SHEHAN JEYARAJAH
Sports Writer
Notable Stories
A comprehensive collection of memorable articles and projects.
AWARD WINNING STORIES
Inside Texas Tech's bold all-in bet on NIL and the billionaire landman responsible (CBS Sports)
WEST TEXAS -- Cody Campbell made his billions by knowing when to buy low. Facing college football’s Wild West era, Texas Tech smelled opportunity. In the most ambitious story of my career, I went to Lubbock and wrote about the transformative power of aspiration. This story will be up for awards in 2026. (READ FULL STORY HERE)
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)
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. This story captured first place in enterprise writing in the FWAA Best Writing Contest.
FEATURES
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)
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)
How Purdue's QB legacy led Hudson Card from Texas to the Boilermakers (CBS Sports)
How did Hudson Card end up in West Lafayette, Indiana? For a native Texan with a personality akin to a surfer dude, a Midwestern engineering school doesn't exactly fit the vibe. Traveling over a thousand miles from home in Austin and leaving the flagship school in Texas for a second chance wasn't part of the plan. (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)
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 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)
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)
