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     J.J. McCarthy is expected to be the first of many Michigan men drafted from its national championship team. The Wolverines had a record 18 players at the draft combine, giving them a chance to be the first school with at least 16 prospects picked in one NFL draft. Georgia's 2022 national championship team set the standard since the draft went to seven rounds with 15 players picked, including a record-tying five first-round selections in the 2023 draft. McCarthy may be Michigan's only player taken among the top 32 next Thursday night in Detroit.

      Evaluating Brock Bowers the player is a fairly straightforward assignment. As he showed in three seasons at Georgia, Bowers is a dynamic receiver with the ability to create separation, make contested catches and create big plays after the catch. Bowers is widely considered one of the top 10 players in next week's NFL draft but because he plays the lower-premium position of tight end, there is much more uncertainty about how high he will get drafted. 

        Olympic organizers have unveiled their plans to use artificial intelligence in sports, joining the global rush to capitalize on the rapidly advancing technology. The International Olympic Committee outlined its agenda for taking advantage of AI. Officials said it could be used to help identify promising athletes, personalize training methods and make the games fairer by improving judging. IOC President Thomas Bach said the committee is "determined to exploit the vast potential of AI in a responsible way." The IOC revealed its AI strategy as it gears up to hold the Paris Olympics, which are set to kick off in just under 100 days.

          The Chinese Grand Prix could deliver some much-needed drama to Formula 1 and Red Bull's Max Verstappen can't be penciled in as the almost-certain winner. The last Chinese GP was five years ago. The track is unfamiliar and has also been resurfaced. On top of this, the China weekend features the season's first sprint race. That adds more unpredictability. Lando Norris of McLaren secured the pole for the sprint race. The sprint will be followed later Saturday with qualifying for Sunday's race.

          Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 running backs, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent: ——— — 1. Jonathon Brooks (So., Texas, 6-foot, 216 pounds) Brooks is a former four-star recruit currently recovering from a torn ACL ...

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          Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 running backs, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent: ——— — 1. Jonathon Brooks (So., Texas, 6-foot, 216 pounds) Brooks is a former four-star recruit currently recovering from a torn ACL ...

          Nelly Korda is one shot off the lead through 36 holes at the Chevron Championship as she seeks to tie an LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win. Korda shot a 3-under 69 on Friday at the year's first major. She's at 7-under 137, trailing Atthaya Thitikul and Jin Hee Im by a shot. Korda made a double bogey on the first hole but followed that with six birdies and one bogey. The 25-year-old, top-ranked Korda is seeking her second major title after winning the Women's PGA Championship in 2021.

          Wesley Bryan made sure he stayed in the lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship with a big finish. Bryan went eagle-birdie-birdie for a 66. That gave him a one-shot lead over Justin Lower in the PGA Tour's opposite-field event being played in the Dominican Republic. Bryan set the tournament record at 129 and it was the lowest he ever shot over 36 holes. Lower had a great start with a 30 and finished with 10 birdies. He shot a 64. Among those in the mix is former FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas. He shot 65 and was tied for fourth.

          Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire will make his IndyCar debut on the streets of Long Beach with Arrow McLaren as the 20-year-old Frenchman becomes the latest replacement for injured driver David Malukas. Pourchaire said Friday at Long Beach that he was initially contacted about driving both Long Beach this Sunday and the road course at Barber, Alabama, next week. He then clarified that his use at Barber is dependent on both his performance at Long Beach and Malukas' ongoing recovery from a dislocated left wrist and torn tendons suffered in a mountain biking crash in February.

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