Premier Players Magazine September Issue 2023

This fine jewelry collection, available on www.CHANEL.com, reimagines a series of rings, earrings and necklaces as “quilted” pieces, using etching and delicate incisions to create a crisscross-style motif across a band of beige or white gold.

College football, or any sport, would not excite millions of people every year if it wasn't for the fans. Yet, when deciding the best college football player in the nation, the fans were left out of the selection process until we launched our award in 2010.

The Premier Player of College Football Trophy is an award presented to the athlete the fans voted as the best player in NCAA college football. The Premier Players Sports Foundation releases an online poll at the beginning of the college football season with 20 of the best players for fans to follow. The foundation will add up to five more great-performing players to the poll in midOctober while deleting nonperformers. Fans then have until the last conference championship game to cast their vote for deciding The Premier Player of College Football.

"Fans are such a big part of the games, so we wanted to come up with an award that they can be a big part of, too," said Carnell Moore, founder of the Premier Players Sports Foundation. "All the athletes in our polls are Premier Players, but we let the fans decide who gets the trophy."

The sports foundation has used the polls & award as fundraisers to help orphaned, foster, special needs, and at-risk youth participate in community sports leagues via sponsorships and equipment. You can see past winners at www.premierplayers.com

Now read on to learn more about the Top 20 candidates for the award and then , , ,

YOU DECIDE!

#1 Caleb Williams

QB, USC Trojans

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is back on campus in 2023 as Celeb Williams returns to USC for his junior season. Williams was insane in 2022 as he tallied 52 total touchdowns (42 passing & 10 rushing), over 4,500 yards passing and just eight interceptions. Williams would have to fall off a cliff to not be a lock as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, with Patrick Mahomes comparisons thanks to his frame and

unique skill set. Williams has the potential to be better this fall, with quarterback guru Kliff Kingsbury the former college head coach of Mahomes helping develop his play even further.

Drake Maye QB, North Carolina Tar Heels

Is it possible that Drake Maye could be better than Caleb Williams?At 6 foot 5 and 225 pounds, Maye is built like a quarterback you would create on a video game. He has a monster arm that has drawn him comparisons to no lesser a player than Peyton Manning and that arm talent is only boosted by a throwing motion that is as smooth and natural as any player in the game. Maye threw for over 4,300 yards and 38 TDs last season, while adding almost 700 yards on the ground and seven more scores. Maye is the real deal, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of expectation now he is seen as one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

#3

Brock Bowers

TE, Georgia Bulldogs

Brock Bowers enters his third season at Georgia having already been the best player at his position in the country for the past two years. Bowers is unarguably the best tight end in the country, with his 971 yards receiving and 274 yards after contact both the best marks by a tight end last fall. The reigning Kohn Mackey Award winner for best tight end in the game, Bowers will look to pass 1,000 yards through the air this season while also contributing to the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with his selfless blocking power.

Travis Hunter CB/WR, Colorado Buffaloes

This one is more of a projection than anything else. Travis Hunter was the most important recruit for Dieon Sanders in his coaching stint at Jackson State and the five star prospect followed Coach Prime to Colorado after the 2022 season. Hunter didn’t do a ton last year as a freshman, but he appears primed to be the type of two way threat that we just don’t see at the college level anymore. The cornerback play will take care of itself, so if Hunter can also become the dynamic playmaker at this level that some imagine, then Colorado will have a true star on their hands.

#5

Marvin Harris Jr.

WR, Ohio State Buckeyes

Becoming the first unanimous AllAmerican in the history of Ohio State football is quite the accolade. That is the honor that Marvin Harrison Jr. picked up in 2022, along with being named the Big Ten wide receiver of the year. Harrison caught balls for over 1,250 yards and scored 14 touchdowns last season, forming a daunting 1-2 punch with fellow star wide out Emeka Egbuka. You simply can’t cover the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison one on one, as shown by his almost 900 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns when facing single coverage last fall.

The Effects of Sports On Relationships

It may sound a little surprising to hear that participating in sports can be a great relationship-builder – after all, aren’t many sports created around the idea of fierce competition and rivalry? Yet studies have shown that people who grew up playing sports have more finely developed social skills than those who did not, in part due to the self-esteem boosts created by participation and feeling like part of a team. Whether you’re on the winning side or the side that’s just happy to be there, there are many positive benefits to playing sports – especially when it comes to developing lasting relationships with others.

Many of us had the experience of playing sports as children. Whether in a recreational league or something more professional, there’s a reason why sports are recommended for kids and teens: because they help one feel as though they’re a part of something. There’s a sense of belonging that comes with playing sports as part of a team, as well as a significant boost in selfesteem. It’s where many important social skills are learned, including acceptance of others,

support of our peers, and the value of competition.

In a study of high school senior students involved in sports, a whitepaper by the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that shy students were able to improve their social skills through sports, stating that:

“In terms of the effect of sport participation on shyness, a longitudinal study with measurement at baseline and one year later found that sport was positively associated with positive adjustment (e.g. social skills and self-esteem) and that sport played a uniquely protective role for shy children, with shy children who participated in sport over time reporting significant decreases in anxiety.”

Sports bringing shy children out of their shells may sound surprising, but being part of a team can help introverted people learn how to develop relationships in a beneficial environment.

The whitepaper also makes a point towards physical fitness as being a building block for social skills and the ability to create strong relationships: “For example, there are relationships between physical fitness and mental state; and interpersonal relationships may satisfy needs for belongingness and, as such, influence psychological health. Another example is resilience, whereby psychological health may influence an individual’s capacity to engage in interpersonal relationships.” So not only are sports good for physical fitness, but they also increase a person’s emotional fitness when it comes to relating to others.

Long after the developmental stage has passed, sports can continue to act as a positive outlet for people to bond with their peers through teamwork and friendly competition. Whether you know your teammates before you sign up or you use sports leagues to meet new people, even something as simple as a recreational league can have a big impact on your interpersonal relationship skills. For those who might be introverted or susceptible to depression, being a part of a sports team can help provide motivation for getting out of the house and being active, as well as giving a person a sense of self-worth – after all, other people are counting on them to be there.

Sports can also help build relationships with family, whether it’s encouraging your siblings to join a rec league with you, playing tennis with your spouse, or simply throwing a baseball with your child. Working together as a team can put new perspectives and value on familial relationships, plus it’s a good way to air out any potential grievances or simply talk things out while tossing around a football. Playing sports for fun – or for lighthearted bragging rights –ought to be a part of every family get-together, since they encourage the participation of everyone and make all members feel as though they have a part to play.

Lastly, since much of the world is focused on online relationships and social networks, why

not incorporate this into your athletics? These days, technology is available to let you record and share your sports performance metrics and highlight reels across social platforms, which means that you can get instant feedback and encouragement from your friends online. Even if you’re working out alone, you’re still able to use sports to build relationships through social media – you can have a “virtual” team on your side.

Rather than promoting a “one versus all” mentality, sports can have a hugely beneficial effect on building and maintaining good interpersonal relationships. Whether it’s through meeting new people as rec league teammates, bringing family and friends together to play a pickup game, or using your athletic performance tracker to connect with an online community, sports can be a building block for healthy, longlasting relationships.

Article by Blast Motion

Blake Corum

RB, Michigan Wolverines

Blake Corum was the best running back in the country last season. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns at almost 6.0 yards per carry. Given that those numbers were put up in the Big Ten, that is some going. It feels like Corum has unfinished business after a late season knee injury took him out of the Michigan lineup for the College Football Playoff and Fiesta Bowl, but Corum has looked sensational in practice and seems to be full go for 2023. His 96 combined first downs and touchdowns last season was second in the country behind a player who totaled 72 more carries. That is Corum’s level when he is on.

Jared Verse Edge, Florida State Seminoles

Jared Verse took the FBS by storm after moving to Tallahassee after playing at Albany in 2020 and 2021. The step up from the ColonialAthletic Association to the ACC is huge, but Verse was able to take it in his considerable stride. The 6-foot-4, 253 pounder was dominant for the Seminoles last season as he racked up 48 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. A projected Top 20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Verse decided to return for another season with Florida State where he will look to continue his domination from the Edge position.

Kool Aid McKinstry

DB, Alabama Crimson Tide

If this list was complied of players with the best nickname, then Kool-Aid McKinstry would be the clear No. 1. As it is, McKinstry will have to be content with being the best returning cornerback AND the best returning punt returner in the FBS. McKinstry was tops among Power Five players with 332 punt return yards and he has the dynamic agility and speed to take a return the length of the field at any moment. He also broke up 18 passes in 2022 as he has the body fluidity to stay with receivers and a knack for timing his defense to knock the ball out of their hands at the last moment.

Michael Penix Jr. QB, Washington Huskies

It might surprise even avid fans of college football that Michael Penix Jr. led all FBS players in passing yards per game last season. Penix averaged 357 yards through the air each time out and he totaled 31 passing touchdowns in his first year as a Washington Huskie having transferred from Indiana. Penix has the potential to be even better this fall. Another year in the system will help, while the Huskies have potentially the best wide receiver corps in the entire country led by Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Don’t be shocked if Penix is in Heisman contention this fall.

6 Ways Sunlight Can Benefit Your Health

You have probably heard about the potential dangers of being out in the sun too long. But did you know that getting the right amount of sunlight can be good for your health and well-being? Keep reading to learn how the ultraviolet (UV) light in the sun’s rays can be beneficial and how to ensure that you’re getting enough sunlight.

What are the benefits of sunlight?

From providing vitamin D to reducing high blood pressure and boosting mood, we explore six potential benefits of sunlight below:

1. Sunlight provides vitamin D

Being exposed to sunlight enables your body to make vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin cells. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D benefits your health in many ways, including:

•Supporting your bone and muscle health

•Regulating your blood pressure

•Regulating your immune system

•Maintaining the health of your blood vessels

•Keeping your brain working well

•Regulating your blood sugar

2. Sunlight strengthens bones

As mentioned above, vitamin D supports bone health. The sunshine vitamin helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones and helps prevent conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia. Having good bone health can also help you avoid bone fractures (breaks).

3. Sunlight kills bacteria

Most of us spend a lot of time indoors.And

indoor environments can contain dust that carries different types of bacteria some of which can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.

One study found that sunlight can kill the bacteria that lives in dust indoors. In this particular study, 12% of bacteria survived in a darkroom environment, but only 6% of dust bacteria survived after being exposed to sunlight.

What does this mean for you? Open those shades and windows and let more sunlight into your home. As the UV rays kill bacteria that live in the dust in your home, your air quality may improve

4. Sunlight may reduce high blood pressure

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is linked to many health problems, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage. One study showed that exposure to sunlight lowered systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) in people who had kidney failure and were taking dialysis

The study was based on the idea that UV light increases the availability of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a molecule that can cause your blood vessels to widen and, as a result, lower your blood pressure.

But more research is needed to understand the sun’s effects on blood pressure and whether there are benefits for people who don’t have kidney disease.

5. Sunlight can improve sleep quality

Sun exposure plays a big role in maintaining your body’s internal clock, or circadian

rhythm. Generally, your circadian rhythm responds to the sun’s light-dark cycle, helping you fall asleep at night (when there’s darkness) and wake up in the morning (when there’s light). So, you can try using the sun’s light-dark cycle to improve your sleep hygiene.

For instance, experts recommend being in bright sunlight in the morning to increase your chances of falling asleep earlier in the evening. Exposure to sunshine in the AM increases your melatonin levels.

And melatonin plays a key role in regulating your body’s circadian rhythm and helping you sleep when it gets dark.

6. Sunlight boosts mood

Getting adequate amounts of sunlight can help combat mood disorders, most notably seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that usually occurs in the fall and winter, when there is less sunlight.

Although the exact cause of SAD is unknown, it’s thought that a lack of sunlight may affect the way the brain’s hypothalamus works. This effect may make it harder for your circadian rhythm to time certain functions, like waking up. As a result, you may be more likely to experience SAD symptoms, such as feelings of despair or fatigue.

In addition, not getting enough sunlight can result in lower serotonin levels, which can contribute to depression. So, it makes sense that getting more sunlight can boost your level of serotonin and your mood.

How much sunlight should you get per day?

Depending on your skin color, you may be able to get the daily recommended amount of

sun exposure in as little as 10 minutes.

Experts in the U.K. recommend 10 to 15 minutes of daily sun exposure for people who have lighter skin and 25 to 40 minutes for those with darker skin.

People with darker skin have more melanin, a molecule that serves as a natural sunscreen. But this can also make it a little harder to get enough sun exposure. So, it takes more time in sunlight to reap its benefits if you have darker skin.

Keep in mind, regardless of skin tone, spending more time in the sun than is recommended may increase your risk of sunburn or skin cancer. For this reason, you should put on sunscreen before going outside. This is especially true if you are going to be out longer than 10 to 30 minutes.

You may be wondering whether putting on sunscreen can prevent you from getting enough sunlight to make vitamin D. Our bodies only need a little sunlight to create vitamin D and research shows that using sunscreen on a regular basis doesn’t hurt the body’s ability to create the sunshine vitamin.

When is the best time to get sunlight?

Any time you can fit some sunlight into your schedule is a good time. However, research suggests that you absorb the most sunlight around noon.

Experts believe the timeframe from 10AM and 1PM is optimal for sun exposure, because you get plenty of UVB rays which allow your body to create vitamin D while minimizing your risk for skin cancer from UVA rays.

Written by Kara-Marie Hall, RN, BSN, CCRN | Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD

#10 Harold Perkins Jr.

LB, LSU Tigers

Harold Perkins Jr. feels like one of those players who is about to have a monster season.As a freshman and a player that even LSU didn’t know what to expect out of, Perkins had 13 tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hurries, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Those were all school leading marks, with Perkins being one of those players that just seems to have the ability to cause havoc plays whether lining up as a traditional linebacker or more of a modern edge rusher. Offensive schemes must account for Perkins on every play, and he has the inside track to be the next great SEC pass rushing force.

Olu Fashanu

OL, Penn State Nittany Lions

Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds, Olu Fashanu has everything you look for in an offensive tackle. The Big Ten East is loaded, and if Penn State wants to compete with and beat Ohio State and Michigan then its offensive line will have to be a strength. Fashanu surrendered a single hit and zero sacks from 281 pass blocking snaps last season. While his run blocking needs work, Fashanu is young, hungry, and has an agile smoothness to his ability to deal with edge rushers that makes him one of the top offensive tackles in the entire country.

#12 Quinshon Judkins

RB, Ole Miss Rebels

Quinshon Judkins is a highlight waiting to happen. The true sophomore was electric as a freshman in 2022 and he is the key cog in the offensive scheme that the Rebels use to overwhelm their opponents. Judkins rushed for 5.7 yards a carry last season, finishing the year with over 1,500 yards and 17 total touchdowns. His 34-carry effort in the Rebels 31-28 win at Texas A&M saw him go over 200 yards on the day and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Judkins had more 200+ yard games in 2023.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB, Clemson Tigers

Another son of a former All-Pro playing the same position as his father, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was outstanding for Clemson in 2022. He is the best pass coverage linebacker in the country, a skill becoming much more of a requirement for a linebacker to be a three down player both in college and in the NFL. Trotter can also work as a pass rusher, where he totaled 13.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, and four quarterback hurries last season. Trotter is also a player who is a born leader – surprise given the pedigree of his father –and those leadership skills make the Clemson defense even more of a force to be reckoned with.

3 WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Frank Harris

QB, UTSA Roadrunners

Frank Harris has somehow been at the University of Texas at San Antonio since 2017. A combination of redshirting and significant injuries means that 2023 will be Harris’ seventh year with the program. The Road Runners will be glad to have Harris back for one more year, especially given that last season was his best yet in San Antonio. He passed for over 4,0000 yards and had 32 touchdowns compared to just nine interceptions. The 24-year-old has been THE most significant player since UTSA became a nationally recognized program and it would be no surprise if he has a monster year to wrap up his career this fall.

Jer’Zhan Newton DT, Illinois Fighting Illini

A player must work hard to stand out as an interior defensive lineman at the FBS level. This might be the place where games are won and lost, but it is a position that is all work with little glory. Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois does all the gritty stuff you need as an interior lineman, while also making splash plays. The 6-foot-2, 295 pounder had 59 pressures and 13 tackles for a loss in 2022 while grading out as the top wins above average player at his position per PFF.

Joe Alt

OL, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Joe Alt is everything that you would expect from an offensive lineman playing at Notre Dame. Alt is massive. He stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs in at over 320 pounds. He is rugged and uncompromising with his blocking, but he is also a smart player that doesn’t get fooled by the pass rushing moves of even the elite edge rushers in college football. Pro Football Focus graded Alt at 91% as a run blocker and 99% as a pass blocker, numbers that ranked him first and fifth respectively among all offensive tackles in 2022.

Braelon Allen

RB, Wisconsin Badgers

What a surprise! A running back from Wisconsin on a list of the best players in college football. The Badgers have been churning out stud backs for years, and Braelon Allen is the latest such runner off the production line. Allen is a throwback running back, with his 415 carries and 2,500 rushing yards over the last two seasons, both being tops in the Power Five. A true junior, Allen will likely see another heavy workload this fall and if he can improve his ability to beat a player in the hole, then he is in line for a monster year.

The Power of Long-Term Compound Interest

Portfolio management is the ongoing maintenance of your long-term investment portfolio. It can include reviewing your asset allocations, adding new money, reinvesting interest and dividends, managing risk by rebalancing, and maintaining a long-term perspective.

First things first: A long-term investor can potentially leverage the power of compound returns (commonly called compound interest in the case of bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs), and other fixed-income investments). Compound interest is essentially interest earned on top of interest. When it comes to compounding, there are three things to consider:

1. The sooner money is put to work, the sooner it can start compounding.

2. Reinvesting can contribute to compound growth.

3. Excessive risk can contribute to large losses, which can erode the long-term effects of compounding.

Compound interest has been called the eighth wonder of the world. And when you look at a chart like figure 1 on the following page, the effects can be impressive. But really, it’s just simple math. But as we’ll see in the next section, it may be a little too simple, meaning it doesn’t account for the setbacks, like corrections, bear markets, and recessions, that can occur along the way.

The Basics of Compounding

Suppose you have $1,000 earning 5% per year. That’s $50 per year, right? Yes, but then it starts to compound. After that first year at 5% interest, you now have $1,050. Add the same 5% interest, and you get $52.50 the second year for a total of $1,102.50. The third year your total grows to

FIGURE 1: A $24,000 investment at a steady compound interest rate yields a significantly higher total when started 26 years earlier.

$1,157.63 ($1,102.50 x 1.05). Yes, the extra gains over and above the original $50 in interest are small at first, but they pick up steam as time goes on.

That’s why it’s important to reinvest any compounded returns. If, instead of reinvesting that $50, you withdrew it and spent it on a nice restaurant dinner, you’d earn only another $50 the second year instead of the compounded $52.50. There’s nothing wrong with the occasional splurge, but when it comes to investing for the future, you can’t have your compounding and eat it too.

Managing Risk: A Rebalancing Act

Now that we’ve looked at the importance of time and reinvestment, let’s turn our attention to risk. Over time, assets such as stocks or bonds grow at different rates. Bonds are designed to deliver a fixed rate of return and are typically viewed as less risky. Over longer periods, the stock market has historically delivered higher returns, but as the boilerplate disclaimer says, past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. The stock market can be volatile, and volatility can leave you susceptible to outsize losses in some assets.

mix of stocks and bonds. A portfolio could become “unbalanced” over time if left alone. That’s why it’s important to consider a periodic rebalance of your portfolio to maintain your target asset allocation.

Note two key points in Figure 2. The actual portfolio allocation at the end of the period is drastically different from the original 50/50 target allocation. And as the stock allocation increased, so did the risk of the overall portfolio.

Suppose you’ve assessed your objectives and risk tolerance and settled on a 50/50

Regular Review

How can an investor help keep this risk in check and maintain a long-term perspective? Consider conducting a portfolio review each quarter to determine if you need to rebalance your assets. Rebalancing simply means selling part of an asset that’s become overweighted. Those funds are then added to an underweighted asset, restoring your target allocations. You can also address the risk and restore your target asset allocations by adding new money to a portfolio.

In the end, portfolio management comes down to risk management and patience.

Article by Ryan Campbell, Education Content Manager, TD Ameritrade

FIGURE 2: Over a 20-year period, a hypothetical 50/50 allocation gradually becomes 69% stocks and 31% bonds.

#18 KJ Jefferson QB, Arkansas Razorbacks

KJ Jefferson is the definition of a baller. He is the type of quarterback that will lay everything on the line to help his team win and he has singlehandedly willed Arkansas to victories over the last couple of seasons in games they would have lost without his drive. At 6-foot-3 and almost 250 pounds, Jefferson eats contact like no other quarterback in the country. He has rushed for 1,221 yards after contact over the last two seasons, scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground over that span. He is more than just a runner, with his 68% completion percentage on 24 touchdowns passing last season both being new career highs.

Josh Newton

CB, TCU Horned Frogs

Josh Newton is a player that will dominate without being noticed this gall. His TCU teammate Tre’vius Hodges Tomlinson won the Jim ThorpeAward given to the top defensive back in the country and was taken by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft. As good as he was, Newton was better per advanced metrics. He allowed just a 35.3% completion rate on passes thrown in his direction and graded out higher than his ThorpeAward winning teammate. Expect offenses to steer clear of Newton as much as possible in 2023, targeting other TCU corners rather than their star player.

Bo Nix QB, Oregon Ducks

It feels like most people expected Bo Nix to use one year in Eugene as a platform to jump to the NFL. Instead, Nix returns to college this season on the back of a 2022 season where he passed for almost 3,600 yards, tossed 29 touchdown passes, and threw just seven interceptions. There were plenty of raised eyebrows when Nix chose Oregon after leaving Auburn, but his decision has already paid off and now he looks to spring a surprise in the last year of the Pac12 as we know it.

Premier Players Sports Foundation

HelpUsHelpThemScore

There are more than 100,000,000 orphans around the world and most of them cannot do what most of us get to enjoy each day – PLAY SPORTS! We believe sports can be a game-changer for many kids because it teaches teamwork, physical fitness as well as provide opportunities to build strong relationships. These benefits are why the mission of The Premier Players Sports Foundation is to help orphans, foster, special needs, and at-risk children participate in community sports leagues. With your help, we provide kids with the proper equipment and the necessary financial resources to join a team. Join us for our next event (Co-Ed Soccer Tournament on Nov. 11, 3pm, at Idlewild Baptist Church Recreation Fields) or please donate using the Paypal button below.