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. We saw clusters of top performers from our NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni in Week 15, here’s a look:
Russell Gage
As noted last week, there were a handful of NFLPA Collegiate Bowl skill position players making their presence known with their performance and that trend continued once again this week. One player making a cameo here is Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage, who added two more touchdowns to his season total, nabbing eight catches for 59 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Michael Woods
Another wideout worth monitoring down the stretch of the season is Cleveland Browns speedster Michael Woods, who has seen an increased snap count in recent weeks. The sixth-round rookie out of Oklahoma was impressive back in January during the week of NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices with his route running and playmaking abilities. With quarterback DeShaun Watson looking to find his groove, Woods could be one target he locates more often moving forward.
Will Parks & John Franklin-Myers
Like a fine wine, New York Jets seven-year veteran Will Parks is playing some of his best ball during the ladder stages of his career. He stepped up in a big way and played 100% of the defensive snaps this past week, while leading the team with nine tackles. The previous week, Parks strictly played on special teams. A consummate pro, the Philly native stayed ready, so he didn’t need to get ready and as a result, he was able to provide dependable play for Gang Green. Teammate John Franklin-Myers, a fellow NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni registered two tackles against the Detroit Lions, who have also accumulated a handful of talented players from the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Jerry Jacobs & Malcolm Rodriguez
The Detroit Lions would pull out a close victory over the Jets due largely in part to the interception by second-year pro, Jerry Jacobs. The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni came up big in the clutch to help seal the game and has been a sparkplug since being activated seven weeks ago. He has racked up 31 tackles during that span, including his first career sack the previous week. Jacobs is part of the young defensive core that the Lions plan to build around, which includes a sixth-round draft pick from the 2022 NFL Draft who participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez has shown to be part of the future in Detroit, who have made a late-season push towards the playoffs!
The 11th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, known for being the most diverse all-star game on the NFL Draft circuit, is scheduled for January 28th at the historic Rose Bowl.
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight
- Week One
- Week Two
- Week Three
- Week Four
- Week Five
- Week Six
- Week Seven
- Week Eight
- Week Nine
- Week Ten
- Week Eleven
- Week Twelve
- Week Thirteen
- Week Fourteen
*Be sure to follow us @NFLPABowl for the latest player acceptances and updates for the 11th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28th, 2023 on NFL Network.