Bayside softball falls in regional quarterfinals, Melbourne moves on

PALM BAY — Bayside, fresh off capturing the district championship last week, returned home to host Sebastian River on Thursday, May 7, in the Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

The two sides met for the second time in a week after the Bears won at Sebastian River in extras to earn the right to host the regional quarterfinal as the No. 6 seed.

Bayside missed an early opportunity at a big inning, opening the door for Sebastian River to score the final 4 runs of the game to defeat Bayside 5-1.

“We knew it was going to be tough. The last game we played was against them. Both games this year went eight innings,” Bayside head coach Brandon Sherrill said. “They made more plays than we did. That’s the bottom line. Proud of our girls. Just fell short.”

The Sharks scored in the top of the first inning, but Bayside answered on an RBI single by freshman Bella Tenta. Bayside loaded the bases with nobody out, but Sebastian River pitcher Gabrielle Espich limited the damage to one after a force out at home plate, a strikeout and a ground out.

Espich went on to retire 13 straight Bear hitters. She allowed two singles in the fifth, but both runners were thrown out on a double play.

“That broke us a little bit because bases loaded, nobody out and we can only get one. That was tough,” Sherrill said. “Then we go into the second inning after that, a couple mistakes, a couple seeing-eye singles and opens the game up a little bit.”

Sebastian River broke the tie with 3 runs in the second inning against Bayside pitcher Emily Lowe. Sharks sophomore Payge Hunter hit an RBI single to make it 2-1. After an intentional walk with 2 outs, junior Alexa Pittman came up with the clutch 2-run single to make it 4-1.

Lowe allowed a 2-out solo home run to freshman Kendra Powers in the fifth in her final batter faced. The junior pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, two earned, on seven hits.

“She (Lowe) threw well. The defense kind of had some snafus,” Sherrill said. “They didn’t. They only hit a couple balls hard on her. They just had the timely hits that we did not have.”

Bayside entered the postseason on a 4-game losing streak. However, the young Bears squad turned things around in the district tournament with 3 wins in 4 days to earn a spot in the state playoffs.

“It’s huge. Obviously, we had a lot of adversity,” Sherrill said. “We just didn’t play well when we needed to, but we were able to kind of pick up the missing pieces. We played well against Westwood and then Legacy, who was another really good team. We were playing good ball. Just not (Thursday).”

Bayside ends the season with a 14-10 record. The nucleus of the roster returns next season with only two seniors graduating.

“There’s a lot of ups and downs. Our youth kind of showed at times,” Sherrill said. “Overall, I’m proud of the girls. They gave everything they had and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Sebastian River(16-6) 130 010 0 – 5 9 0

Bayside(14-10) 100 000 0 – 1 5 1

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Class 5A, Region 4

No. 1 Pembroke Pines Charter 10, No. 8 Heritage 0

The Panthers mustered 1 hit and struck out 14 times against PPC pitcher Destiney Ortega. PPC scored 3 runs in the first inning and 7 runs in the third inning.

Heritage completes the season with a 5-14 record.

Heritage(5-14) 000 00 – 0 1 2

Pembroke Pines Charter(19-8) 307 0X – 10 11 0

Class 6A, Region 2

No. 2 Melbourne 2, No. 7 Oviedo 0

Melbourne freshman Addison Balavender hurled a 1-hit shutout, striking out 14 Oviedo hitters.

The Bulldogs scored 1 run in the first and third innings to provide Balavender enough run support. Junior Madison Rider scored on a double play in the first and junior Layna Ayala singled home Rider in the third.

Melbourne advances to the regional semifinals to host No. 3 Bloomingdale on Tuesday.

Oviedo (9-14)000 000 0 – 0 1 2

Melbourne (26-1)101 000 X – 2 4 0

No. 3 Bloomingdale 9, No. 6 Viera 0

Bloomingdale threw a combined 3-hit shutout with the Bulls scoring 2 runs in the first, 5 runs in the third and 2 runs in the fourth.

Viera ends the season with a 14-12 record.

Viera(14-12) 000 000 0 – 0 3 1

Bloomingdale(19-8) 205 200 X – 9 13 1

This article originally appeared on Florida Today:Bayside softball falls in regional quarterfinals, Melbourne advances

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May 08, 2026

Bayside softball falls in regional quarterfinals, Melbourne moves on

PALM BAY — Bayside, fresh off capturing the district championship last week, returned home to host Sebastian River on Thursday, May 7, ...

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Green Bay-area high school athletes make college plans official on signing day

Jordan Escobar-Goral believed after theWIAA state track and field meet last yearthat a collegiate career might be possible.

The Green Bay Preble senior was part of a talented 3,200-meter relay team that finished runner-up in Division 1, just 0.42 seconds behind state champion Mequon Homestead.

Escobar-Goral posted a 1-minute, 53-second split in the event that day.

“That’s where it really started for me, I started taking it a lot more seriously,” he said.

Whatever he did, it worked.

Escobar-Goral signed a letter of intent during spring signing day May 6 to compete at NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

UWM started to speak with Escobar-Goral in the winter, and while a few other schools were interested, nobody provided the opportunity the Panthers did.

When the team extended him an offer last month, it only took about a week to accept even without taking an official visit to the campus.

“It obviously means a whole lot to me,” said Escobar-Goral, who also is a talented forward in soccer and was a second-team all-conference pick in the Fox River Classic as a senior in 2025. “Especially just with how much help financially I am getting from this and getting to do what I love, running track. It just means the world to me.”

His recruitment wasn’t overwhelming from a time standpoint, but it was stressful.

There were days when he wasn’t sure which coach would make an offer or if one would even be presented.

That feeling lingered until a few weeks ago when UWM came calling.

Escobar-Goral can now focus on the final month of his prep career.

Along with his work in relays, he competes in the 400- and 800-meter dashes.

Escobar-Goral set Preble’s indoor record in the 400 with a time of 51.33 in March and is coming off a junior campaign in which he won a sectional championship in the 800.

That 800 memory still stings a bit.

He was one of 25 runners in the event at state last season, but only 24 of them placed.

Escobar-Goral was disqualified because of a false start. He saw a runner to his left slightly flinch, causing him to completely flinch.

The rest was unfortunate history.

“Immediately after, I broke down,” Escobar-Goral said. “I didn’t really want to believe that it happened like that. But right when I walked off the track and got done watching the race from the infield, I just put it in my head like, tomorrow, I have to use this as motivation. Just use it for motivation in the 4x800.”

Nobody will ever know, but Escobar-Goral believes he could have earned a podium finish.

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He still has an opportunity for a better ending if he can qualify for state again.

With his college future solidified, it would be the perfect way to go out.

“I’m just taking it one step at a time, like I did last year,” Escobar-Goral said. “Not worrying about times as much, just worrying about competing and really just waiting for that time where I can drop a time at state and get redemption from last year.”

Escobar-Goral was one of several local athletes who will compete at the DI, DII or junior college level and signed letters of intent this week.

More from Green Bay Preble

Preble goaltender Landin Gauthier will play soccer at Bryant & Stratton, a National Junior College Athletic Association program in Wauwatosa.

Gauthier helped lead the Hornets to aD1 state runner-up finish in 2024, including making six saves in a 2-1 double overtime upsetagainst No. 1 seed Milwaukee Marquettein a semifinal.

“Landin was a true goalkeeper,”Preble coach Chris Beckersaid. “He had no fear in stopping any ball that came his way. He is a hard worker and is a good teammate.”

Ashwaubenon

Moxon Kernz will play baseball at Western Technical College, an NJCAA school in La Crosse.

The infielder is hitting .293 with nine RBI, 10 runs scored and three stolen bases this season.

Kernz will join a Cavaliers team that featured another local product this season in Aiden Hoffmann, a 2024 Preble graduate.

Bay Port

Griffin Schilzwill compete in swimming at Valparaiso University, a DI school in Indiana. The senior competed in four events at the D1 state meet in February.

He finished fifth in the 500-yard freestyle and 10th in the 200 free. Schilz was part of a 400 freestyle relay team that finished sixth and a 200 free relay team that placed 12th.

Madison Paulsen, the team captain of the cheer team and a four-year varsity member for the Pirates, will join the University of Minnesota.

Minnesota is credited with inventing organized cheerleading. It started during a football game in November 1898 after student Johnny Campbell came out of the stands and led a chant.

“I am so grateful to my friends and family for their constant support, and to my coaches and teammates for pushing me to become the best version of myself,” Paulsen wrote after committing to the Gophers. “Thank you to the Minnesota coaching staff for giving me this incredible opportunity to be part of such an amazing program.”

Green Bay Notre Dame

Destiny Webster will play basketball at Grand Valley State (Michigan), which went 36-1 this season and won the DII national championship for the second straight year.

The 5-foot-8 guard was one of thearea’s best playersthe past two seasons.

She was a first-team all-conference selection in the FRCC in 2025-26 after helping lead theTritons to the D1 state tournamentfor the first time after their previous trips came in D2.

Webster averaged 11.3 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 52.7%.

She will join Notre Dame teammateKaia Waldropat GVS.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette:Green Bay-area high school athletes ink college plans on signing day

byAdministrator

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May 07, 2026

Green Bay-area high school athletes make college plans official on signing day

Jordan Escobar-Goral believed after theWIAA state track and field meet last yearthat a collegiate career might be possible. The Gr...

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Mount Everest season opens late, with climbers undeterred by huge ice block and high travel costs

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An unstable ice block dangerously hanging over the key trail onMount Everest, high travel costs and increased permit fees haven't deterred hundreds of climbers from attempting to scale the world's highest mountain.

Nepal Everest

Around 410 climbers and an equal number of their Nepali climbing guides are at the base camp gearing up for the ascent to the nearly 8,850-meter-high (around 29,000-foot-high) peak this month during the much anticipated window of good weather on the mountain.

Climbers began gathering last month at the base camp, which is at an altitude of 5,300 meters (17,340 feet). But for more than two weeks, amassive and unstable block of ice, or serac, stalled them from moving further up the peak.

“Icefall doctors,” the elite guides deployed by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, or SPCC, to lay the yearly climbing route by setting ropes and securing aluminum ladders over crevasses, usually finish the task by mid-April.

But not this year.

The team opened the Icefall route only on April 29 but also issued a warning: “The serac has multiple cracks and may collapse at any time. SPCC strongly urges all expedition operators and climbers to exercise extreme caution.”

The serac was likely to remain, and the new trail dug by the the team passes below the serac.

The serac is part of theKhumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and huge overhanging ice that can be as big as 10-story buildings. It's considered one of the most difficult and trickiest sections of the climb to the peak.

Climbers, their guides and expedition outfitters are both eager and cautious about the situation on the mountain.

Renowned mountain guideLukas Furtenbach, who has 40 international climbers, 11 guides and 90 Sherpas on Mount Everest, said that he was worried.

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“Anyone who says they’re not concerned is either inexperienced or not paying attention,” Furtenbach said from the base camp. “The serac is a real, objective hazard.”

He said that the the route was more complex and exposed than last year in one section.

“The Icefall is constantly changing, but right now it’s not just more broken — it’s also forced into a line that passes under unstable features,” he said.

This year, the team is reducing loads, minimizing exposure time, carefully timing movements through the Icefall, and relying on highly experienced Sherpa and guides for risk assessment.

Other expedition operators are also cautioning their members about the risks and closely monitoring the situation.

“If you go in the morning, it might be safer because the ice is frozen, but in the afternoon it becomes dangerous as weather gets warmer, with the risk of ice melting and falling,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa of the Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking. “It is very necessary to be cautious this year.”

A falling serac triggered an avalanche over the Khumbu Icefall in 2014 thatkilled 16 Nepali guides and workers.

There have been rising concern over the fast melting of the glaciers because of global warming and climate change. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres flew to a mountain in Nepal in 2023 andwarned of the devastating levelof melting glaciers in the Himalayan mountains.

According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, there are a good number of climbers on Mount Everest this season, despite the Iran war and increased travel costs. The number of climbers from Western countries like U.S. and Europe has decreased, but Asian climbers have increased.

Mount Everest, which straddles along the Nepal-China border, can be climbed from both sides. China, however, has closed its route this year, leaving all climbers to make their attempt from Nepal on the south side of the peak.

Thousands of people have climbed the peak since it was first scaled onMay 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

byAdministrator

in

May 07, 2026

Mount Everest season opens late, with climbers undeterred by huge ice block and high travel costs

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An unstable ice block dangerously hanging over the key trail onMount Everest, high travel costs and increased p...

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Eagles' 53-man roster projection following the rookie minicamp

ThePhiladelphia Eagleshave begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft picksand about 10 undrafted free agents after the record-setting weekend. Philadelphia talked about swinging the pendulum towards the offense, and the Eagles finished Saturday with five offensive players,with their first five picks going to offensive players who'll play key roles in the future. Of the five, onlyMakai LemonandEli Stowersappear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.

With the rookie minicamp and OTAs fast approaching, here is our first attempt at predicting the 53-man roster for the 2026 regular season.

Quarterback: 3

#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee -- Trade this summer #16 Andy Dalton

#10 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Jalen Hurts has begun hiswork with Sean Mannion,and the quarterback will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, whilethe Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolinato acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Former North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton joins the roster, and all four players could make the 53-man cuts.

Running back: 4

#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce

Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.

Wide receiver: 6

#6 DeVonta Smith

#9 Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal#0 Hollywood Brown#89 Johnny Wilson

#19 Elijah Moore -signed March 24

#13 Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade

DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season, but the duo will be split up at some point after June 1. Looking to add more to the offense, the Eagles traded up to secure Makai Lemon. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.

Tight end: 3

#88 Dallas Goedert

#87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt#83 Johnny Mundt

Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Philadelphia drafted his successor, landing Eli Stowers in the second round. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role.

Offensive line: 9

LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson

#72 Markel Bell, T, Miami

#76 Micah Morris, G, Georgia

#74 Fred Johnson, #61 Willie Lampkin

The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach.The Vikings didn't retain Kuperafter four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season,versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.

Defensive line: 5

#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young

Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.

Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.

Edge rusher: 5

Jonathan Greenard

#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie

#93 Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria-- International Pathway

#52 Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.

Linebacker: 5

#53 Zack Baun#30 Jihaad Campbell#54 Jeremiah Trotter Jr.#42 Smael Mondon Jr.

#45 Chandler Martin

Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.

Cornerback: 6

# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#22 Mac McWilliams

After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded afterlanding Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolenon a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.

The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season.According to NBC Sports Philadelphiaand Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas theSeahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.

Safety: 4

#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps

#21 Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

The Eagles traded Sydney Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.

Specialists: 3

Kicker: #4 Jake ElliottPunter: #10 Braden MannLong snapper: #37 Rocco Underwood

Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles signed an undrafted free agent long snapper, Rocco Underwood, out of Florida.

The Philadelphia Eagles have begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft picksand about 10 undrafted free agents after the record-setting weekend. Philadelphia talked about swinging the pendulum towards the offense, and the Eagles finished Saturday with five offensive players,with their first five picks going to offensive players who'll play key roles in the future. Of the five, onlyMakai LemonandEli Stowersappear set for Day 1 roles. Markel Bell, Micah Morris, and others may not seed the field until 2027 at the earliest. On defense, the Eagles added Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski and New Mexico pass rusher Keyshawn James-Newby, with an intriguing International Pathway Program participant, Uar Bernard, sandwiched in between.

With the rookie minicamp and OTAs fast approaching, here's an updated look at the Eagles' 90-man roster.

90-man roster following the NFL Draft

Quarterback: 4

#1 Jalen Hurts#14 Tanner McKee#16 Andy Dalton

#10 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Jalen Hurts has begun hiswork with Sean Mannion,and the quarterback will benefit from having the former quarterback, along with Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator) and another former quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, on staff as senior assistants. Tanner McKee returns, whilethe Eagles traded a 7th-round pick to Carolinato acquire veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Former North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton joins the roster, and all four players could make the 53-man cuts.

Running back: 5

#26 Saquon Barkley#8 Tank Bigsby#28 Will Shipley#39 Dameon Pierce#34 Carson Steele

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#36 Cameron Latu (FB/TE)

Barkley played in 16 games (16 starts), running for 1,140 yards on 280 carries (4.1 avg.) with 7 TDs, adding 273 receiving yards on 37 catches (7.4 avg.) With two touchdowns, he became the first Eagle since LeSean McCoy in 2013-14 to post back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons. A key trade acquisition, the hard-running Bigsby participated in 16 contests (one start) with the Eagles, recording 356 rushing yards on 63 carries (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. Will Shipley will try to regain his momentum, while the Eagles added former Texans running back Dameon Pierce for more competition.

Wide receiver: 11

#11 A.J. Brown#6 DeVonta Smith

#9 Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal#0 Hollywood Brown#80 Darius Cooper#89 Johnny Wilson#86 Quez Watkins#82 Danny Gray

#18 Britain Covey

#19 Elijah Moore -signed March 24

#13 Dontayvion Wicks-- Acquired via trade

DeVonta Smith (1,008) and A.J. Brown (1,003) are the only Eagles WR duo to produce 1,000+ receiving yards each in the same season, but the duo will be split up at some point after June 1. Looking to add more to the offense, the Eagles traded up to secure Makai Lemon. The explosive Hollywood Brown had 49 catches for 587 yards and 5 TDs last season. Darius Cooper is the player most impacted by Brown joining the roster. At the same time, Johnny Wilson will look to regain his training camp form from 2025, before he suffered a significant knee injury. This depth chart could drastically change around June 1. The addition of Dontayvion Wicks via trade makes things even more interesting.

Tight end: 8

#88 Dallas Goedert

#87 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt#83 Johnny Mundt#81 Grant Calcaterra#87 Stone Smartt#84 E.J. Jenkins

#36 Cameron Latu

#45 Dae'Quan Wright

Dallas Goedert is back on a one-year deal. Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Philadelphia drafted his successor, landing Eli Stowers in the second round. A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra played in 62 games with 22 starts. Mundt will play the third tight end, run-blocking role. Cameron Latu will assume the role of fullback. In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.

Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.

Offensive line: 17

LT: #68 Jordan MailataLG: #69 Landon DickersonC: #51 Cam JurgensRG: #56 Tyler SteenRT: #65 Lane Johnson

#72 Markel Bell, T, Miami

#76 Micah Morris, G, Georgia

#74 Fred Johnson, #78 Myles Hinton, #73 Cameron Williams, #67 John Ojukwu, #66 Drew Kendall, #61 Willie Lampkin, #75 Jake Majors, #63 Hollin Pierce, #64 Jaeden Roberts, #67 John Ojukwu

The Eagles' offensive line suffered multiple injuries in 2025 but will look to rebound under the new offensive line coach. The Eagles have hired Chris Kuper as offensive line coach.The Vikings didn't retain Kuperafter four years in the same position. During Kuper's tenure, Minnesota ranked 32nd in pressure rate allowed on the interior in three of the last four seasons, including 2025, a ranking that led to his dismissal. Landon Dickerson was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards. Jordan Mailata didn't replicate his elite 2024 campaign, but he was still Philadelphia's best offensive lineman. His 83.8 PFF overall grade ranked seventh among all offensive tackles. Lane Johnson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer with a resume that includes six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro nods, and a pair of Super Bowl wins. Johnson's value is clear: the Eagles were 8-2 with him in the lineup this season,versus 3-4 without him. During his tenure in Philadelphia, the team's record is 94-41-1 when he plays and 15-27 when he doesn't.

Defensive line: 6

#98 Jalen Carter#90 Jordan Davis#97 Moro Ojomo#95 Ty Robinson#94 Byron Young#96 Gabe Hall

Philadelphia has an elite trio with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo, with Byron Young and Ty Robinson as capable backups. Despite two badly injured shoulders, Carter was the Eagles' lone Pro Bowl starter. In 12 games this season, he had 33 tackles, 41 QB pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and three sacks. Ojomo's 71.0 PFF grade was the 80th best in the NFL last season, but he's much improved, and Ojomo saw his snap count increase to 60 percent in his third year. He started nine games for the Eagles this season and played in all 17, finishing second on the team in sacks.

Ojomo will enter the final year of his deal with a $3,624,446 cap hit. Jordan Davis just signed a three-year, $78 million deal.

Edge rusher: 10

Jonathan Greenard

#58 Jalyx Hunt#3 Nolan Smith#17 Arnold Ebiketie

#93 Uar Bernard, DT, Nigeria

#52 Joe Tryon-Shoyinka#43 Jose Ramirez

#77 Ta'Quon Graham

#50 Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico

#46 Joshua Weru UDFA

Ebiketie joins Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as athletic, hybrid pass rushers who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. The Eagles could still add Brandon Graham to this group. A solid run defender and explosive pass rusher, Smith missed seven games in 2025, logging 31 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble, 33 QB pressures, 24 QB hurries, and a 67.7 PFF grade in 12 games. The 5th-year option, as it currently stands, is $14 million for 2027. Hunt became the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks (6.5) and INTs (3) in the same season. He is the second Eagle to have 6.0+ sacks and 3.0+ INTs in a season, joining Seth Joyner (1991-92). Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles. Tryon-Shoyinka has never produced more than 5.0 sacks in a single season and logged only 2.0 in 2024. The former Washington first-round pick only played 142 snaps in 2025.

Linebacker: 7

#53 Zack Baun#30 Jihaad Campbell#54 Jeremiah Trotter Jr.#42 Smael Mondon Jr.#59 Chance Campbell

#45 Chandler Martin

#47 Deontae Lawson

Last spring, the Eagles traded up a spot in the draft to pick Jihaad Campbell, whose playing time slowed when Dean returned to the lineup. Dean has departed, and Campbell will miss the off-season due to shoulder surgery. Linebacker depth is one of the strengths for the Eagles, and they'll have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. looking for breakout moments. Chance Campbell is on the roster, and the Eagles just added former Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin on a two-year deal.

Cornerback: 10

# 27 Quinyon Mitchell#33 Cooper DeJean#2 Riq Woolen#7 Kelee Ringo#23 Jakorian Bennett#32 Jonathan Jones#22 Mac McWilliams#41 Tariq Castro-Fields

#34 Kapena Gushiken#38 Ambry Thomas

After losing Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, and Nakobe Dean, the strength of this defense will be at cornerback. Philadelphia has gone from uncertainty at the position to being absolutely loaded afterlanding Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolenon a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. The move allows Cooper DeJean to remain a versatile weapon. At the same time, Michael Carter II could transition to safety, which allows the Birds to keep Jakorian Bennett and Kelee Ringo in reserve roles.

The Eagles' revamped defense will give some of the top passing offenses a run for their money, matching up with outside pass catchers and in the slot. Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season.According to NBC Sports Philadelphiaand Sharp Football, the Eagles used man coverage on 24.5% of their snaps last season. That ranked 12th in the NFL, whereas the Seahawks' man usage (15.2%) ranked 27th.

Safety: 9

#24 Drew Mukuba#35 Michael Carter II#29 Marcus Epps#48 J.T. Gray#31 Andre' Sam#49 Brandon Johnson

#21 Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech

#37 Tucker Large

#36 Maximus Pulley

Before last Friday, Philadelphia had Mukuba, Sydney Brown, Andre Sam, and Brandon Johnson on the roster. On Friday afternoon, the Eagles traded Brown to Atlanta and quickly re-signed Marcus Epps and added J.T. Gray. Mukuba is a guaranteed starter in Year 2, despite returning from a season-ending injury as a rookie. The second safety spot is up for grabs after Reed Blankenship's departure. Epps is a solid contributor, but he's aging and not a dominant game-changer. Gray is a special teams standout, while Sam and Johnson are back after spending 2025 on the practice squad.

Specialists: 3

Kicker: #4 Jake ElliottPunter: #10 Braden MannLong snapper: #37 Rocco Underwood

Mann signed a four-year contract to return to the Eagles, bringing back one of the best punters in the NFL. Elliott reworked his contract, and the team guaranteed his 2026 salary, but he could see competition. The Eagles signed an undrafted free agent long snapper, Rocco Underwood, out of Florida.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire:Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster prediction

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May 05, 2026

Eagles' 53-man roster projection following the rookie minicamp

ThePhiladelphia Eagleshave begun week three of their nine-week offseason workout program, and they'll be joined byeight NFL draft p...

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Surprise! Rihanna arrives at the Met Gala fashionably late with A$AP Rocky

Rihannaknew theMet Galawouldn't be complete without a grand entrance from her.

The singer made a surprise appearance at the May 4 event, with the first photos from the night showing her leaving New York City's Carlyle Hotel in a metallic gown that covered her neck to the tops of her feet.

And just like last year,she arrived fashionably late, strolling in well after it seemed like co-chairBeyoncé shut down the carpetwith husbandJay-Zand daughterBlue Ivy.

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Rihanna's partner, A$AP Rocky, had been an anticipated guest; heco-chaired the 2025 installment.

At last year's Met Gala, Rihanna – no stranger to dramatic reveals –showed off her baby bump, confirming she was pregnant with her and Rocky's third child,Rocki Irish Mayers,who was born on Sept. 13.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Rihanna makes surprise Met Gala appearance

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May 05, 2026

Surprise! Rihanna arrives at the Met Gala fashionably late with A$AP Rocky

Rihannaknew theMet Galawouldn't be complete without a grand entrance from her. The singer made a surprise appearance at the Ma...

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All About Valentino and Mark Borthwick’s New Haute Couture Book

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Is there any better month for a style refresh than May? The season signals growth and fresh starts, and top fashion brands are doing more than following suit with a wave of new drops, collaborations, and store openings. To start the month, Valentino collaborates with Mark Borthwick on a limited-edition book and Adwoa Aboah joins forces with Cou Cou, the start of what’s set to be a standout series of launches in the coming weeks. Below, look through everything else to know about this May.

Valentino and Mark Borthwick to Release a New Book

Who:Valentino and Mark Borthwick

What:New haute couture book

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Where:In select Valentino boutiques starting May 11

Why:Alessandro Michele’s fantastical Valentino couture creations are getting the editorial treatment, courtesy of Mark Borthwick. The Italian maison has collaborated with the British photographer on a new haute couture book titledSpecula Mundi. Unveiled during an intimate cocktail event at the Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles, the tome reimagines Michele’s Valentino couture beyond the runway with immersive scenography inspired by the designer’s spring/summer 2026 show. Act quick: there are only 1,500 copies of the collector’s item.

Adwoa Aboah and Cou Cou Team Up for a Good Cause

Who:Adwoa Aboah and Cou Cou

What:Graphic tee

Where:Online atcoucou.com

Why:May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, and Adwoa Aboah is commemorating the occasion with a meaningful collaboration. The model and activist has joined forces with Cou Cou to create a graphic tee emblazoned with the phrase “Out of Order” in pink lettering. All proceeds will go to Aboah’s nonprofit,Gurls Talk. She is also set to lead a series of conversations on theCou Cou Talksplatform, along with an in-person event on May 16 at Dover Street Market London.

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May 04, 2026

All About Valentino and Mark Borthwick’s New Haute Couture Book

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Is there any better month ...

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Benavidez KOs Ramirez in the 6th to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles

LAS VEGAS (AP) — David Benavidez hasn't given up the dream of facing Canelo Alvarez — and now he might have leverage.

Benavidez Ramirez Boxing

Benavidez put on a show with Alvarez sitting ringside on Saturday night, moving up 25 pounds in weight and dominating former sparring partner Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.

He twice sent Ramirez to the canvas, including knocking him out at 2:59 of the sixth round to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles and become the first boxer to win championships at 168, 175 and 200 pounds.

Benavidez (32-0, 26 knockouts) not only remained undefeated, but showed why he was a -600 favorite over Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs).

In the co-main event, WBA super middleweight championship fight, Jaime Munguía (46-2, 35 KOs) upset title holder Armando Reséndiz (16-3, 11 KOs) by winning a resounding unanimous decision. Reséndiz was a -200 favorite, but Munguía — the former WBO junior middleweight champ — was the aggressor from the start and won by scores of 117-111, 119-109 and 120-108.

“It feels great to have this championship belt with me, but this is just the beginning," Munguía said. "I’m excited for what comes next. We are ready for big challenges and great fights.”

Benavidez has chased Canelo with hopes of setting up a showdown, but Alvarez never agreed to it and it has been looking unlikely to happen.

Maybe now it's different, and Benavidez didn't waste the opportunity to make the case yet again.

“I see Canelo in the building. Let me just ask the fans this. Do you guys want to see Canelo versus David Benavidez?" the man known as “The Mexican Monster” asked, drawing a roar from the crowd.

“Enough said. That means we can’t leave that fight on the table. I have respect for Canelo. He’s a great champion. I’m a great champion, too. Let’s do it.”

Benavidez said he would be willing go back down in weight to make it happen.

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“I’m still champion at 175," Benavidez said. “I’m champion at 175 and 200. So if they want to come get it at 175, let’s get it at 175.”

Boxing fans, or least those who support Benavidez, haven't forgotten how Canelo has yet to take on the match. Alvarez, wearing a black Munguía T-shirt, was booed all three times he was shown on the large video board. Benavidez, who was born in Phoenix and lives in Miami, later was cheered while shown going through prefight preparations.

He then gave his fans plenty more to cheer about and they reciprocated by regularly chanting his nickname “Monstruo” in the Cinco de Mayo weekend showcase fight.

Benavidez, even when being backed down by Ramirez, delivered his signature rapid-fire combinations, usually pelting his opponent's head. A right hand to Ramirez's head in the fourth staggered him, and Benavidez went for the knockout but settled for the knockdown at the end of the round when Zurdo went down to his left knee.

Then two rounds later, Ramirez again went to a knee. This time, the fight was over.

“We came up together," Benavidez said. "We came up sparring together. I got him ready for his world championship fights. He got me ready for my world championship fights. I just want to say I love Zurdo Ramirez, but, you know, it is what it is in here. There’s only one ‘Monster.’”

And now the 29-year-old Benavidez can make a credible argument after dominating the 34-year-old Mexican that he one of the sport's best pound-for-pound boxers if not right at the top.

The statistics underscored how much Benavidez owned the fight.

According to Compubox, he landed 151 punches at a 46.2% to 89 for Ramirez, who reached his target on 19.8% of attempts. The power punches were 137-64 and the percentage 56.8-27.7.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to overpower him because it was my first time coming up to 200 pounds," Benavidez said. “So I knew I had to use the gifts that God gave me: speed, power, movement, punch selection and IQ. That’s exactly what I did.”

AP boxing:https://apnews.com/boxing

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May 04, 2026

Benavidez KOs Ramirez in the 6th to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles

LAS VEGAS (AP) — David Benavidez hasn't given up the dream of facing Canelo Alvarez — and now he might have leverage. Ben...

Read More