Bulls in the Pros: NFL Week 6 and XFL Draft

Thanks to some coincidental bye weeks, only three USF alumni were in action around the NFL this week. Only two of them got any significant playing time too. So instead of our normal weekly recap, let’s do a full season reviewing what they’ve done through five weeks.

Marlon Mack- RB, Indianapolis Colts

Mack had a bye week last Sunday, but he started off 2019 with a bang getting 174 yards and a TD on the ground. He followed that up with a few quiet weeks, but came back strong in week five where he was the catalyst for the Colts offense in an upset win over the Chiefs. That night, he ran for 132 yards and nearly 5 yards per carry. He currently has the 7th most rushing yards in the league, with 470, which is also the most for any player who’s already had a bye week. On top of those yards, Mack has two rushing scores and added 42 yards in the passing game.

Mack returns to action Sunday against the Texans at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Austin Reiter- C, Kansas City Chiefs

Reiter has played every snap of the Chiefs season so far and has helped block for the third-best offense in the league. Kansas City averages 422 yards per game, helping them hold onto first place in the AFC West. He tied for third on the team with three penalties against him, all of which are holding calls.

Reiter and the Chiefs take on the Broncos tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.

D’Ernest Johnson- RB, Cleveland Browns

Johnson saw a lot of time earlier in the season, especially as a third down back. He started off his NFL career with good production, averaging 13 yards per carry after week one. (I mean, yeah, he only got one carry. Stats don’t lie though) Ever since then, he’s basically been asked to serve exclusively as a 3rd down back, only getting four carries and six catches so far.

Johnson has done some work in the kick return game too, returning two kicks for 23 and 13 yards.

He got one offensive snap last weekend in a loss to the Seahawks. Hopefully he’ll get more opportunities to carry the ball when the Browns head to New England after their bye week.

Aaron Lynch- OLB, Chicago Bears

Lynch was signed to bring depth to the Bears linebacker room and that’s exactly what he’s done. He’s been a productive backup, with three total tackles, two TFL’s and a sack through five games. His time on the field as stayed pretty consistently between 15 -25 percent of defensive snaps.

By no means is he lighting the world on fire, but he’s filling the role that he was signed to do.

The Bears were off last week, but will be back in action taking on the New Orleans Saints Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Terrell McClain- DT, Kansas City Chiefs

We get to add a new name to the list! McClain was signed as a free agent last Tuesday and he made an immediate impact against the Texans. He made two tackles and played 26 snaps on defense.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling- WR, Green Bay Packers

MVS caught two passes for 48 yards in the Packers Monday Night Football win over the Lions. He had to leave the game just before halftime with what looked to be a scary injury, but he was back in the game to start the second half. Valdes-Scantling has been a consistent asset to Aaron Rogers and the first-place Packers. So far, he’s grabbed 19 catches for 283 yards and a TD through six games, including a 99 yard day against the Broncos.

He’ll try and hit 100 yards for the first time this season against the Raiders on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

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In other news, the relaunching XFL officially held their draft on Tuesday and Wednesday where a handful of former USF players were selected.

The draft was broken up into five different phases where Phase 1 allowed teams to draft skill position players on offense, Phase 2 focused on offensive linemen, Phase 3 dedicated to defensive front seven players and Phase 4 focusing on defensive backs.

Each phase consisted of 10 rounds except Phase 5, which allowed teams to fill out their roster with any position of need.

The first USF player to come off the board was tight end Sean Price, who was selected by the Dallas Renegades in the fifth round of Phase 1.

Price was last seen playing for the Orlando Apollos of the now defunct AAF this past spring.

Right after Price came the Tampa Bay Vipers, who summoned Quinton Flowers to come back home to Raymond James Stadium as a running back.

The GOAT was recently waived by both the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts in September. Although still a running back, we’ll see if the Vipers will give him a chance at QB behind Aaron Murray.

In the fifth round of Phase 2, the Seattle Dragons selected Quinterrius Eatmon with the 34th pick. Eatmon also played alongside Price and D’Ernest Johnson for the Orlando Apollos this past spring.

Jumping to Phase 4 on Wednesday, the Houston Roughnecks took cornerback Deatrick Nichols in the ninth round. Nichols spent a year with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad before being waived as part of final roster cuts on Aug. 31

Phase five selections for the Bulls included SUPER BOWL CHAMPION B.J. Daniels returning to Seattle to play for the Dragons and Reshard Cliett being selected by the Dallas Renegades.

Notable USF players in the XFL Draft pool list who weren’t selected included Jeremi Hall, Devin Abraham, Vincent Jackson and one Tyre McCants.