Miami, FL
Three Takeaways from the OKC Thunder’s Summer League Loss to the Miami Heat
On Monday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder were defeated by the Miami Heat 102-73 in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The loss puts OKC at 0-2 in Las Vegas after a solid showing in Salt Lake City’s Summer League event earlier this month.
Despite being trounced by the Heat, the Thunder had multiple young players perform well in Monday’s contest.
Here are three takeaways from Oklahoma City’s most recent Summer League matchup.
For the second consecutive game, rookie guards Ajay Mitchell and Dillon Jones were both bright spots for OKC.
In 24 minutes, Mitchell was the Thunder’s leading scorer, tallying 21 points, five assists, two rebounds, one block and one steal while shooting 8-of-14 from the field. The second round draft pick also went 1-for-1 from 3-point range.
Throughout his time in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas this month, Mitchell has performed well for the Thunder, giving himself an opportunity to be one of the OKC Blue’s top players in the upcoming season. Mitchell will play on a two-way contract and could even earn a few minutes of NBA action this year if he continues to shoot the ball well from the perimeter, control the game as a lead guard and hustle on defense.
While Mitchell’s size prevents him from being an elite defender, the UC Santa Barbara product has been able to make plays and force turnovers so far in the Summer League by playing with constant effort.
Jones has also been one of the Thunder’s top players this summer.
While the Weber State product wasn’t as efficient on Monday night, he still finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal while shooting 4-of-14 from the field and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Even though Jones didn’t have his best performance, he still showcased the versatility that made the first round pick so appealing to Sam Presti.
Aside from Mitchell and Jones, Adam Flagler was one of Oklahoma City’s only other standouts against the Heat.
The second-year guard notched 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of action, shooting 7-of-16 from the field and 4-of-11 from beyond the arc. Despite just one professional season, Flagler is clearly the veteran of the Thunder’s Summer League team and has played with good command of the game.
After spending the majority of last year with the OKC Blue, Flagler could have a shot at filling OKC’s final roster spot if he continues to play well.
Outside of Mitchell, Jones and Flagler, the rest of Oklahoma City’s roster has struggled in Las Vegas.
Players like Keyontae Johnson, Kylor Kelley, Hunter Maldonado, Cormac Ryan, KJ Williams and Jaden Shackelford all played more than 15 minutes against the Heat on Monday, but still were unable to make big contributions.
Johnson, Maldonado, Williams and Shackelford all spent last year with the Blue, and could return to the Thunder’s G League affiliate for the 2024-25 season.
Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Miami, FL
MAC Football: Miami RedHawks Slight Favorites To Repeat As Champions
Over the last four seasons, a different Mid-American Conference team has won the league’s championship game each year. Will that trend continue in 2024? Or, will we see one of the league’s recent powers lift the trophy again?
New Memphis QB Announces Commitment With Rapper Quavo on Instagram Live
The 2023 champions of the league were Chuck Martin’s Miami RedHawks. No team has repeated as MAC champions since the 2011 and 2012 Northern Illinois Huskies.
On FanDuel, the RedHawks are slight favorites to win the conference again, sitting at +240. They sit just above the Toledo Rockets, who are +290. Northern Illinois (+650) and and Bowling Green (+700) round out the top four.
Toledo Secures Top-25 Michigan 2025 Prospect
Miami have won the MAC title game four times in six appearances. In addition to the 2023 title, Miami won the 2019, 2010, and 2003 championship bouts.
Miami’s 2024 campaign begins on August 31 when the RedHawks take a trip to Northwestern.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Miami, FL
Who are the best players in Florida in EA College Football 25? Full speed, strength, overall ratings
EA College Football 25 player ratings: Florida State, Miami, UCF on list
Florida State and UCF had one player apiece in the top-100 player ratings, while the Miami Hurricane saw three make EA Sports’ initial list.
Some gamers will have to wait until Friday when the standard edition comes out. But for those that pre-ordered the deluxe edition of College Football 25, they got their hands on the hottest new sports video game on the market Monday.
It’s the first college football title published by EA Sports in 11 years. The last was NCAA Football 14.
And for the first time ever, the game includes players’ actual names, which was made possible by the name, image and likeness rules ratified during the past few years.
All 134 Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams are featured, including seven Florida programs.
Want to play as Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei or Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr.? Now, you can.
Here are the 85-man rosters for Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Florida and UCF.
Florida Gators College Football 25 player ratings
Player | Position | Speed | Strength | Overall |
J. Marshall Jr. | CB | 94 | 70 | 89 |
J. Slaughter | OL | 65 | 85 | 87 |
M. Johnson Jr. | RB | 88 | 75 | 87 |
E. Wilson III | WR | 93 | 56 | 86 |
E. Badger | WR | 91 | 67 | 85 |
A. Turner | SS | 86 | 72 | 84 |
J. Crawshaw | P | 69 | 56 | 84 |
G. Mertz | QB | 74 | 67 | 84 |
D. Moore | CB | 91 | 72 | 83 |
S. James | MLB | 84 | 77 | 83 |
J. Jackson | CB | 91 | 60 | 83 |
J. Castell | FS | 88 | 76 | 82 |
T. Sapp | LE | 79 | 83 | 82 |
C. McClain | CB | 92 | 57 | 82 |
K. Collins | LE | 76 | 85 | 81 |
A. Barber | LT | 63 | 93 | 80 |
C. Dike | WR | 92 | 69 | 80 |
D. Lagway | QB | 88 | 70 | 80 |
C. Jackson | DT | 49 | 94 | 79 |
D. George Jr. | RG | 46 | 93 | 79 |
T. Bridges | CB | 91 | 66 | 79 |
C. Banks | DE | 68 | 94 | 79 |
T. Smack | K | 69 | 52 | 79 |
L. McCray | LE | 75 | 90 | 79 |
R. Moten | FS | 90 | 79 | 79 |
G. Howard | ROLB | 82 | 73 | 79 |
J. Slackman | RE | 72 | 89 | 79 |
J. Boone | LOLB | 76 | 84 | 79 |
J. Lyons | DT | 63 | 90 | 78 |
D. Watson | DT | 34 | 97 | 78 |
H. Hansen | TE | 70 | 84 | 78 |
D. Johnson | CB | 91 | 73 | 78 |
D. Manuel | LT | 62 | 84 | 78 |
R. Kearney | C | 63 | 84 | 78 |
A. Mizell | WR | 96 | 60 | 78 |
A. Boardingham | TE | 86 | 69 | 78 |
T. Webb | HB | 88 | 78 | 77 |
M. Graham | MLB | 84 | 69 | 77 |
D. Wingo | MLB | 84 | 77 | 77 |
K. James | LE | 75 | 86 | 77 |
M. Burke | WR | 92 | 71 | 77 |
J. Zandamela | C | 70 | 73 | 77 |
T. Searcy | LOLB | 80 | 82 | 77 |
K. Harris | LG | 61 | 88 | 77 |
G. Gumbs Jr. | LOLB | 75 | 81 | 76 |
B. Crenshaw-Dickson | RT | 53 | 86 | 76 |
R. Simonds | RG | 54 | 85 | 76 |
D. Douglas | SS | 84 | 73 | 76 |
C. Millen | QB | 75 | 65 | 75 |
C. Williams | LG | 57 | 87 | 75 |
K. Zipperer | TE | 84 | 70 | 75 |
B. Thornton | SS | 88 | 73 | 75 |
J. Baugh | HB | 86 | 79 | 75 |
K. Jackson | WR | 86 | 74 | 74 |
M. Pitts | RT | 57 | 85 | 74 |
S. Denson | FS | 90 | 65 | 74 |
C. Jones | LT | 49 | 94 | 74 |
A. Gates | SS | 88 | 71 | 74 |
F. Westphal | RT | 54 | 94 | 74 |
K. Waites | RT | 42 | 97 | 74 |
J. Fraziers | WR | 88 | 76 | 74 |
K. Daniels | RB | 91 | 67 | 74 |
J. Robinson | ROLB | 82 | 79 | 73 |
G. Smith III | SS | 90 | 61 | 73 |
J. Grimsley | CB | 93 | 59 | 73 |
G. Hill | TE | 78 | 80 | 73 |
J. Pyburn | ROLB | 77 | 81 | 72 |
T. Livingston | TE | 77 | 80 | 72 |
T. Fuller | MLB | 79 | 80 | 72 |
A. Jean | WR | 90 | 68 | 71 |
D. Spurlock II | MLB | 79 | 72 | 71 |
J. Davis | SS | 88 | 59 | 70 |
J. Weston | LOLB | 80 | 80 | 69 |
T. Abrams | WR | 95 | 57 | 68 |
T. Foster | CB | 90 | 49 | 68 |
T. Spierto | WR | 85 | 73 | 68 |
P. Terry | LT | 58 | 86 | 68 |
C. Carroll | RB | 84 | 80 | 67 |
T. Hawkins | WR | 97 | 46 | 67 |
L. Swafford | LOLB | 77 | 93 | 66 |
K. Hardee | TE | 79 | 67 | 66 |
J. Jackson | RB | 84 | 79 | 64 |
P. Leise | QB | 72 | 67 | 64 |
A. Covington | FS | 86 | 71 | 63 |
R. Underwood | TE | 73 | 68 | 62 |
Florida State Seminoles College Football 25 player ratings
Player
Position
Speed
Strength
Overall
P. Payton
LE
85
77
90
S. Brown
SS
86
72
89
A. Thomas
CB
92
67
88
M. Smith
C
63
90
88
D. Jackson Jr.
DT
61
95
88
F. Cypress II
CB
90
59
87
D. Washington
LT
63
87
86
D. Uiagalelei
QB
77
82
86
R. Williams
HB
88
75
85
J. Farmer
DT
66
93
85
M. Benson
WR
96
62
85
J. Lucas
HB
95
57
84
L. Toafili
HB
93
68
84
D. Lundy
ROLB
79
81
84
M. Jones Jr.
RE
85
84
84
J. Byers
RT
54
90
84
R. Leonard IV
RG
53
93
83
A. Mastrommanno
P
65
66
83
K. Jones
RG
50
91
83
D. Brown
FS
90
58
82
S. Lolohea
RE
71
84
82
O. Cooper
CB
91
65
81
E. Little II
CB
91
55
81
C. Hussey
FS
91
67
81
C. Holmes
HB
95
73
81
G. Kelly
DT
69
85
81
J. Rizy
RT
57
86
80
C. Riley
ROLB
83
79
80
T. Durojaiye
LE
75
81
80
S. Murphy
MLB
84
67
79
B. Estes
RG
56
84
79
L. Simmons
LT
59
90
78
J. Armella
LG
58
91
78
K. Sampson
DT
61
90
77
R. Scott Jr.
LT
55
89
77
B. Nicholson
MLB
83
75
77
K. Knowles II
FS
90
60
77
O. Graham Jr.
MLB
81
76
77
C. Lester III
CB
88
60
77
L. Kromenhoek
QB
84
58
76
B. Glenn
QB
75
65
76
J. Early
RT
64
86
76
J. Douglas
WR
92
61
76
J. Brown
WR
96
56
76
J. West
TE
75
75
75
K. Poitier
WE
86
76
75
K. Morlock
TE
71
73
75
D. Lyons
DT
67
86
75
K. Kirkland
SS
88
69
75
C. Bates
CB
91
57
75
D. Hill
WR
91
67
75
L. Green Jr.
RE
80
78
75
K. Davis
HB
88
79
75
L. Thomas
TE
85
74
75
M. Itete
LG
67
81
74
B. Courtney
TE
78
80
74
R. Montgomery
LG
60
87
74
B. Turner Jr.
LE
74
76
74
J. Jones
LE
75
80
74
A. Hester
LE
76
74
74
D. Williamson
WR
89
74
73
A. Williams
RE
83
69
72
Q. Jones
CB
89
63
72
J. Cryer
ROLB
78
80
72
D. Jones
CB
90
61
72
A. Barker
SS
84
74
72
J. Todd
RT
54
89
71
D. Ward
ROLB
79
75
70
J. Rawls
CB
89
64
70
D. Lee
WR
90
67
70
D. Spann
WR
88
75
69
T. Jackson
QB
82
62
69
L. McCoy
WR
91
57
69
T. Frazier
CB
92
50
69
T. Hylton
LT
67
79
67
J. Parrish
LOLB
83
68
67
Z. Redd
LT
63
80
67
T. Hickman-Collins
MLB
78
72
67
C. Frier
WR
94
58
66
B. Gibson
WR
90
64
66
J. Langston
WR
90
63
66
R. Fitzgerald
K
69
51
65
M. Chiumento
P
65
64
65
M. Arnold
TE
73
68
53
A. Bracewell
LOLB
74
78
53
UCF Knights College Football 25 player ratings
Player
Position
Speed
Strength
Overall
R. Harvey
HB
92
74
91
P. Boone
HB
86
84
88
K. Jefferson
QB
86
85
87
J. Richardson Jr.
HB
91
61
86
A. Kight
LT
64
91
85
K. Hudson
WR
92
68
85
L. Hunter
DT
63
93
85
B. Adams
CB
90
59
84
M. Montgomery
HB
88
72
82
D. Pace
SS
83
73
82
S. Arnold II
FS
88
71
81
M. McWilliams
CB
90
65
81
R. Pittman Jr.
TE
82
71
81
B. Threats
SS
89
66
80
M. Lawrence
LE
81
79
80
R. Barber
DT
66
88
80
A. Jackson
CB
92
59
80
J. Henderson
CB
92
49
79
T. Fegans
CB
90
61
79
A. Medley
LG
53
84
79
J. Walker
DT
62
93
79
X. Townsend
WR
92
61
78
C. Kitler
C
59
95
78
J. Brooks
C
44
95
78
M. Marshall
RG
48
87
78
E. Barr
MLB
81
72
78
Q. Bullard
FS
90
52
77
D. Dotson
RE
78
81
77
J. Pierre
ROLB
82
84
77
C. Hawkins
FS
90
63
77
C. Magwood
WR
90
62
77
L. Tennison
SS
87
63
77
J. Jones
WR
85
79
76
X. Alexander
MLB
83
76
76
J. Brown
QB
88
68
76
J. Johnson
WR
96
47
76
E. Morris
TE
79
82
75
C. Zellwood
FS
87
66
75
C. Boomer
K
70
47
74
A. Harris
MLB
88
78
74
J. Johnson
LE
74
79
73
D. Odom
LOLB
81
73
73
K. Moore
ROLB
81
67
73
W. Wells
SS
88
60
73
W. Dorsey
RT
62
89
73
I. Nixon
LE
79
71
73
M. McCarthy
P
59
56
73
C. Kinnie
RG
57
89
73
P. Rubelt
LT
52
91
73
M. Downs
DT
59
88
72
J. Gude
SS
85
63
72
T. Bullard
ROLB
83
66
72
K. Smith
LG
63
83
72
P. Barnett
RG
56
86
72
T. Whittemore
WR
87
78
71
B. Marshall
CB
91
60
71
K. Hudson
DT
57
90
71
M. Alexander
DT
60
90
71
J. Davis
TE
73
79
71
J. Heyward
FS
95
58
71
M. Manley
RE
74
81
71
J. Bridgewater
WR
88
68
70
C. Peterson
CB
93
44
70
R. Adkins
TE
74
73
70
J. Cline
C
59
86
70
K. Call
RE
75
80
70
D. Rizk
QB
74
65
70
G. Stevens
TE
77
66
70
J. Presley
SS
84
72
69
E. Colson
QB
83
59
69
R. Trujillo
QB
82
62
69
W. Flynn
C
60
85
69
T. Ford Jr.
MLB
78
80
69
C. Malamala
RT
47
92
68
K. Fox
WR
86
72
68
S. Gage
HB
87
74
68
K. Cox
LT
64
80
68
K. Ingram
HB
90
65
67
J. Baker
WR
90
51
67
K. Stokes
WR
94
57
67
C. Johnson
CB
90
57
67
C. Simon
HB
92
63
66
B. Worrell
ROLB
79
74
65
B. Richardson
WR
90
61
64
G. King
TE
58
72
63
Miami Hurricanes College Football 25 player ratings
Player
Position
Speed
Strength
Overall
D. Martinez
HB
88
82
91
R. Bain Jr.
LE
81
91
90
X. Restrepo
WR
89
66
90
C. Ward
QB
84
70
89
J. Rivers
LT
60
94
88
F. Mauigoa
RT
60
96
87
A. Cooper
RG
50
93
85
E. Alston
RE
83
83
85
J. George
WR
92
59
85
A. Borregales
K
73
42
85
F. Mauigoa
MLB
78
84
84
S. Barrow Jr.
DT
68
88
84
M. Fletcher Jr.
HB
90
80
84
D. Hill
CB
89
62
82
M. Cook
DT
69
88
82
M. Powell
SS
90
74
81
D. Langston
CB
92
48
81
A. Allen
HB
90
66
80
W. Bissainthe
ROLB
86
62
80
S. Okunlola
LT
61
86
80
E. Arroyo
TE
83
70
80
C. McCormick
TE
78
85
79
A. Mesidor
LE
72
84
79
D. Joyce
P
66
65
79
R. Stafford
CB
92
60
79
C. Clark
DT
70
89
78
L. Cristobal Jr.
RG
59
87
78
A. Blount
LE
79
93
78
R. Williams
TE
73
60
78
M. Lightfoot
RE
84
68
77
J. Alderman
MLB
79
76
77
D. Knight
FS
89
66
77
R. Breaston
MLB
79
79
77
M. Bell
LT
51
93
77
J. Harris
SS
89
67
77
J. Trader
WR
92
55
76
Z. Patterson
FS
86
63
76
R. Cotton
CB
91
54
76
L. Ramsey
RE
77
80
76
M. Williams
SS
91
55
76
I. Taylor
FS
86
92
76
C. Johnson Jr.
HB
98
67
76
I. Horton
WR
88
76
76
M. Bryant
MLB
80
77
76
R. Aguirre Jr.
ROLB
81
77
76
D. Morgan
LOLB
84
66
75
K. McManus
RE
79
74
75
A. Campbell
DT
59
92
75
R. Rodriguez
C
68
92
75
L. Elam
CB
90
59
74
A. Moten
DT
55
94
74
R. Poffenbarger
QB
76
63
74
M. McCoy
RT
64
86
74
R. Joseph
WR
92
55
73
C. Pruitt
MLB
86
64
73
M. Redding III
WR
89
66
73
M. Crawford
DT
65
86
73
D. Compton
HB
92
66
73
J. Horton
DT
64
89
73
E. Lofton
TE
83
67
73
A. Tripp Jr.
RG
57
88
72
C. Wheatley-Humphrey
HB
89
66
71
M. Chamberlain
C
62
85
71
J. Andrews
CB
90
64
71
D. Massey
CB
90
61
71
C. McConathy II
RE
77
69
70
I. Thomas
SS
86
78
70
T. Larson
TE
79
69
70
C. Carmichael
RE
78
75
70
T. Kinsler IV
LG
51
95
70
N. Francavilla
C
57
86
69
F. Tinilau
LT
55
90
69
D. Little
WR
90
67
69
J. Anderson
QB
71
63
69
D. Day
FS
94
52
68
H. Benson
ROLB
84
70
68
D. Hodges
WR
90
64
68
J. Moreland
LE
73
83
68
T. McCormick
WR
90
63
68
D. Plazz
LG
62
82
68
J. Carver
TE
79
69
68
O. Ford
RT
55
91
67
D. Kramer
DT
67
83
67
J. Anderson
WR
92
57
66
USF Bulls College Football 25 player ratings
Player | Position | Speed | Strength | Overall |
S. Atkins | WR | 89 | 56 | 87 |
B. Brown | QB | 87 | 73 | 84 |
A. Brown | CB | 91 | 58 | 84 |
J. Shuler | ROLB | 81 | 74 | 84 |
T. Keith | HB | 90 | 62 | 80 |
Z. Herring | RG | 55 | 90 | 80 |
R. Cheney | DT | 71 | 87 | 80 |
N. Simmons | WR | 88 | 61 | 79 |
D. Blue-Eli | DT | 53 | 96 | 79 |
A. Stokes | P | 56 | 66 | 79 |
A. Yaseen | WR | 89 | 71 | 78 |
P. Singletary | TE | 82 | 71 | 78 |
I. Hickman | DT | 69 | 90 | 78 |
K. Joiner | HB | 90 | 63 | 77 |
T. Ward | CB | 87 | 65 | 77 |
M. Brown-Stephens | WR | 90 | 64 | 77 |
M. Harris | MLB | 83 | 76 | 77 |
J. Stokes | SS | 92 | 63 | 77 |
K. Powell | HB | 88 | 75 | 77 |
J. Vaughn | LE | 74 | 80 | 76 |
D. Rucker | CB | 90 | 66 | 76 |
D. Harris | RE | 77 | 78 | 75 |
W. Wolff | TE | 77 | 69 | 75 |
D. Bowman | RT | 64 | 92 | 75 |
M. Lofton | C | 53 | 89 | 75 |
L. Berryhill | FS | 85 | 68 | 75 |
D. Gordon IV | MLB | 75 | 76 | 75 |
K. Banks | FS | 90 | 52 | 75 |
B. Austin | CB | 89 | 55 | 75 |
D. Hawthorne | DT | 68 | 90 | 75 |
R. Perry | LT | 54 | 93 | 74 |
J. Alexis | WR | 89 | 63 | 74 |
U. Uzebu | RT | 58 | 91 | 74 |
G. Greenwald | TE | 76 | 71 | 74 |
M. Williams II | LE | 75 | 81 | 74 |
D. Augustin | FS | 87 | 68 | 74 |
I. Carter | QB | 86 | 58 | 73 |
B. Archie | QB | 73 | 64 | 73 |
M. Hurst | CB | 90 | 48 | 73 |
H. Todd | MLB | 80 | 72 | 73 |
J. Pettway | ROLB | 77 | 87 | 73 |
B. Waller | ROLB | 80 | 69 | 72 |
J. Pettus | RE | 74 | 77 | 72 |
K. Brown | FS | 88 | 62 | 72 |
B. Gooden | RE | 76 | 76 | 71 |
C. Skinner | LG | 50 | 90 | 71 |
T. McCoy | SS | 87 | 74 | 71 |
J. Williams | DT | 58 | 90 | 71 |
J. Lee | CB | 90 | 62 | 71 |
J. Cobbs | WR | 86 | 75 | 70 |
J. Smith | WR | 98 | 58 | 70 |
T. Byard | SS | 87 | 73 | 70 |
J. Bolden | CB | 90 | 62 | 70 |
K. Cobb | FS | 86 | 73 | 70 |
C. Best | C | 57 | 85 | 70 |
A. Kilfoyl | LG | 57 | 86 | 70 |
N. Gramatica | K | 79 | 43 | 70 |
J. Cannon | K | 73 | 45 | 70 |
J. Jenkins | LG | 60 | 84 | 69 |
N. Milovac | RT | 56 | 88 | 69 |
B. Knox | CB | 87 | 65 | 69 |
C. Lamb | HB | 89 | 69 | 69 |
S. McMillan | LT | 55 | 87 | 69 |
J. Echols | TE | 85 | 67 | 69 |
D. Bowie | RG | 52 | 88 | 69 |
R. Hill | MLB | 85 | 68 | 68 |
R. Lennon | LT | 58 | 85 | 68 |
M. Baker | LE | 69 | 85 | 68 |
J. Johnson | HB | 89 | 91 | 68 |
Z. Hamilton | LOLB | 81 | 72 | 67 |
J. Shipp | HB | 88 | 75 | 67 |
M. Tate | QB | 77 | 53 | 67 |
D. Exume | LE | 77 | 72 | 67 |
A. Toney | CB | 90 | 58 | 66 |
K. Malone | CB | 90 | 54 | 66 |
B. Winton | WR | 90 | 56 | 66 |
T. Kelly | WR | 85 | 70 | 66 |
A. Mosley | RE | 79 | 67 | 65 |
A. Forbes | RG | 55 | 87 | 65 |
A. Isaac | HB | 92 | 60 | 65 |
C. Exume | RE | 74 | 80 | 65 |
J. Porter | WR | 89 | 53 | 64 |
C. McKinney | LE | 69 | 84 | 64 |
G. Lanning | LT | 58 | 89 | 62 |
T. Dubuc | TE | 72 | 68 | 59 |
Miami, FL
Rubio Passed Over For VP Pick As Trump Announces Selection
MILWAUKEE, WI — After weeks of speculation on who will be his running mate, Donald Trump announced that Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is his choice to run as vice president on the 2024 Republican ticket, CNN reported. The campaign confirmed the choice.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Vance, 39, served in the U.S. Marines, graduated from Yale Law School and wrote the bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was one of three top contenders for the job, along with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vance. All three men are expected to speak this week at the convention, as is former rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, The Associated Press reported.
The announcement came on the heels of an assassination attempt on the former president during a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania that left an innocent bystander and the shooter dead, and two others hospitalized.
In 2022, Rubio won his third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat U.S. House Rep. Val Demings. He is the first Florida Republican to win three terms in the U.S. Senate, according to NBC News.
Rubio is also the longest-serving Hispanic elected official in the state.
In the weeks ahead of the GOP national convention, which began Monday in Milwaukee and runs through Thursday, Rubio was called a top contender for the VP selection by political watchers.
The vice-presidential pick is set to speak on Wednesday, according to the convention schedule.
Trump has said he planned a dramatic reveal of his vice president at the convention to make it more “exciting.”
“It’s like a highly sophisticated version of ‘The Apprentice,’” he quipped in a radio interview last week, referring to the show he once hosted that featured him firing contestants on camera.
One complication with Rubio joining the ticket would have been that the Constitution requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to come from different states, meaning Rubio might have to change his official residency, Florida Politics reported.
Laurence Tribe, professor emeritus of constitutional law at Harvard University, told ABC News that “none of Florida’s 30 electoral votes may be cast this December for both Trump and Rubio unless Rubio or Trump ‘ceases to be an inhabitant’ of Florida before Dec. 17, 2024,” which is when the electoral college votes.
Tribe said Rubio could still keep his Senate seat even if he does change his Florida residency because the Constitution says a senator must be an “Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen,” and Rubio lived in Florida when elected in 2022.
Some pundits have suggested Rubio could change his residency to Florida, where his family lived when he was a child.
Rubio, 53, the son of two immigrants from Cuba, was born in Miami. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Rubio served as a city commissioner in West Miami and as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Rubio married his wife, Jeanette, in 1998. They have four children: Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominick.
He is the vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
The consideration of Rubio to the Trump ticket seems to signal their contentious relationship during the 2016 presidential race, when the former president regularly called the shorter senator “Little Marco,” has been set aside.
Rubio then told supporters at a rally that Trump was always calling him “little Marco” but that Trump has disproportionately small hands. “Have you seen his hands? … And you know what they say about men with small hands,” Rubio said. “You can’t trust them.”
Trump then brought up the comment at a televised debate on March 3, 2016, AP reported.
“Look at those hands. Are they small hands? And he referred to my hands — if they’re small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there’s no problem. I guarantee you,” he said.
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