Fanart » games in his rookie season after the No. 3 overall pick i

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Christian Wilkins secret is out -- the Clemson defensive end loves the Power Rangers.So much, in fact, he convinced a squad of linemen for the third-ranked Tigers (No. 2 CFP) to join him on Halloween decked out as the campy, crime fighters. They stopped at several homes, including head coach Dabo Swinney, defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks and defensive coordinator Brent Venables.They loved it, Wilkins said of the coachs reactions. They just knew we were having fun and having a good time.Wilkins, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound sophomore, is leading the good times on the field for Clemsons defense, too.He tops the team in tackles for loss on a defense that was expected to need time to find its footing this season after losing seven starters from a group that won the ACC championship and was national runner up to Alabama. Instead, the versatile Wilkins has filled the void created by the NFL departures of defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd.The Tigers (8-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) play Syracuse (4-4, 2-2) on Saturday.Wilkins showed promise as a freshman last year, getting 84 tackles and two sacks to make an impact on a defense filled with upper classmen. His biggest highlight from 2015, though, may have come on special teams when he caught a 31-yard pass on a fake punt in the Orange Bowl to help spark a 37-17 win over Oklahoma.There are not many people who can move like he can move as big as he is, Swinney said.Perhaps thats why Wilkins had continued moonlighting on offense, becoming the teams first defensive lineman to catch a TD pass with his 1-yard grab in his teams 30-24 win over Troy on Sept. 10.Wilkins, though, understands his role and knows its disrupting quarterbacks and offenses. He and the Tigers did that to perfection to preserve a 37-34 win at Florida State last Saturday night. Wilkins, who finished with 1.5 of Clemsons six sacks, combined with teammate Dexter Lawrence to sack Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois on third down of Florida States final offensive series.Wilkins kept the pressure on until the Seminoles last snap, cluttering up the backfield and opening the way for linebacker Ben Boulwares game-clinching sack.Wilkins is a non-stop worker who keeps the team in good spirits with his up-beat attitude, Venables said. Thats an invaluable quality over a season in which Clemson is trying match its national rise from a year ago.From a preparation standpoint, we cant lose focus, Wilkins said. We have to prepare for every game like its Florida State, like its Louisville, like its the national championship.Clemson defense is 14th nationally in yards allowed and 11th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 17.6 points given up a game. Wilkins said he and his teammates knew it was their time to take over and wanted to live up to Clemsons strong defensive history.Syracuse coach Dino Babers believes the Tigers have, knowing his offense will have a challenge like few others this season in penetrating Clemsons defense.This team has no weaknesses, Babers said. Their d-line, draft choices. Their linebackers, draft choices. Their DBs can cover and they are over six-feet in length and they are fast, draft choices.Wilkins is proud to lineup alongside his teammates. He was even happier that several -- tackles Dexter Lawrence, Carlos Watkins and Jabril Robinson, and end Clelin Ferrell -- agreed to his Power Ranger idea.Wilkins, who watched the show when he was a child, brings his fanboy sensibilities to the field, too. The linemen call themselves the Power Rangers and Wilkins said his sack celebration is of the super heroes morphing into their ranger persona.When that helmet comes on its morphing time, Wilkins said. Its all about having fun.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org Nmd_r2 Sko Norge . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Nmds Norge .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. http://www.nmdnorgesalg.com/lite-racer-sko-norge.html . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Adidas Tubular Shadow Norge . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Tubular Shadow Sko . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. ATLANTA -- Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was borderline disgusted after watching his team commit nine turnovers in the first quarter.It didnt take long for Budenholzer to get the results he wanted as Atlanta had just seven turnovers over the last three periods.Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points, Kent Bazemore added 17 and the Hawks won their fourth straight game with a 117-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.It was like were handing them the ball and theyre going and scoring, Budenholzer said. Credit our guys to kind of flip that and just still play with great ball movement and great confidence and reduce the turnovers.Dwight Howard, the NBAs active leader in double-doubles, had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks.Jahlil Okafor finished with 18 points for the Sixers, who dropped to 1-8 a night after earning their first win.Despite playing with a depleted roster, Philadelphia was within two with 3:50 left in the third. But Howards follow dunk gave the Hawks an 84-74 lead and Kyle Korvers 3-pointer on the ensuing possession matched the 10-point advantage in the closing minutes of the period.Hardaway hit 3s on consecutive possessions midway through the fourth to give Atlanta a 14-point lead. Dennis Schroders corner 3 made it 108-89 with 3:17 remaining.Schroder finished with 16 points and Korver had 14.We really just couldnt hold on, Sixers coach Brett Brown said. We have to do whatever we do by committee and we just didnt do that. They historically have been a hard matchup for us.The injury-marred Sixers were without center Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jerryd Bayless and Nerlens Noel.Okafor, who had offseason knee surgery and played just three minutes Friday, was on a 24-minute limit. Embiid was sitting out the second night of the back-to-back.Philadelphia dropped to 1-45 in October and November dating to Nov. 22, 2013. The Sixers have dropped 19 straight on the road.The Hawks took their first double-digit lead on Bazemores 3 in the closing seconds beefore halftime.ddddddddddddOn the turnovers, they were able to get some easy baskets, Korver said. Its been a problem for us all year. Its something we have to clean up. Coach Bud wants us to play free and to make things happen. He doesnt want to take that away, but we have to be better, and thats what he tells us.Sergio Rodriguez had 13 points for Philadelphia. Dario Saric and Nik Stauskas each added 12. Robert Covington scored all of his 11 points in the third.We made the run that allowed us to get back in the game, Covington said. We have to sustain that. I know were short-handed but thats part of the situation well be in.TIP-INS76ers: Embiid had 25 points in Fridays overtime win over Indiana, but the 7-foot, 275-pound center isnt playing both nights of back-to-back games in his rookie season after the No. 3 overall pick in 2014 had to sit out two years with right foot injuries.Hawks: Atlanta began the night ranked second in field-goal percentage, third in assists, first in turnovers forced, second in points off turnovers and seventh in rebounding. ... They ranked 24th in rebounding last season, but the presence of Howard, the NBAs active leader in career rebounds, has paid off in his first Hawks season.ITS NOT EASYBudenholzer and Brown both took charge of their teams in 2013 after spending nine seasons together as San Antonio assistants.Budenholzer feels for Brown, whose teams have struggled with a staggering number of high-profile injuries.I genuinely marvel at him to be honest with you, Budenholzer said. What he does I dont think many people could do.Budenholzer is 153-102 with the Hawks with three playoff appearances. Brown is 48-207 and has the most losses in Sixers history.STAR TIMEActors Jason Bateman and model Jasmine Sanders had front-row seats at center court.UP NEXTSixers: Visit Houston on Monday.Hawks: Visit Miami on Tuesday. ' ' '