SHEHAN JEYARAJAH
Sports Writer
Notable Stories
A comprehensive collection of memorable articles and projects.
FEATURED STORIES
FEATURE: Inside SMU's campaign to become Dallas' college football team (Texas Football)
DALLAS, Texas -- When Sonny Dykes arrived at SMU, he quickly realized that there was a disconnect between the university and many of the surrounding areas. Here's how the university went all-in on trying to pull college football fans from all over the Metroplex. This story received honorable mention in the enterprise category at the Football Writer's Association of America awards. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
PROFILE: Amid rise from Sioux Falls to Washington, Kalen DeBoer stands as proof small-school coaches can win big (CBS Sports)
When Washington coach Kalen DeBoer took the sideline in the 2024 CFP National Championship Game, it wasn't his first rodeo. In fact, DeBoer won several national championships at the NAIA level. I spoke to sources around college football to learn about DeBoer's history, and why many think it's time to take small college success seriously when hiring for major college football jobs. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
ENTERPRISE: College football 2.0: Projecting the future of college football (CBS Sports)
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
CBS Sports recognizes the first anniversary of name, image and likeness rights being granted to athletes as a jumping off point for a three-part series taking a more intensive look at the state of college football and future of the game.
ANALYSIS: Air Raid on Hardwood: The story behind Baylor's 'football' inbounds play (Texas Basketball)
Baylor coach Scott Drew is known for strong inbounds plays, but this one was unexpected. All five Bears lined up out of bounds as guard Jared Butler received the ball to inbounds. Suddenly, four Bears sprinted down, and two turned back towards midcourt. Any Texan sports fans watching the game could immediately tell what happened – the Bears just ran a football play. “Down here in the South, people love their football, and so do we,” Drew said with a laugh. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
FEATURE: How Kobe Bryant inspired a wave of Texas football stars (Texas Football)
Thousands of babies were named after Kobe Bryant between 2000 and 2002, as Bryant became an NBA superstar. Twenty years later, the new generation of Kobes are starting to take over college athletics. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
ENTERPRISE: Big 12 expansion: How league newcomers are preparing for life within prestigious Power Five universe (CBS Sports)
On July 1, the "Freshman Four" step into the brave new world of Power Five college athletics, the first to join the top half of college football's top division since Rutgers moved from the AAC to the Big Ten in 2014. But with a fancy new logo on the jerseys comes big money, resources and prestige that all four schools are hoping can set themselves up for the murky future of college football. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
PROFILE: 'They are the standard': How Matt Rhule won over Texas HS coaches (Texas Football)
WACO, Texas -- Matt Rhule arrived in Texas two short years ago as a carpetbagger from Philadelphia swooping in and stealing one of the state's premiere jobs. Now, Rhule trails only the 20-year Texan vet Gary Patterson among the most trusted coaches in the state. How did that happen? (READ FULL STORY HERE)
PROFILE: Why UTEP football will never, ever forget Luke Laufenberg (Texas Football)
Why did former UTEP and Texas A&M tight end Luke Laufenberg want to play football so desperately? Why did he play in a bowl game while cancer took over his bones, and fight all the way back to earn a coveted Division I scholarship, and practice against elite athletes while cancer spread again? I spent a month trying to answer that question. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
MAGAZINE STORIES
Run It Back: Baylor basketball hungry for second chance at greatness (Texas Basketball)
The pandemic prematurely ended what should have been a historic NCAA Tournament for Baylor basketball. But with Jared Butler and MaCio Teague's decision to bypass pro basketball to return to Waco, the Bears have a rare second chance at getting to the top. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Hilltop Revival: How Shane Buechele transformed SMU (Texas Football)
SMU quarterback Shane Buechele was chosen as the Coverboy of Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine because of the way he's helped change the trajectory of the Mustangs football program. My cover story chronicled his path from SMU to Texas and how he turned into the state's best quarterback. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Next In Line: Lauren Cox is poised to lead Baylor back to the top (Texas Basketball)
WACO -- Baylor forward Lauren Cox was chosen as one of the top players in America right out of high school. After winning a national championship with the Lady Bears as a junior, she is ready to be the face of the program. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
How Sam Ehlinger tuned out the haters and became a rising star (Texas Football)
AUSTIN, Texas -- All eyes have been on Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger since his days at Westlake High School. When you're the quarterback at the University of Texas, people are going to talk about you. The hometown kid is prepping to take his Longhorns back to the top. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
Dream Big: How Ryan McGuyre turned Baylor volleyball into a winner (Baylor Line)
To understand how Baylor volleyball became the No. 1 program in America, how it reached a Final Four and how Ryan McGuyre's prayers became premonitions, one must dig into the foundation. The concrete was poured with McGuyre's first three months on campus. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
OTHER NOTABLE STORIES
Over a six week period at the conclusion of the regular season, nearly 2,000 FBS players -- from seasoned veterans like McGill to redshirt freshmen seeking playing time -- entered the transfer portal in search of new homes. Amid the chaos, behind the scenes, college football coaching and support staffs are tasked with cutting through all the noise in hopes of finding diamonds in the rough. Welcome to the transfer portal carousel. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
How East Texas Baptist built Scotty Walden into a rising star (Texas Football)
Scotty Walden is the youngest head coach in the FBS. Officially, he's an interim coach tasked with holding. aprogram together. Ask those who know him best and the message is clear: Walden is ready. "Idon't know if there's any more of a right man for that job than Scotty Walden." (READ FULL STORY HERE)
How faith, community and Aaron Jones brought Deion Hankins home (Texas Football)
EL PASO, Texas -- To find the future of UTEP football, you have to drive Northeast up Highway 54, past the Biggs Army Airfield and into the shadow of the Franklin Mountains. Deion Hankins is the pride of Northeast El Paso, and one of the best players ever from the city. And now, he's staying home to try and change his community. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
'Doorway is open' after Mavericks select first Indian in NBA Draft (Dallas Morning News)
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- With the 52nd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected to make history. The Mavericks picked 7-foot-2 center Satnam Singh, who became the first Indian drafted into the NBA on Thursday night at Barclays Center. “We believe in creating legends and we certainly believe we did that today,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters in Dallas. “There’s a billion new Mavs fans out there right now.” (READ FULL STORY HERE)
How college football adopting helmet communication will be complicated process as sport continues to evolve (CBS Sports)
College football will introduce NFL-style helmet communication for the 2024 season. I went behind the scenes to learn how it might change the game -- or not. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
