With approximately 250 players on active NFL rosters or practice squads each Sunday, there are numerous NFLPA Collegiate Bowl standouts every week around the league. The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, known for being the most diverse all-star game on the NFL Draft circuit has announced the 11th annual event will be held on Saturday, January 28th, 2023, and will air on NFL Network. While we await the next class to be announced, here’s a look at some of the notable alumni who made an impact in NFL week eleven action!
Brandon Powell & Christian Rozeboom
The next-man-up mentality has been a league-wide mantra that extends into every organization and maybe more than most with the Los Angeles Rams organization. An accumulation of injuries continues to decimate the defending Super Bowl Champions, hence opportunities have arisen for several young, prominent NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni. While wide receiver Brandon Powell (Florida) may not be a household name, he is the epitome of hard work, having suited up with three various organizations through the first five years of his career. After stints with the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, Powell seems to have found a fit in Hollywood, having suited up in every game this season. The UCF product has a knack for the theatrical catch, so don’t be surprised if he turns up on your favorite NFL highlight show. Another NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni making his mark in LA is linebacker Christian Rozeboom (SDSU), who now has six tackles for the Rams in 10 games played. One-third of every NFL team consists of undrafted free agents and these two players intend to stick around for a bit.
Jack Cochrane
An undrafted rookie free agent, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane (USD) has made the most of his opportunities in limited time. The former high school quarterback and college team captain at North Dakota State now has six tackles in eight games played, including four special teams tackles this season on kickoff and punt coverage units. Blessed with prototype size, Cochrane possesses a lot of favorable traits that scouts commonly see in ‘make-it’ type players, including great athleticism, toughness, smarts, and leadership. No job is too small when you are contributing to the current top seed in the AFC and Cochrane’s role is only expected to grow moving forward with the red-hot Chiefs.
Josh Blackwell
The more you can do, the more valuable you are. After starring at Duke, cornerback Josh Blackwell went undrafted following the 2022 NFL Draft. He would latch on with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent all of training camp, lasting until the final day of cut-downs. Chicago was quick to dial up the feisty cover man, who has carved out a role for himself on special teams as a valuable gunner. After bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and 53-man roster, Blackwell was activated once again this past week, registering a pair of tackles against the Atlanta Falcons, in front of his hometown Georgia crowd.
Darrick Forrest
The emergence of Washington Commanders safety Darrick Forrest has been a revelation as the season tends to wear on. After earning a starting role earlier in the year, Forrest has since become the Commanders biggest playmaker on defense with 50 tackles, six pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. In a short period of time, the Cincinnati product has proven to have a true nose for the football. This past week, Forrest made an interception for the second consecutive week, guiding Washington to their fifth win in six games. A fifth-round pick, Forrest is stating a case as one of the most impactful NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni to hail from the 2021 NFL Draft Class.
Pressley Harvin III
A seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III has made tremendous progress in his overall game, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. The Georgia Tech product and Ray Guy Award winner earned rave reviews following their game against the Cincinnati Bengals this past week. Tomlin praised Harvin III for his directional kicks, hang time, and ball placement, acknowledging how well he pinned Bengals return man Trent Taylor along the sideline on several occasions. While Harvin III has endured his share of ups and downs, he certainly appears to be trending in the right direction.
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight
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