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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 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, known for being the most diverse all-star game on the NFL Draft circuit, is scheduled for January 28^th 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 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28^th, 2023 on NFL Network.

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 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, known for being the most diverse all-star game on the NFL Draft circuit, is scheduled for January 28^th 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 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28^th, 2023 on NFL Network.

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 is known for being the most diverse all-star game on the NFL Draft circuit. While invitations are in the process of being sent for the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, scheduled for January 28^th at the historic Rose Bowl, here’s a look at some of the standout alumni from NFL week 13!  

Peyton Hendershot, Sam Williams, & DaRon Bland
It was a magical evening for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, as they scored 33 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. Watching the game, one couldn’t help but notice the significant impact of numerous NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni. A fifth-round pick in 2022, cornerback DaRon Bland continues to make splash plays, nabbing two interceptions in prime time and racking up eight tackles versus the Colts. Second-round pick Sam Williams has proven to have a tremendous nose for the football during his first season with the Cowboys; he collected another tackle for loss (eight on the season) and made a huge fumble recovery (third of the year) this past week. Yet another rookie came up clutch for Big D, as tight end Peyton Hendershot made his presence felt on special teams with three tackles. Congratulations to this rookie trio on their impressive performance!

Julius Chestnut
We are officially approaching the back half of the NFL season, which means injuries are beginning to pile up and teams across the league are seeking reinforcements. In Tennessee, running back Julius Chestnut received the call-up from the practice squad to help with some of the depth concerns and made his NFL debut in Week 13. The undrafted rookie out of Sacred Heart rushed the ball five times for 13 yards against a stingy Eagles defense but showed flashes of his potential. A bruising runner, Chestnut could emerge as a candidate to become a permanent backup to Derrick Henry if he is able to take advantage of his playing time. For the Titans, Chestnut became the 76^th player to suit up for the team this season, which sends a clear message to any backup, practice squad player, or street free agent: “Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.”

Brandon Powell & Lance McCutcheon
The Los Angeles Rams have been ravaged by injuries this season, especially at the wideout position. Starting receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson, along with NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni Lance McCutcheon were all out this past week. As a result, fellow NFLPA Bowl alumni Brandon Powell was a focal point on offense for the Rams. The 2018 undrafted free agent out of Florida had four catches for 39 receiving yards and added an additional 45 rushing yards on three carries—his speed and elusiveness in the open field were on full display. Unfortunately, Powell is dealing with an illness this week and is questionable but look for more from the playmaker down the stretch of the season. As for McCutcheon, who emerged as a training camp darling, he is close to returning back from a shoulder injury and is expected to re-join the team soon. Buckle up, we’ll see you soon.

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

*Be sure to follow us @NFLPABowl for the latest player acceptances and updates for the 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28^th, 2023 on NFL Network.

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 

• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
• Week Four
• Week Five
• Week Six
• Week Seven
• Week Eight
• Week Nine
• Week Ten

*Be sure to follow us @NFLPABowl for the latest player acceptances and updates for the 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28^th, 2023 on NFL Network.

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 11^th 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 ten action! 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Patience is a virtue when playing with Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shows no favoritism and tends to get all his wideouts involved, which was on display once again this past week, as he connected with nine different pass-catchers. NFLPA Bowl alumni Marcus Valdes Scantling, much like most of his career coming out of USF, was sure to maximize his opportunities on Sunday, nabbing three of his four targets for 60 receiving yards and his first touchdown in a Chiefs uniform. After inking a three-year, $30M contract during the offseason, ‘MVS’ has proven to be one of the more shrewd free agent signings, as he is third on the team in receptions (26) and receiving yards (441), while averaging an impressive 17 yards per catch!

Kendall Hinton
One NFLPA Bowl pro who hinted success was in his near future is Denver Broncos wideout Kendall Hinton, who had a season-high four catches this past week, for 62 receiving yards. Halfway through the season, the former Wake Forest quarterback needs just five yards to match last year’s total of 175 receiving yards. Hinton has shown vast development due to his hard work and dedication, hence his snap count has also nearly doubled, as he has played in 45% of the Broncos snaps on offense. While the Denver hosts the Las Vegas Raiders this week, next week, Hinton will be back home in front of his hometown, as the Broncos travel to the Carolina Panthers for Thanksgiving weekend.

Jake Hansen
When linebacker Jake Hansen went undrafted following the 2022 NFL Draft, he figured signing with the Houston Texans would be his best landing spot. After all, Texans head coach Lovie Smith was Hansen’s coach at Illinois. That decision has begun to pay dividends, as Hansen saw action for the second consecutive week, accumulating 17 snaps at linebacker and 11 reps on special teams, while picking up a pair of tackles against the New York Giants. Hansen very well appears to be part of the youth movement going on in Houston, which has one of the youngest rosters in the NFL and fielded 10 rookies on Sunday.

Frankie Luvu
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu has proven to have a true nose for the football. The fifth-year veteran out of Washington State notched a career-high 12 tackles, playing 100% of the snaps on defense, to help guide the Panthers over the Atlanta Falcons and keep them alive in the NFC South divisional race. It was his third double-digit tackle game of the year, as he now has totaled 56 tackles on the season (tied for second on the team). Look out for Luvu, as Carolina looks to keep it rolling against the Baltimore Ravens this week.

Jordan Kunaszyk / D’Anthony Bell
The Cleveland Browns have two NFLPA Bowl alumni stating a case to be building blocks of the future in linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and rookie safety D’Anthony Bell. The Cal product Kunaszyk, whom we highlighted earlier in the season, is coming off his best game as a pro, with five tackles, including one for loss this past week against the Cleveland Browns. In that same game, the underdog Bell, who played at four different colleges, also had a pair of tackles. The dynamic play of this duo should give the Browns some positive reinforcement moving forward.

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight 

• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
• Week Four
• Week Five
• Week Six
• Week Seven
• Week Eight
• Week Nine

*Be sure to follow us @NFLPABowl for the latest player acceptances and updates for the 11^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, January 28^th, 2023 on NFL Network.

On a cold and wet afternoon in Atlanta, the Hurricanes of Miami were able to get a bad taste out of their mouth by defeating the Yellowjackets of Georgia Tech to the tune of 35-14. While neither team is having the type of season they had hoped, plenty of NFL draft prospects took the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday for the NFLPA Bowl to evaluate, highlighted by the below.

Standing 6-5, 248-pounds, Miami tight end Will Mallory possesses the type of size/speed combination that makes him so difficult to defend and that appeals to NFL teams. A hybrid weapon capable of both sealing the edge with his frame as a blocker and stretching the seam in the pass game with his athleticism, the fifth-year “super” senior made the most of his one reception on the day by racing 22 yards for a score, giving him his 13^th career touchdown reception. Mallory – who’s been a 4-year starter for the Canes – has already set a career-high with 393 receiving yards on the season and his 29 catches so far have him on track to shatter his previous high mark of 30 receptions set last year.

Not many cornerbacks possess the size of Tyrique Stevenson. At nearly 6-1, 214-pounds and with 32 ½” arms, the former Georgia Bulldog can matchup and contest passes with even the biggest wide receivers and made several big plays on Saturday versus a talented Georgia Tech receiving corps. Using his length to his advantage, Stevenson was able to break up a long pass down the left sideline in the first half and then put his ball skills on display in the third quarter by ending a Yellowjacket drive with an interception. With now six passes defensed on the year, the true senior has set a new season-high while giving himself an impressive career total of 21.

A consistent force for Georgia Tech this season, 6^th-year senior linebacker Ayinde Eley was a bright spot for the defense on Saturday, pacing the team with 12 tackles on the afternoon – his sixth double-digit tackle performance in ten games this season. A throwback with imposing size at 6-3, 239-pounds, the former Maryland Terrapin has more than made his presence felt as a second-year starter for the Yellowjackets, setting new career-highs in total tackles (98), tackles for loss (9.5), sacks (3.5) and forced fumbles (3). With two games remaining against UNC and Georgia, Eley has great opportunities to continue to show NFL teams his value and versatility.

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 11^th 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 nine action! 

Darnell Mooney
The Chicago Bears offense has suddenly started to click, something that was forewarned several weeks back! One of the most productive NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni over the past three seasons, wideout Darnell Mooney finally nabbed his first touchdown of the year and tied a season-high with seven catches for 43 receiving yards on Sunday. It was the ninth career touchdown for the former fifth-round pick who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. It’s no secret that Mooney has emerged as the number one target for quarterback Justin Fields. That’s a long-distance connection that we could see get dialed up quite a bit in 2022 and beyond.

Chris Conley
A third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, veteran wide receiver Chris Conley was activated by the Tennessee Titans for their Sunday night affair against the original team that drafted him, the Kansas City Chiefs. While Conley did not record a catch during limited action, he could have an opportunity to carve out a role for the contending Titans, who lack playmakers at the position. During his eight-year career, Conley has played in 104 games, including 62 starts, racking up nearly 3,000 receiving yards, along with 15 touchdowns. Look for his speed to provide a much-needed spark in the Titan’s aerial attack.

Jack Stoll
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni likes to ‘reward the dirty work players.’ For rookie tight end Jack Stoll, that means finding him a rare catch in the Eagles’ multi-faceted offensive scheme. Stoll collected his third catch of the year this past week, a rarity with so few targets available to go around on the team. The Nebraska product has earned a reputation for being a tenacious blocker and is one of two players in the NFL who have registered over 40% of his team’s snaps and has just three catches or less, with Marcedes Lewis being the other. It’s quite the distinction and Stoll should only hope to go on and have such a long, illustrious career as Lewis, who is now in his 17^th season.

Krys Barnes
One player that NFL scouts were quick to fall in love with during NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices in 2020 at the historic Rose Bowl was UCLA linebacker Krys Barnes, who shined all week long playing on his homefield turf. Despite going undrafted, the Green Bay Packers quickly identified his talent and Barnes would go on to earn a starting role as a rookie. He has recorded at least 80 tackles in each of his first two seasons but suffered an ankle injury in week one this year, which caused him to miss the next seven games. This past week, Barnes was activated from the IR and wasted little time making his presence felt. The Cali native collected eight tackles in his first game back, as he appears to be fully recovered and primed for a big second half.

Genard Avery
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in need of some reinforcements at linebacker, the team called up Genard Avery from the practice squad this past week and the 2018 fifth-round pick was there to answer the bell. While it may not have looked glorious in the box score, Avery made a pair of tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage but more importantly, he was able to provide pressure against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, registering three quarterback hits on the day. After starting 12 games for the Eagles a year ago, Avery brings a veteran savvy that the Bucs could rely upon going forward.

Will Parks
One of several prominent NFLPA Collegiate Bowl alumni now playing a key role on the New York Jets defensive unit is safety Will Parks. A sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Arizona product has appeared in games for four different organizations over the past seven seasons, including seven games thus far for Gang Green. It has been an ebullient past several weeks for the Philadelphia native. This past week, he played a part in knocking off the division-leading Buffalo Bills. Two weeks ago, he took care of his personal vendetta against his first team the Denver Broncos, where he spent four seasons before departing without a contract offer. Three weeks ago, Parks had a huge blocked punt that was scooped up and scored, as the Jets have suddenly won four of their last five games. Buckle up and let’s ride, or as they prefer to say in New York, ‘Wheels Up!’

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight 

• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
• Week Four
• Week Five
• Week Six
• Week Seven
• Week Eight

On a cold and windy day in COMO, the Missouri Tigers played host to fellow Southeastern Conference East rival the Kentucky Wildcats in what was largely a defensive battle until the final quarter. While the Tigers staged a late surge to keep the game close, Kentucky ultimately prevailed by the score of 21-17. Several players from both teams are prospects for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and the following three stood out for their play on Saturday.

Any NFL Draftnik has heard about presumed first-round pick Wildcat quarterback Will Levis who is continuing to impress in his senior season. The early goings of Saturday’s contest were not his finest moments but when the game was on the line and Kentucky needed to convert third downs, Levis’ arm proved invaluable. For the afternoon, the fifth-year senior completed 68% of his passes and threw three touchdowns while converting several key third downs through the air to help ensure the Kentucky victory.

With less-than-ideal weather for much of the game, the Wildcats relied on 2021 First-Team All-SEC running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to the tune of 29 carries for 112 yards – his third 100-yard effort in only five games this season. Standing 5-11, 224-pounds, Rodriguez is a powerful rusher with nifty feet who has a penchant for wearing down a defense. The 2022 Team Captain and fifth-year senior accounted for nearly half of UK’s total yards on the day while outrushing the entire Tigers team.

When evaluating Missouri’s kickoff team, 6-5, 264-pound senior defensive end DJ Coleman stands out amongst the cover team by a considerable margin. The Atlanta native and former Jacksonville State Gamecock transferred to Mizzou for his final season of eligibility and has been a steady force as part of a defensive rotation that features several NFL prospects. Already this season, Coleman has set a new career-high with 3.5 sacks – all coming in the past four weeks and including 0.5 sacks against Levis on Saturday. The former FCS All-American led all Tiger defenders with a season-high nine total tackles in the game, including the half a sack and two tackles for loss.

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 11^th 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 eight action! 

Malcolm Rodriguez
It’s time to do a midseason check-in from Hard Knocks preseason darling Malcolm Rodriguez. While the Detroit Lions season hasn’t quite fulfilled the hype, the play of ‘Rodrigo’ has ensured the team that they have secured a key piece in the middle of their defense. Despite losing to the Miami Dolphins, the sixth-round rookie was all over the field on Sunday, registering seven tackles, one sack, another quarterback hit, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection. On the season, Rodriguez has accumulated 50 total tackles, including five tackles for loss in seven games, demonstrating dependable, consistent performance.

Elandon Roberts
In that same game, opposite of ‘Rodrigo’ for Miami was seven-year veteran Elandon Roberts, who led the Dolphins’ defensive charge with eight tackles during their win. With eleven more tackles this season, Roberts would have totaled 200-plus career tackles with his second organization. He racked up 206 tackles during his first four seasons with the New England Patriots and is on pace to break his career-high of 83 tackles set a year ago. With over $10M in career earnings, the 28-year-old Roberts is set to become a free agent after the season and could be due for another life-changing payday.

Shaun Bradley
A ‘Temple Tuff’ product, linebacker Shaun Bradley is one of the players that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni credits for doing the ‘dirty work.’ A special teams ace, Bradley has accumulated 144 reps on special teams, while providing a dog mentality on the gunner and blocking units. Last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he provided a spark on special teams with a big tackle. A boisterous personality whose value is greater than realized amongst general observers, Bradley has embraced his role and even fill-in and made one start last season, playing admirably well.

DaRon Bland
Coming out of Fresno State via Sacramento State, cornerback DaRon Bland flew under the radar during the 2022 NFL Draft. Bland was one of fourteen players chosen from the 10^th Annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, who did receive an invitation to the NFL Combine. However, scouts in attendance at Pasadena this past January saw up close just how sticky he was in coverage. The glimpses we saw at practice throughout the week have followed him to Big D, as Bland has stepped in serviceably for the contending Dallas Cowboys. Filling in as the nickelback, the California native did a stellar job shutting down fellow NFLPA Bowl alumni Darnell Mooney when the Cowboys toppled the Chicago Bears this past week. With mainstay Jourdan Lewis out for the year, look for Bland to play a vital role down the stretch of the season for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in Big D.

Samuel Womack
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Samuel Womack registered a tackle this past week during the 49ers’ impressive victory over the world-champion Los Angeles Rams. He has seen an uptick in playing time in recent weeks, as the 49ers have struggled with some injuries to their secondary. That places the rookie under the spotlight, making him a likely target against savvy quarterback Justin Herbert this upcoming week. Womack has lined up primarily in the slot and has a huge opportunity ahead of him on a franchise with ‘super’ aspirations!

Darrick Forrest
Washington Commanders safety Darrick Forrest collected a pair of tackles during the Commanders’ win over the Indianapolis Colts. The versatile Forrest saw increased playing time (39 reps) at safety, in addition to sliding into a linebacker role at times. He has shown a propensity for the big play and is quickly emerging as one of the best defenders on the team. This past Sunday was another clear example of that. The second-year pro delivered a big-time hit on running back Jonathan Taylor, jarring the ball free and forcing a critical fumble on what appeared to be a Colts go-ahead scoring drive. Earlier in the season, Forrest created another key turnover with an interception and now has 37 tackles serving as the last line of defense for the Commanders.

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Alumni Spotlight 

• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
• Week Four
• Week Five
• Week Six
• Week Seven