Going into the 2019 NFL season there were five former UTSA Roadrunners who were either on active rosters, injured reserve, or a practice squad. One week into the weird 2020 NFL season, there are two UTSA products gracing NFL active rosters and one on a practice squad.
DE Marcus Davenport, the first 1st round draft pick in program history, is beginning his third season with the New Orleans Saints. He's listed as the starting right defensive end on the team's depth chart, but he missed their season-opening win against Tampa Bay last week due to an elbow injury. A foot injury last December ended his 2019 season a few games early. Davenport turned 24 earlier this month.
Rookie DE Eric Banks, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent this spring, made the team's active roster and is listed as the team's backup to All-Pro DT Aaron Donald on its "unofficial depth chart". He did not record any stats in the Rams' season-opening win over Dallas on Sunday night. The Rams' defensive line coach is former UTSA DL coach Eric Henderson, who coached under former head coach Frank Wilson in 2016, when Banks was a true freshman.
This is similar to how DT Kevin Strong made the Detroit Lions' active roster as an undrafted rookie in 2019 while working under another former UTSA DL coach in Bo Davis. Strong was waived by the Lions shortly before the start of the 2020 season but was later signed to the team's practice squad.
LB Josiah Tauaefa began the 2019 season as a member of the New York Giants practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He was later promoted to the active roster in October and recorded 6 tackles in 12 games played. At one point early in the Giants 2020 training camp Tauaefa was briefly placed on the "reserve/COVID-19" list, but was activated from it a day later. The Giants waived him in their final round of cuts before the start of the season, and he remains a free agent.
DT Brian Price, who went undrafted in 2016 and is now 26 years old, spent time with the practice squads for both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. He last played in an NFL game in 2018 while a member of the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars placed him on injured reserve this August due to a knee injury and he was released with an injury settlement.
TE David Morgan II, the program's first-ever NFL Draft pick (6th round, 2016) is also a free agent after being released by the Minnesota Vikings in March after failing a physical. He suffered a dislocated knee late in the 2018 season and played through it in the team's regular season finale, and after offseason surgery he was sidelined for all of the 2019 campaign. At least as recently as April he hoped to have another shot at the league as long as his knee was healthy, but he is not part of any organization currently. The Cowboys' starting TE Blake Jarwin was lost for the season on Sunday, and if Morgan is healthy enough to pass a physical now that would be cool to see him get a shot in Dallas.
OL Josh Dunlop signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this spring as an undrafted free agent and was with the team during its training camp, but he was among a large group of players who were released when rosters were cut to 53, and he remains a free agent as far as I know.
DE Marcus Davenport, the first 1st round draft pick in program history, is beginning his third season with the New Orleans Saints. He's listed as the starting right defensive end on the team's depth chart, but he missed their season-opening win against Tampa Bay last week due to an elbow injury. A foot injury last December ended his 2019 season a few games early. Davenport turned 24 earlier this month.
Rookie DE Eric Banks, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent this spring, made the team's active roster and is listed as the team's backup to All-Pro DT Aaron Donald on its "unofficial depth chart". He did not record any stats in the Rams' season-opening win over Dallas on Sunday night. The Rams' defensive line coach is former UTSA DL coach Eric Henderson, who coached under former head coach Frank Wilson in 2016, when Banks was a true freshman.
This is similar to how DT Kevin Strong made the Detroit Lions' active roster as an undrafted rookie in 2019 while working under another former UTSA DL coach in Bo Davis. Strong was waived by the Lions shortly before the start of the 2020 season but was later signed to the team's practice squad.
LB Josiah Tauaefa began the 2019 season as a member of the New York Giants practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He was later promoted to the active roster in October and recorded 6 tackles in 12 games played. At one point early in the Giants 2020 training camp Tauaefa was briefly placed on the "reserve/COVID-19" list, but was activated from it a day later. The Giants waived him in their final round of cuts before the start of the season, and he remains a free agent.
DT Brian Price, who went undrafted in 2016 and is now 26 years old, spent time with the practice squads for both the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. He last played in an NFL game in 2018 while a member of the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars placed him on injured reserve this August due to a knee injury and he was released with an injury settlement.
TE David Morgan II, the program's first-ever NFL Draft pick (6th round, 2016) is also a free agent after being released by the Minnesota Vikings in March after failing a physical. He suffered a dislocated knee late in the 2018 season and played through it in the team's regular season finale, and after offseason surgery he was sidelined for all of the 2019 campaign. At least as recently as April he hoped to have another shot at the league as long as his knee was healthy, but he is not part of any organization currently. The Cowboys' starting TE Blake Jarwin was lost for the season on Sunday, and if Morgan is healthy enough to pass a physical now that would be cool to see him get a shot in Dallas.
OL Josh Dunlop signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this spring as an undrafted free agent and was with the team during its training camp, but he was among a large group of players who were released when rosters were cut to 53, and he remains a free agent as far as I know.
