Shedeur Sanders insisted Friday he doesn’t necessarily need the bright lights of Broadway or the Bellagio at the outset of his NFL journey. He suggested he could just as easily thrive for the “Dawg Pound” fan base in Cleveland.

Sanders proclaimed he’s the top quarterback in the NFL draft on April 24, although most mock drafts have the Tennessee Titans taking Miami QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by either Sanders or Hunter, the 21-year-old two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner who skipped the testing periods Friday but shined while running routes and catching passes — without gloves — from Sanders.

Hunter also shunned the post-workout podium after scores of NFL talent evaluators from all 32 teams descended on Colorado’s campus for the showcase whose moniker was a nod to one of “Coach Prime” Deion Sanders’ mottos. NFL Network broadcast the event and ESPN also was on hand.

The Browns own the second overall pick in the draft, followed by the New York Giants. Although both Sanders and Hunter figure to be selected in the top three picks, the Las Vegas Raiders could try to move up from sixth.

Earnhardt avoids image conflict with Jackson

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is shifting gears with his No. 8 merchandising.

Earnhardt announced on social media Friday that he has secured the right to use a stylized version of No. 8 and will forgo the original No. 8 logo used by his NASCAR team, JR Motorsports. His decision came two days after Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson filed an opposition claim with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to stop Earnhardt from putting that JRM version of No. 8 on merchandise.

Jackson, who has worn No. 8 since his college days at Louisville, previously registered the trademark “ERA 8 by Lamar Jackson.” His latest claim argued that Earnhardt’s attempt to trademark that particular version of No. 8 would create confusion among consumers.

Earnhardt avoided a trademark review with the rebranding. Had the U.S. Patent and Trademark appeal board denied Earnhardt, Jackson could have sued had Earnhardt used that No. 8 on any merchandise.

college basketball

Wildcats, Collins agree on two-year extension

Northwestern and basketball coach Chris Collins have agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2030.

Collins is the only coach in the program’s 120-year history to lead Northwestern to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats made it for the first time in 2017 and returned in 2023 and 2024 after five straight losing seasons.

Collins has a 194-190 record in 12 years. He is second on the program’s all-time wins list behind Dutch Lonborg, who was 236-203 from 1928 to 1950. The Wildcats finished 17-16 this past season after a 10-3 start and tied for 12th in the Big Ten at 7-13.

Gophers hockey

Nevers signs pro contract with Idaho

Following a five-year career with the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team, Mason Nevers is moving onto the professional ranks as he signed a contract with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads.

Nevers served as a team captain for the Golden Gophers in 2024-25 after being an alternate captain the previous season and finished his tenure in Dinkytown with 171 games played, the 15th most in program history. He posted 66 points on 27 goals and 39 assists during his career.

An Edina native, Nevers put up six goals and three assists for nine points as a graduate student this year.

Murphy, Primerano named All-USCHO

Redshirt-senior forward Abbey Murphy and freshman defender Chloe Primerano of the Gophers women’s hockey teamhave been named members of the 2024-25 All-USCHO Division I teams.

Murphy received a second-team honor after landing on the third team last season. Primerano earned rookie-team honors in her first season with the Gophers.

Murphy earns her second All-USCHO honor after tallying a career-high 65 points during the 2024-25 season, the fourth-most nationally.

Primerano excelled in her first season of college hockey, tallying 31 points in 35 games.

Nelson transfers from Minn. State to Gophers

Gopher women’s head coach Brad Frost announced the addition of sixth-year Jamie Nelson ahead of the 2025-26 season.

A 5-8 forward from Andover, Nelson joins the Gophers after a prolific career at Minnesota State University.

In 124 career games, she tallied 103 points (42g-61a), the third most all-time in program history.

NBA

Morant fined $75K for finger-gun gestures

Ja Morant showed off an imaginary gun. The NBA hit back with a real fine.

A day after Morant again used his aiming-a-gun gesture to celebrate making 3-pointers, the Grizzlies’ star was fined $75,000 by the league.

It’s the second time this week that Morant — who was suspended twice in 2023 for incidents with actual weapons — heard from the league about mimicking the act of using a gun during a game.

The league called the gesture “inappropriate,” adding that “Morant was previously warned by the league office that this gesture could be interpreted in a negative light.”

nhl

Draisaitl expected back in time for playoffs

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is “out short term” but should return “well before” the playoffs begin after sustaining a lower-body injury against the San Jose Sharks the previous night, head coach Kris Knoblauch said.

Draisaitl, who leads the NHL with 52 goals this season, didn’t practice Friday and won’t play against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

He missed the second half of the second period and all of the third period in a 3-2 win over the Sharks.

Knoblauch expects Draisaitl back before the postseason begins on April 19, where the Oilers are likely to face the Kings in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

— From news services