NCAAF

2025 five-star LB Riley Pettijohn commits to Ohio State

If the current commitments stick — and in today’s day and age, that’s a big if — Ohio State’s linebacker room should be fortified for years to come. In addition to Pettijohn, a fast and rangy sideline-to-sideline linebacker, the Buckeyes also have Tarvos Alford’s pledge. Both Pettijohn and Alford are top-50 recruits for 2025. Promoting James Laurinaitis from a graduate assistant to linebackers coach is paying dividends for Ryan Day.

NBA

76ers sign SF Caleb Martin to four-year, $32 million contract

Philadelphia is doing an excellent job rounding out its roster around Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Losing Martin will sting for the Heat, and he should slide in nicely to whatever role Nick Nurse carves out for him with the 76ers. For Martin, playing with more consistency is key, as he has some exceptional highs — nearly winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2023 — and staggering lows.

The forward averaged 10.0 points per game last season, and I wouldn’t expect that figure to increase with the 76ers — not with three proven scorers already in tow.

Grade: A-

Pistons sign SG Malik Beasley to one-year, $6 million contract

This is a reasonable deal for the Pistons, adding some needed shooting to the rotation, even after signing Tobias Harris. A lot will need to go right for Detroit to win 35-plus games in 2024-25, but Trajan Langdon is building a halfway respectable roster — far better than his predecessor, Troy Weaver.

Grade: B+