindsight, did not age well between Giants general manager Joe Schoen and Giants owner John Mara.

Giants owner John Mara on Saquon Barkley going to Philadelphia

The Giants’ decision not to re-sign Barkley was the main storyline of episode three of the show. It culminated with a conversation between Schoen and Mara, along with other Giants front office employees.

“What’s the latest, just on the Saquon thing?” Mara asked Schoen.

“I just got a text that Chicago’s driving the price up and [Philadelphia]’s out,” Schoen answered. “I don’t know if that’s true or not… I’ll make a couple calls, I don’t even know if that’s going to happen.”

“I’m going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” Mara said. “As I’ve told you. I’m just being honest. I haven’t been around enough players but he’s the most popular player we have by far.”

As it turned out, Philadelphia was not out. The Bears ended up signing former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift and Barkley made his way to Philadelphia.

Schoen was later seen on the show speaking on the phone with Ed Berry, Barkley’s agent. Berry seemed to say some contract specifics for what Barkley was being offered and Schoen firmly said “we’re out,” taking the Giants out of the running to re-sign him.

“Is [the team he’s signing with] in the division?” Schoen asked Berry. “I’m trying to prepare myself mentally for what’s going to happen.”

Saquon Barkley responds to Mara comments

Barkley has stated publicly that the Giants never made an official offer to him in the offseason.

The Giants were told a three-year deal at $12.5 million per year and at least $25 million guaranteed could get a deal done. The Eagles exceeded those numbers, ultimately giving Barkley a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million in guaranteed money.

Barkley later poked fun at Mara’s comments about having trouble sleeping with in an advertisement for Unisom, a sleep aid.

Mara was asked about the advertisement days later and joked that he was “upset” by it. He told Barkley that he should’ve been featured in it.

“I told him I was upset with him based on our relationship of so many years,” Mara said. “He said, ‘what do you mean?’ I said the least you could’ve done is asked me to be in the commercial with you. I could’ve been tossing and turning…

There is an acting gene in our family, it’s not just my nieces.”

Mara was referring to his