95 players from 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl class join the NFL ranks
Another successful showing in the books for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl players at the 2023 NFL Draft. This year’s game showcased an abundance of incredible talent as a total of 16 players were drafted through seven rounds, and another 79 players were signed as undrafted free agents.
Below are all of the players who were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft (listed in draft order), followed by players who signed as undrafted free agents (listed alphabetically by last name).
2023 Drafted Players:
Marte Mapu (LB, Sacramento State) – Round 3 — Pick 76 — New England Patriots
Sidy Sow (G, Eastern Michigan) – Round 4 — Pick 117 — New England Patriots
Jon Gaines II (G, UCLA) – Round 4 — Pick 122 — Arizona Cardinals
Sean Clifford (QB, Penn State) – Round 5 — Pick 149 — Green Bay Packers
Zaire Barnes (LB, Western Michigan) – Round 6 — Pick 184 — New York Jets
Scott Matlock (DT, Boise State) – Round 6 — Pick 200 — Los Angeles Chargers
Ameer Speed (CB, Michigan State) – Round 6 — Pick 214 — New England Patriots
Brad Robbins (P, Michigan) – Round 6 — Pick 217 — Cincinnati Bengals
Jovaughn Gwyn (OG, South Carolina) – Round 7 — Pick 225 — Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Hodges (T, Appalachian State) – Round 7 — Pick 226 — Jacksonville Jaguars
Jason Taylor II (S, Oklahoma State) – Round 7 — Pick 234 — Los Angeles Rams
Anthony Johnson (S, Iowa State) – Round 7 — Pick 242 — Green Bay Packers
Jordon Riley (DT, Oregon) – Round 7 — Pick 243 — New York Giants
Isaiah Bolden (CB, Jackson State) – Round 7 — Pick 245 — New England Patriots
D.J. Ivey (CB, Miami) – Round 7 — Pick 246 — Cincinnati Bengals
Kendall Williamson (S, Stanford) – Round 7 — Pick 258 — Chicago Bears
2023 Undrafted Free Agent Signings:
Jayson Ademilola (DL, Notre Dame) – Jacksonville Jaguars
Mitchell Agude (OLB, Miami) – Miami Dolphins
Holton Ahlers (QB, East Carolina) – Seattle Seahawks
Deslin Alexandre (DL, Pittsburgh) – New York Jets
Alan Ali (OL, TCU) – Minnesota Vikings
Daniel Arias (WR, Colorado) – Arizona Cardinals
Calvin Avery (DL, Illinois) – Minnesota Vikings
Michael Ayers (LB, Ashland University) – Seattle Seahawks
Micah Baskerville (LB, LSU) – Chicago Bears
Nico Bolden (DS, Kent State) – Carolina Panthers
Ronnie Brown (RB, Shepherd) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jason Brownlee (WR, Southern Mississippi) – New York Jets
Randy Charlton (DL, Mississippi State) – Miami Dolphins
Macon Clark (DS, Tulane) – Chicago Bears
C.J. Coldon (DC, Oklahoma) Minnesota Vikings
Brandon Council (OL, Auburn) – New York Jets
Malik Cunningham (QB, Louisville) – New England Patriots
Emari Demercado (RB, TCU) – Arizona Cardinals
Trevor Downing (OL, Iowa State) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Collin Duncan (DS, Mississippi State) – Los Angeles Rams
Cory Durden (DL, North Carolina State) – Detroit Lions
Silas Dzansi (OL, Virginia Tech) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Michael Ezeike (TE, UCLA) – Los Angeles Chargers
Joey Fisher (OL, Shepherd) – San Francisco 49ers
Darrious Gaines (DC, Western Colorado) – Denver Broncos
Noah Gindorff (TE, North Dakota State) – Seattle Seahawks
Xavier Gipson (WR, Stephen F. Austin) – New York Jets
Taylor Grimes (WR, Incarnate Ward) – Denver Broncos
Darius Hagans (RB, Virginia State) – Indianapolis Colts
Malik Hamm (DL, Lafayette) – Baltimore Ravens
Keilahn Harris (WR, Oklahoma Baptist) – Atlanta Falcons
Kaleb Hayes (DC, BYU) – Jacksonville Jaguars
Malik Heath (WR, Mississippi) – Green Bay Packers
Louis Hedley (PT, University of Miami) – New Orleans Saints
Noah Henderson (OL, East Carolina) – Buffalo Bills
Keenan Isaac (DC, Alabama State) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trey Jacobs (OL, South Florida) – Denver Broncos
Jaray Jenkins (WR, LSU) – Jacksonville Jaguars
Nash Jensen (OL, North Dakota State) – Carolina Panthers
Braydon Johnson (WR, Oklahoma State) – Buffalo Bills
C.J. Johnson (WR, East Carolina) – Seattle Seahawks
Durrell Johnson (OLB, Liberty) – Dallas Cowboys
Quindell Johnson (DS, Memphis) – Los Angeles Rams
Steven Jones Jr. (DC, Appalachian State) – Tennessee Titans
Mikel Jones (LB, Syracuse) – Los Angeles Chargers
Brandon Kipper (OL, Oregon State) – Baltimore Ravens
Malik Knowles (WR, Kansas State) – Minnesota Vikings
Harris LaChance (OL, BYU) – Indianapolis Colts
Johnny Lumpkin (TE, Louisiana) – New England Patriots
Tashawn Manning (OL, Kentucky) – Baltimore Ravens
Justin Marshall (WR, University of Buffalo) – Atlanta Falcons
Adrian Martinez (QB, Kansas State) – Detroit Lions
Corey Mayfield (DC, UT-San Antonio) – Baltimore Ravens
Camren McDonald (TE, Florida State) – Green Bay Packers
Ryan Miller (WR, Furman) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mark Milton (DC, Baylor) – Carolina Panthers
Tyler Murray (LB, Memphis) – Cincinnati Bengals
Garrett Nelson (DL, Nebraska) – Miami Dolphins
Joseph Ngata (WR, Clemson) – Philadelphia Eagles
David Perales (DL, Fresno State) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Jimmy Phillips Jr. (LB, SMU) – Green Bay Packers
Thomas Rush (OLB, Minnesota) – Tennessee Titans
Brady Russell (TE, Colorado) – Philadelphia Eagles
DJ Scaife Jr. (OL, University of Miami) – Miami Dolphins
Ben Sims (TE, Baylor) – Minnesota Vikings
Christian Sims (TE, Bowling Green State) – Los Angeles Rams
Jacob Slade (DL, Michigan State) – Arizona Cardinals
Chris Smith (RB, Louisiana) – Seattle Seahawks
Keidron Smith (DC, Kentucky) – Miami Dolphins
Titus Swen (RB, Wyoming) – Indianapolis Colts
Ryan Swoboda (OL, Central Florida) – Detroit Lions
George Tarlas (DL, Boise State) – Las Vegas Raiders
SaRodorick Thompson (RB, Texas Tech) – New Orleans Saints
Mitchell Tinsley (WR, Penn State) – Washington Commanders
Brycen Tremayne (WR, Stanford) – Washington Commanders
Zeke Vandenburgh (OLB, Illinois State) – Miami Dolphins
Quavian White (DC, Georgia State) – Arizona Cardinals
Emanuel Wilson (RB, Fort Valley State) – Denver Broncos
Owen Wright (RB, Monmouth) – Baltimore Ravens
The NFLPA is extremely proud of all our alumni for reaching this big moment and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve at the next level. Make sure to follow the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Instagram and Twitter.
- Published in Bowl Game
16 Collegiate Bowl Players Selected in 2023 NFL Draft
It was a great weekend in Kansas City for the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl class. Sixteen players were selected during the NFL draft and Collegiate Bowl history was made when Sean Clifford became the highest-drafted quarterback after being picked by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round.
Below are all of the players who were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft (listed in draft order).
Marte Mapu (LB, Sacramento State) – Round 3 — Pick 76 — New England Patriots
Sidy Sow (G, Eastern Michigan) – Round 4 — Pick 117 — New England Patriots
Jon Gaines II (G, UCLA) – Round 4 — Pick 122 — Arizona Cardinals
Sean Clifford (QB, Penn State) – Round 5 — Pick 149 — Green Bay Packers
Zaire Barnes (LB, Western Michigan) – Round 6 — Pick 184 — New York Jets
Scott Matlock (DT, Boise State) – Round 6 — Pick 200 — Los Angeles Chargers
Ameer Speed (CB, Michigan State) – Round 6 — Pick 214 — New England Patriots
Brad Robbins (P, Michigan) – Round 6 — Pick 217 — Cincinnati Bengals
Jovaughn Gwyn (OG, South Carolina) – Round 7 — Pick 225 — Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Hodges (T, Appalachian State) – Round 7 — Pick 226 — Jacksonville Jaguars
Jason Taylor II (S, Oklahoma State) – Round 7 — Pick 234 — Los Angeles Rams
Anthony Johnson (S, Iowa State) – Round 7 — Pick 242 — Green Bay Packers
Jordon Riley (DT, Oregon) – Round 7 — Pick 243 — New York Giants
Isaiah Bolden (CB, Jackson State) – Round 7 — Pick 245 — New England Patriots
D.J. Ivey (CB, Miami) – Round 7 — Pick 246 — Cincinnati Bengals
Kendall Williamson (S, Stanford) – Round 7 — Pick 258 — Chicago Bears
- Published in Bowl Game
20 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Players Invited to 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
The 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl featured one of the best talent pools since its beginning in 2012. Many players made big impressions on scouts during the week and as a result — 20 players have been invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. This year’s event takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis from March 2-5. Below is the list of players, by position, who have accepted invites to the event. The list will be updated as the remaining invites are sent out.
Quarterback:
Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Running Back:
SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech
Wide Receiver:
Jason Brownlee, Southern Mississippi
Malik Heath, Mississippi
Jaray Jenkins, LSU
CJ Johnson, East Carolina
Malik Knowles, Kansas State
Joseph Ngata, Clemson
Mitchell Tinsley, Penn State
Tight End:
Noah Gindorff, North Dakota State
Kyle Patterson, Air Force
Offensive Linemen:
Alan Ali, TCU
Jon Gaines II, UCLA
Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina
Tashawn Manning, Kentucky
Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
Linebackers:
Micah Baskerville, LSU
Defensive Backs:
Anthony Johnson, Iowa State
Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma State
Specialists:
Brad Robbins, Michigan
- Published in Bowl Game
2023 Collegiate Bowl Recap
The 11th edition of the annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl took place on January 28 at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium. For just the second time, the American Team beat the National Team after a last-second field goal made it 19-17.
American Team quarterback Holton Ahlers (East Carolina) earned MVP honors after completing 9 out of 12 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Click below to view the final box score.
NFLPA_FINAL
- Published in Bowl Game
Week 18 Spotlight: 2022 All-NFLPA Bowl Alumni Team
Congratulations to the 250-plus NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni who suited up in the 103rd NFL regular season. There were plenty of players who hail from the NFLPA Bowl event who stood out throughout the year but none more than those below. We honor the top standouts from the 2022 campaign! The 11th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl airs on Sunday, January 28th, 2023 on NFL Network at 6:00pm Eastern time. Be sure to tune-in!
OFFENSE
QB GJ Kinne, Texas State: After guiding Incarnate Ward to the FCS semifinals, the 34-year-old Kinne was recently named head coach of Texas State.
RB Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts: An undrafted free agent in 2021, the second-year backup filled in admirably when needed, totaling 476 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns.
WR Marcus Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs: In his first season with the Chiefs, ‘MVS’ registered a career-high 42 catches, for 687 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears: Despite missing five games, Mooney had more catches (40) and receiving yards (493) than any Bears wideout, while adding two touchdowns.
WR Russell Gage, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A shrewd offseason signing, Gage appeared in 13 games, making four starts, while grabbing 51 balls, for 426 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
TE Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks: A five-year veteran, Dissly finished with 34 catches, for 349 receiving yards, both career highs, to go along with three scores.
OL Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals: Completed his 11th season, starting all 17 games. Beachum now has started 147-of-152 games played, across four different organizations.
OL Jermaine Eluemunor, Las Vegas Raiders: Filled in at multiple spots, making 17 starts in his second year with the Raiders after stints with the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.
OL Hjalte Froholdt, Cleveland Browns: Appeared in 17 games, making six starts and contributing on special teams in his third season of action.
OL Will Fries, Indianapolis Colts: The Penn State product emerged as a key cog during his second season, starting nine of sixteen games played for the Colts in 2022.
OL Foster Sarell, Los Angeles Chargers: Was a key backup called upon to step into the starting lineup down the stretch of the season, appearing in seven games, making three starts.
DEFENSE
DE Sam Williams, Dallas Cowboys: Became highest drafted player in NFLPA Bowl history (56th overall) in April and followed it up with 22 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.
DT Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts: Finished his sixth season (fourth as a starter) by racking up 70 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and four sacks from the interior.
DT Teair Tart, Tennessee Titans: Demonstrated vast improvement, starting 16 games, making 34 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks.
DE James Houston, Detroit Lions: While he only appeared in seven games, Houston made his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year, compiling 12 tackles and eight sacks in limited action.
LB Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers: The most improved player in the NFL, Luvu finished with 111 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a pick-six interception return for touchdown.
LB Quincy Williams, New York Jets: A disruptor for the Jets, Williams finished with his second consecutive 100-plus tackle season (106), to go along with 12 tackles for loss and three sacks.
LB Elandon Roberts, Miami Dolphins: A seven-year pro Roberts completed year three with the Dolphins, setting career highs in tackles (107), tackles for loss (10), and sacks (four and a half).
CB L’Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs: One of the premier slot cornerbacks in the NFL, Sneed made his presence known, collecting 108 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and three interceptions.
CB DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys: A day three rookie draft gem, Bland started the final eight games of the season and finished with 54 tackles, seven pass deflections, and five interceptions.
S Duron Harmon, Las Vegas Raiders: Finishing up his tenth season, Harmon registered a career-high 86 tackles, to go along with two interceptions (23 for his career) and first NFL touchdown.
S Darrick Forrest, Washington Commanders: Made vast development, starting 11 of 17 games, with 88 tackles, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
PK Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears: Connected on 91.3% of his field goal attempts, making 21-of-23, including four-of-five attempts from beyond 50 yards and 57.1% touchback percentage.
P Drue Chrisman, Cincinnati Bengals: A field position weapon, Chrisman averaged 47.8 yards per punt, with a net of 42.6, including 13 punts pinned inside the 20 in just seven games.
KR/PR Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville Jaguars: Had 547 kick return yards, averaging 26 yards per return, along with 205 punt return yards, averaging 8.2 per return; had 1,025 all-purpose yards.
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight: Week 17
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. Our Week 17 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight features a do-it-all dynamo, a pass-rush rookie phenom, a Polynesian prime-time performer, and looks at the life of an undrafted journeyman. Buckle up and enjoy!
James Houston
Detroit Lions rookie linebacker James Houston continues to make history, registering another three sacks this past week against the Chicago Bears. With eight sacks on the year, Houston and Adrian Hutchinson are the only rookie teammates to have seven sacks apiece. Even more fascinating is that Houston has only appeared in just six games in 2022. The Lions are assembling a strong nucleus of young core players and Houston plans to be a key cog of the future!
Avery Williams
The more you can do, the more valuable you are. No one exemplifies that more than NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni Avery Williams of the Atlanta Falcons. Originally chosen in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft as a defensive back, Williams has earned his way onto the playing field in an array of ways. His versatility was on full display once again this past week during the Falcons win over the Arizona Cardinals, as he was a factor in the running attack, receiving game, plus special teams as a gunner and return man. On the season, Williams has accumulated 746 all-purpose yards, along with three special teams tackles.
Steven Sims
Another player who has made his mark on special teams is Steven Sims of the Pittsburgh Steelers. At this stage of the season, players who have excelled on special teams often get rewarded when opportunities arise at their position. On Sunday Night Football, Sims made several spectacular grabs, as the Steelers rallied back to defeat their division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Sims would finish with three catches for 34 receiving yards, in addition to having a 29-yard kick return.
Frankie Luvu
After starring on special teams a year ago, Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu has emerged as a bust-out player, as evidenced by his fifth double-digit tackle performance on the season this past week. The 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni has racked up 105 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, seven sacks, one forced fumble, and one pick-six interception return this season. Clearly, Luvu has been one of the most improved players in the NFL. The league has seen an influx of Polynesian players of late, as Luvu is one of approximately 70 Polynesians in the NFL, despite representing less than one-half percent of the US population.
Tyler Hall
With the departure of several notable veterans on the Las Vegas Raiders, the opportunity has arisen for cornerback Tyler Hall, who has made the most of his extended reps down the stretch of the season. He has been one of the Raiders’ best defenders over the last several weeks and he had a pair of pass deflections this past week while getting in on a tackle. On Christmas Eve, Hall totaled six tackles and now has three straight games with pass deflections. After stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams, the 2020 undrafted free agent out of Wyoming may have finally found a permanent landing spot in Las Vegas due to his impressive play.
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
- Week Fifteen
- Week Sixteen
*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.
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight: Week 16
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. In Week 16, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni saw their defensive backs ball out! Let’s take a look at some of the stellar play from the secondary players around the league who hail from our event.
L’Jarius Sneed
One of the best-kept secrets in the NFL might just be Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Despite being snubbed of the Pro Bowl, the 2020 fourth-round pick could be in contention to be named an All-Pro due to his stellar play in the slot. Sneed was back at it again this week, collecting seven tackles, as the Chiefs currently hold the top seed in the AFC. On the season, Sneed has racked up a remarkable 102 tackles, including five tackles for loss, ten pass deflections, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery with two games remaining.
Duron Harmon
One of the longest-tenured NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni is safety Duron Harmon, who turns 32 next month. Playing on his fourth team in as many seasons, Harmon knows better than anyone, rent is due every day in the NFL, despite having over a decade in the league. The Rutgers product has had one of his best seasons to date, in lieu of the Las Vegas Raiders struggles. He registered another six tackles this past week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and now needs four more tackles to set a new career-high (he currently has 70 tackles). With two more interceptions this year, Harmon now has 23 for his career and appears to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
Nate Hobbs
Playing alongside Harmon in the Raiders secondary is cornerback Nate Hobbs. The 2021 fifth-round pick emerged as a starter toward the end of last season and has provided dependable play since. After battling injuries earlier in the season, the second-year cover man has bounced back to have another solid year for Las Vegas. In nine games played this year, Hobbs has racked up 63 tackles, including three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He has proven to be a true day three draft gem!
Darrick Forrest
Another fifth-round pick who has exceeded expectations is safety Darrick Forrest, who has earned a starting role for a Washington Commanders team that is deep at the safety spot. It has been hard for head coach Ron Rivera to keep the second-year playmaker off the field this season, as he has made numerous big plays on defense. He had another solid game this past week and has now played in all 15 games, making nine starts, with 76 tackles, eight pass deflections, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The future is bright for Forrest.
DaRon Bland
The Dallas Cowboys also struck gold by selecting an NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni in the fifth round. There doesn’t seem to be a week that goes by without DaRon Bland making his presence felt and this week was as big as ever. He made five tackles and had a key interception to help Dallas knock off the first-place Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys, along with Bland have begun to heat up, as the rookie has started the past six games, including his first start on the boundary in Week 16. In addition, 27 of his 32 tackles have come during the past seven games, while he also has seven pass deflections and an impressive five interceptions in 2022.
Josh Blackwell
An undrafted rookie free agent, Chicago Bears cornerback Joshua Blackwell has shown that he belongs in the NFL. He had another four tackles this past week against the Buffalo Bills and has stepped in to provide stable play, as Chicago deals with depleted secondary depth. Blackwell has appeared in all 15 games on the season, including one start, and has 18 tackles, along with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. A job well done, Blackwell has helped navigate the turmoil for Chicago and his experience will be beneficial for his long-term development.
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
- Week Fifteen
*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.
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Video Intern
The NFLPA is looking for a video intern to cover the 2023 Collegiate Bowl in Los Angeles, from January 24-29.
This is a paid opportunity. Applicants may apply, here.
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight: Week 15
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.
- Published in Bowl Game
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight: Week 14
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. Week 14 action provided plenty of fireworks, as several notable NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni skill position players had standout performances. As we head down the home stretch of the regular season, more opportunities are sure to arise, so be sure to check back each week for more top performers from our alumni!
Kendall Hinton, L’Jarius Sneed, & Mike Purcell
It was an exciting contest to watch as the Denver Broncos nearly rallied back to beat the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend with big contributions from Kendall Hinton. The third-year wideout had five catches for 38 yards, including three receptions which resulted in first downs to help extend Denver drives on offense. Kansas City would hold onto the win and they also received contributions from 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni L’Jarius Sneed, who registered seven tackles in an effort to thwart Hinton. Both players are enjoying exceptional seasons, as Hinton is now the third Broncos wide receiver to surpass 300 receiving yards this season. Meanwhile, Sneed should receive significant Pro Bowl consideration with 89 tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Also in this game, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni Mike Purcell chipped in with four tackles for the Broncos.
Russell Gage
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense struggled on Sunday but one NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni found his way back to the end zone. Bucs wide receiver Russell Gage found pay dirt against the San Francisco 49ers for the first time since week three—he missed all of November due to a hamstring injury. Look for Gage to have a key role as we near the playoffs. After back-to-back seasons of 750+ receiving yards for the Atlanta Falcons, Gage inked a three-year $30M contract with Tampa to provide quarterback Tom Brady with another dependable weapon. The Bucs will face another tough foe this upcoming week against the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Steven Sims
Another NFLPA Collegiate Bowl wideout beginning to heat up is Steven Sims for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The versatile utilityman had a season-high four catches for 30 yards, along with a 29-yard kick return and two punt returns against the Baltimore Ravens. We have seen Sims be able to provide instant offense in the past, as he accumulated 1,725 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns during his first two seasons with Washington. You’ll need to keep a close eye on Sims, as he is capable of lining up inside, outside, or in the backfield, in addition to his special teams capabilities.
Jamal Agnew, Julius Chestnut, & Naquan Jones
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a jackknife of their own in do-it-all extraordinaire Jamal Agnew who was back up to his old tricks again in a win over the Tennessee Titans. The 2017 fifth-round pick caught all three of his targets for 36 receiving yards and chipped in 42 kick return yards, along with 20 punt return yards. On the season, Agnew has totaled 691 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. For the Titans, undrafted NFLPA Collegiate Bowl rookie Julius Chestnut had a pair of catches and two kick returns, while Naquan Jonesregistered three tackles in a losing effort.
Jack Stoll
No one is enjoying more success this season than the Philadelphia Eagles. Top tight end target Dallas Goedert missed the past month due to injury and remarkably, the Eagles offense didn’t skip a beat. Much of the loss was offset by the play of NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni Jack Stoll, who flourished in his absence. An undrafted rookie free agent out of Nebraska in 2021, Stoll had two more catches during the Eagles win over the Giants this past week. Known more for his blocking prowess, he has stepped up in a big way with seven receptions during his time as a starter. Prior to the Goedert injury, Stoll had just three catches. With Goedert set to return this week, Philadelphia will have an even more vaunted offensive attack moving forward!
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
*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.
- Published in Bowl Game