UConn in the NFL – Update

The draft has come and gone and free agency has quieted down, so I figured as we approach July it’d be a good time to take a look and see where all of our UConn Football alums are currently in the NFL.  I included a couple of related articles to some of the players that UConn fans may enjoy.

• Byron Jones – CB – Dallas Cowboys
  • Drafted in the 1st round and receiving raved reviews.  Projected to start at one of the CB spots for his rookie season.
• Geremy Davis – WR – New York Giants
  • Drafted in the 6th round, Davis is a longshot to make the Giants receiving rotation.  However, his shot of making the roster will come from his ability to contribute on special teams.  I’d expect him to catch on to a practice squad if he doesn’t make the 53 man roster.
• Yawin Smallwood – LB – Tennessee Titans
  • Signed to the Titans practice squad in November, he is still currently under contract with the team.  He has yet to play in an NFL game in his career.
• Shamar Stephen – DT – Minnesota Vikings
  • Entering his second season in Minnesota, Stephen will continue to develop as apart of the Vikings DL rotation.  He recorded 23 tackles during his rookie campaign, and figures to see more time this upcoming season.
• Nick Williams – WR – Atlanta Falcons
  • Signed a contract with Atlanta back in February.  The Falcons currently have 11 WR’s under contract, so Williams path to making this team seems to be by showcasing his value on special teams.  We saw during his time here how dangerous a returner he can be, so hopefully he can make his mark in Atlanta.
• Blidi Wreh-Wilson – CB – Tennessee Titans
  • Entering his 3rd season in Tennesee, Wreh-Wilson is coming off a shoulder injury that landed him on IR at the end of the year.  He missed OTA’s and will sit out minicamps.  He’s currently regarded as questionable for the start of training camp in a month.  The Titans didn’t do much to address the CB position, so it looks like Blidi will see plenty of time when he becomes healthy.
• Dwayne Gratz – CB – Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Entering his 3rd season, Gratz is coming off a brutal season.  He had some off the field issues, and was benched twice last season due to poor play. He figures to be a backup heading into training camp, and there’s talk of even moving him to safety.  He did show flashes last season of being able to make the big play, forcing two fumbles and taking an INT 55 yards for a TD against Houston the final week of the season.  Hopefully Dwayne builds on that momentum heading into this season.
• Sio Moore – LB – Oakland Raiders
  • Entering his 3rd season, Moore is coming off offseason hip surgery.  He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.  On the field, Sio showed plenty of promise, recording 3 sacks and a forced fumble in 11 games.  He is expected to fill a starting OLB spot on the Raiders defense. Off the field, he’s become a fan favorite.  Here’s a link to a story from just over a month ago about getting his jersey’s to fans.
  • Sio Moore Story
• Ryan Griffin – TE – Houston Texans
  • Entering his 3rd season, Griffin is expected to fulfill the role he’s maintained his first 2 season in the league.  He’s projected to be the 3rd TE and contribute on special teams.  He did play in all 16 games last season and recorded his first TD in Week 13 against Tennessee.
• Trevardo Williams – DE – Washington Redskins
  • Entering his 4th season, Trevardo finally saw time last season with the Redskins after being signed from the practice squad in December.  He appeared in the final 3 games, recording 5 tackles and a sack.  He is currently on the 90 man roster, with an outside to make the 53 man team in August.
• Kendall Reyes – DT – San Diego Chargers
  • Entering his 4th season, Reyes had a pretty underwhelming year stats-wise in 2014.  After recording 5 sacks each of his first two seasons, he only registered 1 last season.  He is expected to start at DE this upcoming season, so hopefully he’ll get back on track.
• Anthony Sherman – FB – Kansas City Chiefs
  • Signed a contract extension with the Chiefs for 3 more years and is worth up to 7 million.  Sherman is a huge part of the running game leading the way for Jamaal Charles.  He also contributed a bit in the passing game, catching 28 balls over the past two seasons.  This will be his 5th season in the NFL, and his 3rd with Kansas City.
• Jordan Todman – RB – Carolina Panthers
  • Signed with Carolina in March to a one-year deal.  He’s not expected to see much time in the backfield, even though he showed some flashes last season in Jacksonville.  He is expected to help in the return game, in which he finished last season amongst the leaders in total kick return yards. He is entering his 4th season, his first with Carolina.  He’s already making quite the impact on his new teammates as seen here in this article from 3 weeks ago during OTA’s
  • Jordan Todman Proving Himself
• Danny Lansanah – LB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Entering his 4th season in the NFL, 3rd with the Bucs, Lansanah has made the most of the opportunity he received last season.  He had a very nice year in 2014, recording 61 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3 INT’s, returning 2 of those for TD’s.  He’s expected to compete for a starting OLB spot this upcoming season.  He’ll be entering restricted free agency in 2016, so I’m expecting big things from him this upcoming season.
• Donald Brown – RB – San Diego Chargers
  • Entering his 7th season, Donald Brown is coming off the most disappointing season statisically of his career.  His 223 yards and 2.8 average were the lowest of his career.  The Chargers drafted Melvin Gordon, and still have Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver on the roster.  Not sure what Brown’s future is in San Diego, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was cut and latched on with someone else.
• Donald Thomas – OG – Indianapolis Colts
  • Entering his 8th season, Thomas is coming off of two straight injury filled seasons.  He tore his quad last July and isn’t expected back until training camp this season.  It’s being rumored that he could be cut to save money, but if he’s healthy, he will definately catch on with another team looking for OL depth.  Here’s an article from about a month ago about Thomas fighting his way back from injuries
  • Donald Thomas Fighting His Way Back
• Robert McClain – DB – New England Patriots
  • Entering his 6th season, McClain signed a one-year deal with New England in March.  McClain is known for being able to play all positions in the secondary, which made him attractive to the Patriots.  He is not expected to start, however he provides depth at all positions, so it’s expected he’ll see plenty of time on the field in 2015.
• Marcus Easley – WR – Buffalo Bills
  • Entering his 5th season in the NFL, all with the Bills, Easley cashed in this past offseason with his superb special teams play.  Marcus signed a 4 year, 7 million dollar contract in March.  For his career, he’s caught two passes for 13 yards.  However, Easley has proven his value by becoming unblockable on kickoffs.  He’s expected to fulfill the same role this upcoming season, and is always a candidate to make the pro-bowl.
• Darius Butler – CB – Indianapolis Colts
  • Entering his 7th season, Butler recently resigned with the Colts back in March for two more years and a total of 5 million dollars.  He’s expected to be the nickel corner on Indy’s defense, a role that has suited him well over the last three seasons.  While statistically, 2014 wasn’t his best, he has a nose for the ball and is expected to play a large role in the Colts secondary this upcoming season.
• Tyvon Branch – S – Kansas City Chiefs
  • Entering his 8th season in the NFL, Tyvon signed a one year deal with the Chiefs in March after spending his first 7 seasons in Oakland.  He’s expected to fill Eric Berry’s spot while he’s sidelined this season.  Coming off injuries, Branch reportedly participated in OTA’s without incident and looks to be 100%.  When healthy, Branch is one of the league’s most productive players at the safety position.
• Will Beatty – OT – New York Giants
  • Entering his 7th season, all with the New York Giants, Beatty was coming off maybe his best season as a pro.  However, Beatty tore his pec muscle in May and will be out 5 months.  The Giants O-line is suspect at best, so if and when he’s ready to return, Beatty should be able to get back in the mix.
• Dan Orlovsky – QB – Detroit Lions
  • Entering his 11th season, Orlovsky re-signed with Detroit in March.  He hasn’t taken a snap since 2012, yet he’s still in the league.  He’s a backup and will be it seems until he wants to hang it up.  If an injury were to ever happen to Matthew Stafford, it seems Orlovsky would get a chance to throw to Megatron & Golden Tate, a far cry from the scrubs he played with during the Lions 0-16 season in 2008.

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