South
8 killed after vehicle carrying suspected migrants veers into Albanian river
- A car crashed into the Vjosa River in southeastern Albania, killing all eight people aboard.
- The victims included seven suspected migrants and a local driver, according to Albanian police.
- The crash occurred around 4 a.m. when the driver lost control of the vehicle, veering into the river.
A car crashed into a river on Tuesday in southeastern Albania, killing all eight people on board, including seven suspected migrants and a local driver, Albanian police said.
The driver of the vehicle lost control and veered into the Vjosa River about 150 miles southeast of the capital, Tirana, around 4 a.m., according to a police statement. Seven of the victims were suspected to be “from third countries,” it said, using a description police often use to refer to migrants.
Regional police chief Ardian Cipa said the car failed to stop at a police checkpoint and sped away. A police vehicle then followed the car and saw it had crashed into the river.
ALBANIAN LAWMAKERS APPROVE DEAL FOR COUNTRY TO HOLD THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS FOR ITALY
“It is suspected the driver is from Shkodra and the others are suspected to be migrants who frequently pass this road,” Cipa said, declining to give more details until the investigation is finished. Shkodra is a northwestern city around 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the accident site.
This aerial view taken near the city of Permet shows the Vjosa River. A car crashed into a river on Tuesday in southeastern Albania, killing all eight people on board, including seven suspected migrants and a local driver, Albanian police said. (GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP via Getty Images)
Albania is not a primary route for migrants but small groups from Arab countries or Asia use it to reach Italy by sea or other neighboring countries by land.
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In 2019, Albania became the first non-EU member country to have officers of the bloc’s border agency Frontex to manage its borders in the south and east, which migrants usually cross, and fight cross-border crime.
Albania’s Parliament in February approved a deal for the country to hold thousands of asylum seekers for Italy.
North Carolina
North Carolina lands coveted offensive line transfer
Charleston Southern Buccaneers offensive lineman Andrew Threatt has committed to transfer to the North Carolina Tar Heels. He spent the last three seasons at Charleston Southern.
“It’s not every day you can get coached by a well-experienced staff like North Carolina,” Threatt said. “Even excluding Coach [Bill] Belichick there is at least 10+ years of experience across the board, not to much the academic prestige of the University of North Carolina.”
This decision comes after North Carolina made Threatt an important target in the Transfer Portal this offseason. He was on campus on Saturday, January 3rd, on a visit.
“It was a great visit,” Threatt said. “I really enjoyed the experience and am excited to see what coach Belichick is building in Chapel Hill. The staff is truly one of a kind, and the fan base is even more amazing.”
Andrew Threatt played his high school football at Chesterfield in South Carolina. At the time, he had been overlooked as a recruit. That’s despite being a three-time All-State and All-Region selection during his high school career.
Over the past three seasons, Threatt has started 32 consecutive games for Charleston Southern. Those seasons have widely been considered rebuilding seasons for the Buccaneers under head coach Gabe Giardina. Still, at 10-25 over those three years, it’s been a frustrating run in terms of wins and losses.
As a freshman in 2023, Threatt began his time with Charleston Southern as a right tackle. Later, he’d kick inside to left guard as a sophomore. That was before returning to right tackle. So, it’s going to be interesting to see where North Carolina wants to use him along the offensive line. Regardless, it’s clear he brings some versatility to the Tar Heels in 2026. At 6-foot-3, 315-pounds, he profiles as an interior offensive lineman in the ACC.
Andrew Threatt would be named First Team All-Conference (OVC/Big South) in 2025. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
North Carolina’s first season under legendary head coach Bill Belichick was a frustrating one. The Tar Heels went just 4-8. However, there was some growth by the end of the season, and North Carolina finished winning two of their final five games.
Neither rushing yards nor sacks allowed are entirely the fault of the offensive line, but the offensive line does play a key role in success there. Those stats also tell an interesting story about North Carolina. The Tar Heels were 122nd nationally in rushing offense, averaging 105.25 yards per game. North Carolina was also 55th in sacks allowed, giving up 1.83 per game. So, there is room to improve.
Certainly, Belichick is looking to make changes on offense. Bobby Petrino is coming in as a new offensive coordinator for North Carolina. The Tar Heels have also already added a new transfer quarterback in Billy Edwards Jr.
Oklahoma
Three Big 12 Transfers Oklahoma State Is Reportedly Interested In
PORTAL TRACKER
Oklahoma State’s newly constructed staff got on the board Saturday, picking up portal commitments on offense and special special teams, so how about some defense?
Three Big 12 defenders have been linked with Oklahoma State via the transfer portal over the past few days, including a pair of former OK Preps standouts. Here’s a look.
Kanijal Thomas, CB, Kansas State
Thomas is an Oklahoman, playing his high school ball at Del City. He visited Stillwater on Saturday, according to On3.
He was a redshirt sophomore for the Wildcats in 2025, playing in seven games as a true freshman in 2023 before an injury saw his sophomore season end two games in.
Thomas played in eight games at K-State in 2025, finishing the year with five tackles, a PBU and a forced fumble. According to PFF, he gave up four catches for 21 yards this season on seven targets.
Now listed at 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, Thomas was a three-star prospect coming out of Del City in the 2023 class. He picked K-State over offers from OSU, Texas Tech, Iowa State and others.
Maurion Horn, CB, Texas Tech
Another Oklahoma kid, Maurion Horn has spent the past four seasons in Lubbock, where he has played in 30 games during that time. According to 247Sports, Horn will visit Stillwater on Monday.
He started all of Tech’s games in 2024, finishing that season with 56 tackles, three tackles for loss and five pass breakups. He played in seven games and dealt with some sort of injury, appearing on Tech’s availability report in Weeks 4, 14 and 15.
Horn has been targeted 88 times in his career, per PFF, where he has allowed just 47 catches.
He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Broken Arrow. He ended up picking Tech over offers from OSU, OU, Texas, Baylor, Arkansas and others.
Braylon Rigsby, Edge, Texas Tech
Listed at 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Braylon Rigsby will join his Texas Tech teammate in Stillwater on Monday, according to 247Sports.
He’s played in 26 games across the past two seasons in Lubbock, accumulating 25 tackles and three tackles for loss during that time.
Per PFF, Rigsby has 21 QB pressures in his career to go with two QB hits.
He hails from Woodsville, Texas, which is near the Louisiana border. Rigsby was a three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, coming in as the No. 861 player in the 247Sports Composite ranking.
Tennessee
Cam Ward injury update: Titans QB out after shoulder injury vs. Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans pre-game analysis, prediction
Florida Times-Union Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter Demetrius Harvey breaks down what the team needs to do to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
Tennessee Titans quarterback and former Miami star Cam Ward exited the Week 18 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a shoulder injury, sustained during a first-quarter touchdown run at EverBank Stadium on Jan. 4.
The Titans initially listed Ward as questionable to return, before declaring him out late in the first quarter. Up until the injury, the rookie quarterback had appeared in every offensive snap during the regular season for last-place Tennessee.
While rounding right end and diving for the end zone, Ward absorbed a hard hit from Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun as he also struck the ground just inside the end zone pylon. The rush gave the Titans a short-lived 7-0 lead.
Ward entered the medical tent after the injury, and Tennessee medical staff subsequently escorted him to the locker room.
The rookie from Miami had completed 24 of 38 passes for 141 yards when the Titans played Jacksonville on Nov. 30, a 25-3 Jaguars win. At Miami, Ward was a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Trophy, which ultimately went to Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, now with the Jaguars but also out due to injury.
Former Jaguars quarterback Brandon Allen entered the game in Ward’s place on the next series. The Jags drafted Allen in the sixth round (No. 201) in 2016, although he never appeared in a regular-season game for Jacksonville.
With a victory, the Jaguars would clinch the AFC South and a first-round home assignment for the playoffs. The Titans were eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
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