NCAA Soccer | Trying Again on the Faculty Soccer Careers of 2024 NFL Free Company Stars

The 2024 NFL Free Company has been in full swing all week lengthy. Whereas it is a busy time of 12 months for the league, there’s not an excessive amount of taking place in school soccer lately.

So how about we reminisce on the school careers of among the largest names making information in free company this week? A number of of the big-name stars embody Heisman winners, some who transferred to different faculties to search out success, and loads of guys who had some fairly fascinating backstories, too.

Let’s look again on the school careers of among the largest NFL free company stars.

And for rival faculties, no much less! Linebacker Patrick Queen and security Xavier McKinney each performed at LSU and Alabama, respectively from 2017-19. Each signed as 4-star prospects from the category of 2017. Queen signed a three-year cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, and McKinney is headed to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on a 4-year deal.

Each had fairly profitable collegiate careers. McKinney’s greatest season got here as a junior in 2019, main the Tide with 95 whole tackles, three sacks and three interceptions. Similar to McKinney, Queen’s greatest season got here in 2019. That 12 months he had 85 whole tackles, three sacks and an interception.

Alabama had a 2-1 document in opposition to LSU within the years Queen and McKinney had been playmakers for each groups. LSU received in 2019 with Joe Burrow and firm on the Tigers’ option to a nationwide championship that season. Towards LSU that season, McKinney had certainly one of his greatest video games of the 12 months, accounting for 13 tackles, 2.5 for loss and two sacks in 2019.

The most important title amongst the free-agent edge rushers was Christian Wilkins, who signed a four-year cope with the Las Vegas Raiders. The previous Clemson Tiger racked up 192 whole tackles, 40.5 for loss, 16 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries. After serving to lead Clemson to a nationwide title in 2018, he went viral for his celebratory break up:

He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins thirteenth general within the 2019.

Brian Burns is headed to the New York Giants on a five-year deal. He performed outdoors linebacker for the Panthers final season, however was primarily used as a defensive finish when he was at Florida State from 2016-18. He was a part of the Noles’ Orange Bowl-winning group in 2016, and had 123 stops with 38.5 for loss with 23 sacks and 7 pressured fumbles over his Nole profession. He acquired drafted sixteenth general by Carolina.

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is headed to the Minnesota Vikings on a four-year deal. The standout defensive finish began his profession at Louisville, the place he spent three seasons from 2015-2018. Sadly, he suffered a wrist harm on the primary sequence of his 2018 season that ended his 12 months.

He transferred to Florida for the 2019 season and had the perfect 12 months of his profession, getting 53 tackles with 10 sacks and forcing three fumbles with an interception. He was chosen ninetieth general within the third spherical by the Houston Texans in 2020.

The Seattle Seahawks signed Leonard Williams to a three-year deal. The previous USC defensive finish was drafted sixth general in 2015 by the New York Jets. Over three seasons with the Trojans from 2012-14, he had 218 tackles with 20 sacks and two interceptions.

The Tennessee Titans signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year deal, and receiver Darnell Mooney is headed to Atlanta to catch passes from Kirk Cousins on a three-year deal.

Ridley, 2015’s No. 1 ranked wideout and 5-star prospect, was a breakout participant for the Tide as a real freshman. That season in 2015, he led Alabama in receiving yards with 1,045—a single-season faculty document— and 7 touchdowns on the 12 months. He had 4 video games with over 100 receiving yards, too.

Ridley added 769 yards with seven scores in 2016, getting banged up a bit all year long. Throughout his final 12 months with the Tide in 2017, he averaged 15.3 yards per reception with 967 whole yards and 5 scores. He was drafted No. 26 general by the Atlanta Falcons within the first spherical in 2018.

Former Tulane wideout Darnell Mooney had a productive 4 seasons with the Inexperienced Wave from 2016-2019. Actually, throughout his profession, he made 41 consecutive begins over 46 video games at Tulane. His greatest season got here in 2018, when he completed with 993 yards receiving with eight touchdowns, averaging 20.7 yards per receptions. He was drafted within the fifth spherical of the 2020 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

Who says the NFL operating again is a dying place? We noticed three backs ink important offers this week.

Derrick Henry signed a two-year cope with the Baltimore Ravens. Saquon Barkley is headed to NFC East rival Philadelphia the place he’ll play behind the perfect offensive line of his profession, and Josh Jacobs signed a four-year cope with the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Henry was a 5-star recruiting prospect, Barkley and Jacobs 4-stars.

Henry, who rushed for 9,502 yards with 90 touchdowns over eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, was placing up comparable huge numbers whereas he was at Alabama from 2013-15.

He had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2014, speeding for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns. However 2015 was the perfect of his profession, ending with 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns. He grew to become simply the second Tide participant at school historical past on the time to win the Heisman Trophy Award, becoming a member of Mark Ingram in doing so. The best photograph of Henry of all time, to me, was how monstrous he seemed standing subsequent to Ingram earlier than the 2015 nationwide championship in opposition to Clemson:

Henry scored three touchdowns through the Tide’s 45-40 victory. He was drafted forty fifth general by the Titans within the 2016 NFL draft.

Josh Jacobs took over the operating again spot for Henry in 2016. His numbers weren’t as huge as Henry’s, however he put up 1,491 yards with 16 touchdowns over three seasons. He confirmed off his versatility by including 48 receptions for 571 yards and 5 touchdowns within the passing recreation. He was drafted twenty fourth general by the Oakland Raiders in 2019.

Saquon Barkley is without doubt one of the best operating backs in Penn State historical past. So it is fairly cool he will get to play once more in his dwelling state with the Eagles.

As a real freshman in 2015, he broke PSU’s freshman operating again document, getting 1,076 yards with seven touchdowns. In 2016, was his greatest statistically, speeding for 1,496 yards and 28 touchdowns, including 402 receiving yards. In 2017, he had 1,903 whole yards of offense with 21 touchdowns, and completed fourth in Heisman voting. He left Penn State holding the document for whole touchdowns (53).

Sam Darnold was signed by the Minnesota Vikings to a one-year deal.

Former USC quarterback Sam Darnold did not have too lengthy a collegiate profession as soem of the opposite quarterbacks you may examine subsequent. However he was a a lot higher-rated recruit popping out of highschool. Signing as a member of the Trojans’ 2015 class, Darnold was a 4-star quarterback prospect out of San Clemente, California. He was the No. 5 ranked dual-threat signal-caller in his class, too.

Darnold took a redshirt in 2015, and was USC’s starter for the Trojans’ 2016 and 2017 seasons. His first season as a starter, Darnold threw for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

He helped USC end 10-3 through the 2016 season, and defeated Penn State in an exciting Rose Bowl. He had his greatest recreation of the season vs. the Nittany Lions, ending 453 yards passing, 5 touchdowns—a Rose Bowl document—with one interception. His 473 yards of whole offense additionally broke Vince Younger’s Rose Bowl document set in opposition to USC within the nationwide title recreation.

Though in 2017 he threw for extra yards (4,143) and had 5 speeding touchdowns, he struggled in different areas. His TD:Interception ratio was a lot worse, throwing 26 TDs with 13 interceptions. He additionally had 12 fumbles on the season, whereas taking part in behind an injured offensive line. He additionally misplaced his prime two wideouts in Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rodgers. Nonetheless, USC completed as Pac-12 Champions, and went 11-3, shedding to Ohio State within the Cotton Bowl.

Regardless of his blended bag of two seasons at USC, Darnold was drafted third general by the New York Jets, the place he spent three seasons. He spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers earlier than spending 2023 with the San Francisco 49ers. We’ll see if a recent begin in Minnesota can resurrect his NFL profession.

Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week.

Not like the primary two signal-callers, Cousins’ school profession wasn’t almost as eventful. He performed 4 seasons at Michigan State, becoming a member of the Spartans as a 3-star quarterback recruit from Holland, Michigan.

Following a redshirt season in 2007, Cousins noticed motion in 5 video games as a redshirt freshman in 2008. From 2009 by his last season in 2011, Cousins was Michigan State’s beginning quarterback. Throughout his final two years with Sparty, his groups completed with a mixed 22-5 data.

His greatest season got here throughout his final with the Spartans in 2011. Cousins even entered with some preseason Heisman hype, too. Michigan State earned a spot within the Huge Ten title recreation that season—in a recreation through which Cousins’ group misplaced 42-39 to Wilson and Wisconsin, paradoxically sufficient. Cousins.

On the 12 months, Cousins threw for 3.316 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. One of many extra memorable performs of Cousins’ Michigan State profession got here in opposition to Wisconsin within the common season. He launched a Hail Mary on the final play of regulation to offer MSU a surprising 37-31 upset victory.

Cousins left Michigan State as the varsity’s document holder in passing yards (9,131), passing touchdowns (66), and passing effectivity, amongst others. He was drafted 102nd general within the fourth spherical by the Washington Commanders.

Russell Wilson signed a one-year cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers, following two poor seasons spent with the Denver Broncos.

Much like Baker Mayfield, Wilson transferred throughout his collegiate profession. Wilson’s state of affairs was a bit extra distinctive although, since he utilized the NCAA’s new graduate switch rule. The rule, handed in 2006, allowed gamers with remaining eligibility who had already graduated to switch to a college to earn a graduate diploma.

Wilson, a three-star recruit from Richmond, Virginia, began his profession at NC State. Throughout three seasons with the Wolfpack, he accounted for 8,545 yards passing, 76 touchdowns and 30 interceptions from 2008-10.

He additionally performed baseball at NC State, and even briefly determined to affix the Colorado Rockies’ spring coaching after NC State’s head coach on the time. Tom O’Brien, instructed him he would not have a beginning job with the Wolfpack, per particulars from a 2019 ESPN story.

“He mentioned, ‘Hear, son, you are by no means going to play within the Nationwide Soccer League,'” Wilson recalled the dialog together with his former head coach throughout a 2016 Wisconsin graduation speech. “‘You are too small. There isn’t any likelihood. You have acquired no shot. Give it up.’ After all, I am on this facet of the telephone saying, ‘So that you’re telling me I am not coming again to NC State? I will not see the sphere?’ He mentioned, ‘No, son, you will not see the sphere.'”

However then-Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema efficiently recruited Wilson to play soccer for the Badgers for the 2011 season. The choice paid off—Wilson set Wisconsin faculty data for completion share (72.8) and passer effectivity (191.8) per the varsity. He led the Badger to a 6-0 begin that season, and led Wisconsin to a Huge Ten Championship and Rose Bowl berth.

It is protected to say his switch determination was a clever one. Wilson acquired drafted within the third spherical by the Seattle Seahawks.

Baker Mayfield signed a three-year deal to turn out to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback. The deal got here after main Tampa to an NFC South title and Wild Card win over the Eagles final season. Mayfield began his profession at Texas Tech as a walk-on. He had a little bit of a wild collegiate experience.

The previous 3-star quarterback recruit performed in eight video games for the Purple Raiders as a real freshman in 2013. However after he acquired damage, and slid down Tech’s depth chart in consequence, he transferred to Oklahoma in December 2013. The break-up between the 2 was a bit messy.

He needed to sit out the 2014 season, and due to the Huge 12’s rule on the time for gamers who transferred to different convention member faculties, additionally misplaced a 12 months of eligibility. The rule permits for the participant’s faculty to have the ability to waive that loss, however Tech denying Mayfield’s request additionally held up his capacity to be placed on an OU scholarship.

The Huge 12 later tweaked the rule, and let Mayfield have three years of eligibility. After incomes the beginning job in 2015, he threw for 3,700 yards, 36 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He rushed for 405 yards and 7 touchdowns, too, whereas main the Sooners to an 11-2 12 months with an Orange Bowl berth. His numbers acquired even higher as his Sooner profession progressed. He completed 2016 with 3,965 yards passing, 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions, whereas finishing 70.9 % of his passes. Oklahoma completed as Huge 12 champions, and beat Auburn within the Sugar Bowl that season to go 11-2.

2017 was his greatest season but, throwing for 4,627 yards with 43 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He rushed for 311 yards and 5 scores, and took dwelling the Heisman Trophy for his efforts. The Sooners made it to the Faculty Soccer Playoff that season, and misplaced 54-48 in an additional time thriller to Georgia within the Rose Bowl. Mayfield left Oklahoma with a 39-9 document over 48 video games, whereas setting quite a few faculty data.

He was drafted first general by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.