Sports
Buccaneers’ Mike Evans Earns Fifth Pro Bowl Selection
The National Football League today announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans was named to the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games. Evans’ five career Pro Bowl selections (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023) surpass Jimmie Giles (four) for the second-most in franchise history by an offensive player, trailing only Mike Alstott (six).
Evans currently leads the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions this season, in addition to ranking eighth in yards per reception (16.2) and 10th in receiving yards (1,233). He ranks tied for third in receptions of 50-plus yards (three) and tied for 10th in receptions of 25-or-more yards (12).
The 10-year veteran has surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his 10 career seasons – the longest-such streak in NFL history to begin a player’s career, and the second-longest streak overall, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Evans’ 10 total 1,000-yard receiving seasons tied Randy Moss (10) for the second-most in league history, trailing only Rice’s 14. Through a player’s first 10 career seasons, Evans ranks tied for fifth in touchdown receptions (94) and sixth in receiving yards (11,658). He is 1-of-4 players with 11,000+ receiving yards and 90+ touchdown receptions through 10 career seasons, along with a trio of Hall of Famers in Marvin Harrison, Moss and Rice. Evans also became the first player in league history to amass 60-or-more receptions in each of his first 10 career seasons.
Including 2023, Evans has five career seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-or-more touchdown receptions – only Harrison (eight), Moss (eight), Terrell Owens (eight) and Rice (nine) have more. Those four players are also the only players in NFL history with more 12-touchdown seasons than Evans’ five.
Evans is the Buccaneers all-time leader in receptions (759), receiving yards (11,658), receiving touchdowns (94), scrimmage yards (11,668) and scrimmage touchdowns (95). He ranks fifth in team history in games started (152) and 10th in games played (153).
Among all players in NFL history, Evans ranks tied for 12th in receiving touchdowns and 33rd in receiving yards. Among active players, he ranks tied for first in touchdown receptions, second in multi-touchdown performances (20), third in receiving yards, thirds in yards per reception (15.4, min. 300 receptions), third in 150-yard receiving games (13) and tied for sixth in 100-yard receiving games (36).
Evans owns the five best seasons in Tampa Bay’s franchise history for single-season touchdown receptions (2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2023). A captain in each of the past seven seasons for the Buccaneers, Evans is a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
The Buccaneers had two players named as first alternates: safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and tackle Tristan Wirfs. Other alternates included Baker Mayfield (third) and Vita Vea (fifth).
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games are set to take place February 1-4 in Orlando. The festivities will be broadcasted on ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes and NFL+.
Davison scores 26 points, Branham adds 23 and Osceola records 23 steals to open its season with a victory at Silver Spurs Arena.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic opened their season with a record-setting defensive performance, collecting 23 steals and forcing 35 turnovers in a 97-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Silver Spurs Arena.
JD Davison scored a game-high 26 points and Malaki Branham added 23 as Osceola established a franchise record for steals and matched its record for opponent turnovers. Osceola Magic
Defense drives the comeback
Oklahoma City led 31-22 after the first quarter and 44-43 at halftime. Osceola pulled even at 70 entering the fourth quarter, then outscored the Blue 27-19 over the final period.
The victory gave Osceola a 1-0 start and dropped Oklahoma City to 0-2. Zhaire Smith led the Blue with 19 points, while Christoph Tilly contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. gleague.nba.com
Osceola’s defensive pressure helped offset Oklahoma City’s early advantage. The Blue finished just 5 of 29 from 3-point range, shooting 17.2%.
Six Magic players recorded multiple steals, led by Johnell Davis’ career-high six — one short of the franchise record. Davison collected four, Jarron Cumberland had three, and Ace Baldwin Jr., Branham and Mike Sharavjamts each added two.
Malaki Branham leans into his drive while keeping his dribble low as an Oklahoma City Blue defender guards him during the Osceola Magic’s season opener. Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News.
Davison and Branham lead the offense
Davison and Branham combined for 49 points, accounting for more than half of Osceola’s scoring.
Au’Diese Toney contributed 14 points in his return to Osceola, including a late 3-pointer that helped secure the victory.
Davis provided another boost off the bench with 11 points and a career-best-tying four assists, complementing his disruptive defensive performance.
Sharavjamts makes professional debut
Sharavjamts posted a team-best plus-12 rating in 24 minutes during his professional debut. Osceola outscored Oklahoma City by 12 points while he was on the floor. Osceola Magic
What’s next for the Osceola Magic?
Following a scheduled road matchup with the Memphis Hustle on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Osceola returns to Silver Spurs Arena to host the Mexico City Capitanes on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Member News
The Magic’s challenge will be to sustain the defensive pressure that helped them overcome an early nine-point deficit in the opener.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Business2 days agoGetty Images files for Chapter 11. What comes next for Florida photographers and videographers?
Sports5 days agoLIV Golf to begin winding down operations Nov. 9 after five years, $5 billion spent
Central Florida News1 day agoDarren Soto defeats Gov. Ron DeSantis’ gerrymandered map, narrowly wins reelection
Central Florida News14 hours agoOsceola Magic Set Franchise Steals Record in 97-89 Season-Opening Win
Politics11 hours agoGrenada PM Dickon Mitchell Wins Second Term as NDC Takes 14 of 15 Seats
