We’re looking at ten former Philadelphia Eagles who are making their debut during the 2023 USFL season
The revived USFL kicked off its second season on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium as the Philadelphia Stars visited the Memphis Showboats.
Some familiar names exist, like former Alabama star running back Bo Scarbrough,embattled linebacker Reuben Foster, and many others.
The league will feature four new head coaches, one new team, and an expansion to playing games in four “hub” cities for its eight teams.
With kickoff underway, we’re looking at ten former Eagles who are set to make their USFLL debuts.
Teams will trim down to 80 players after the second preseason contest, with the final contest to 53 coming the Tuesday after the final preseason action of the summer.
Philadelphia has started that process by releasing offensive tackle William Dunkle and SAM linebacker, Ali Fayad.
Tracking the Philadelphia Eagles undrafted rookies entering the preseason opener
The Eagles entered NFL draft weekend with ten selections, but after a few blockbuster trades, Howie Roseman finished with A.J. Brown and a talented five-man draft class.
Philadelphia banked on a deep group of players going undrafted. Days later, the team announced the signings of 12 undrafted rookie free agents ahead of their May rookie minicamp.
With Philadelphia looking to get the best talent on the field, here’s a breakdown of the undrafted free agents and their chances to break out on Friday night.
After drafting no cornerbacks in the draft, Philadelphia added four cover guys through undrafted free agency. They also signed three offensive linemen.
Here’s a look at those undrafted free agents and the highlights to match.
Former Nevada QB Carson Strong and FS Reed Blankenship are in the fold as the Philadelphia Eagles announce the 2022 undrafted free agent class of 12 players
After drafting no cornerbacks in the draft, Philadelphia added four cover guys through undrafted free agency. They also signed three offensive linemen.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Western Michigan edge defender prospect Ali Fayad
Few players took advantage of the 2021 season quite like Western Michigan edge defender Ali Fayad.
He had a dominant shortened 2020 campaign, but Fayad exploded with the best year of his collegiate career this past season, placing fourth in the FBS with 13 sacks. He was a constant force to reckoned with in MAC backfields, being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.
Draft Wire had the chance to speak exclusively with Fayad about his breakout year, his experience at the Shrine Bowl, his high-effort playing style, and much more.
JI: You’re coming off of a stellar year at Western Michigan. What went into this season and prepared you for a career year?
AF: We can start off when I got hurt in 2020; that really propelled me for this year, because it changed my whole mind and my mindset towards the game towards, towards my preparation, and just everything that has to do with [football]. When something gets taken from you, that you love, you really start to feel a certain type of way. You can’t control certain things, and that time goes by, man, it’s just all the hard work and the preparation that I put into it. My mindset was really all football 24/7 since the COVID year until 2021. I had subtle reminders around my house: I had a MAC logo taped around my ceiling over my bed. I had NFL logos taped over my bed and things like that. It was really just staying consistent in what I was doing, putting the right food in my body, stretching, going the extra mile just to get what I want.
JI: What did it mean to you to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year?
AF: Man, it felt awesome. It was great to see my family happy. I’ve been really wanting this award since 2020; I thought I was gonna get it before I got hurt. It felt great, putting all that work and having those subtle reminders around your house. It’s everything coming to come into fruition. I made a whole playlist before the season, wrote down in my journal that I was gonna win the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and have double digit sacks and all those things coming together. It’s awesome to see that the hard work that you put in, it does pay off.
JI: Your hand activity and arsenal as a pass-rusher stands out on film. What’s gone into being able to play with as much urgency and quickness at the point of attack?
AF: Honestly, man, it’s very instinctual. Every time somebody has something funky, I got a counter for them. I always come with a plan. I watch a lot of film, and it’s the man above, God forever. It’s truly instinctual by me. I’m very focused on the film that I watch. I’m always watching my opponent before I play, but I just continue to keep going, just motor, man. It’s the will to get to the the quarterback and getting to the quarterback, it’s my favorite thing in the whole world.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
JI: What’s your favorite pass-rushing move to execute?
AF: I love my spin. I love the ghost step, too. The offensive linemen’s hands having to slip off the back plate is a great feeling, coming up for you and then just cleaning up the quarterback. Swim and the dip are my two favorites.
JI: There’s a bit of debate about where you’ll play at the next level. In talking with teams, have you heard a consensus about where they want you lined up?
AF: I mean, most teams obviously see me as their 3-4 [edge rusher] because of my size. I’m not prototypical for the prototype defensive end, 4-3 in the ground. But I’ve also heard teams telling me I could play 4-3, they’d be flexible, because they see my physicality at the point of attack. They see that I like to use my hands, and I don’t get pushed around, and then if you watch the film, you know, I’m very stout, and I hold down edges and just know how to get to the quarterback if you put me on the edge.
JI: You had the chance to play in the East-West Shrine Game. What was that experience like?
AF: That experience was awesome, just going to actually get coached by the NFL coaches and then go on to play the top-tier players in the country felt good. Just for me to go out there and dominate it with my pass rush to make them look at what I bring it to the table, making everything look really nice while getting home. It just felt good to dominate and do what I had to do to just turn heads.
JI: On top of all the on-field stuff, you also got to meet with NFL teams. How did that process go?
AF: Oh, man, talking to them was awesome. Finally getting to know who I was, not just the person on the field, but off the field, getting to know how much I love the game. I’m a football guy 24/7, and I’m willing to do whatever. I’m down. Everybody in the draft will feel like it’s the bottom of the ocean, so I just really hope that they understand that about me, and that I’m gonna work hard, and I’ll do whatever.
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
JI: Which edge rushers have you grown up idolizing?
AF: Growing up in high school, I’d watch Aldon Smith on the San Francisco 49ers. Watching him come off the edge, I watched him drop five sacks – I’m sorry, it was against the Bears – watched that live. So you know, watching him to see a dominant force off the edge. Another guy [I’m] watching: Von Miller; I utilized a lot of [his] moves. I tried to dip like him, get this spin coming out of nowhere like him. Another guy was actually Dwight Freeney that I was really starting to watch. I know that people will say me and him are very similar in size and whatnot. Just watching and seeing how he dominated dominated the game with over 100, 115 or 120 sacks, man.
I just tried to take what makes his spin move better than mine are you know, what steps is he see takin, how’s he getting out? [I’m] watching even Robert Mathis, man. I really love the game of football. I tried to take from all the GOATs, all the best, and I tried to implement it to my game as much because you know, I feel like I’m my own [guy], but yeah, those guys paved the way, so I just tried to give and take it, and I tried to give it on the field.
JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?
AF: Outside of football, the past five years, even this last little couple more six months, spending in Texas training and what not…I really just like to chill, spend time with my family. I really like to talk to them and get to know them even more than I already do. You never know how much you can know about a person: even your mom, your dad, your sister. I just really like to chill with them, and the time that I have with them is very limited, and when I do have time, I really love to sit back and chill the family, and I got a couple of dogs I like to take the park and enjoy the nature and being outside. So I’m a really chill guy, but this snow right now in Michigan is killing me.
JI: What kind of dogs do you have?
AF: I have a white German Shepherd. My little sister has a Pomeranian, and I just got a couple of days ago a brand new, all-black German Shepherd.
JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?
AF: If you draft Ali Fayad, you’re getting a relentless workhorse that’s willing to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl and win every single game, every time I’m on the field. I’m gonna give them 125 percent. Once you get me, I always prove people wrong and always turn a lot of heads up on that field, so I’m that guy out there that people are always talking about.
Western Michigan has a few prospects that could interest the Lions in the 2022 NFL draft class
Even with the free agent frenzy kicking off on Monday, the Detroit Lions continued to do their due diligence for the 2022 NFL draft. The Lions had multiple personnel on the scene in Kalamazoo for Western Michigan’s pro day for Broncos prospects.
Western Michigan has two prominent prospects for 2022: WR Skyy Moore and QB Kaleb Eleby. Moore is a 5-11 dynamo who can play inside or outside. He did not work out, choosing to keep his NFL scouting combine workout numbers. But Moore did run routes and catch passes from Eleby.
The quarterback did do workout drills, unofficially timed at 4.84 by one scout in attendance in the 40-yard dash. His exit velocity on throws stood out, and the passing drills reinforced the strong accuracy he showed on game tape.
Moore is generally projected in the second or third round, while Eleby gets slotted a couple of rounds later.
Two other Broncos to watch for Lions fans are likely undrafted free agents. EDGE Ali Fayad bagged 13 sacks in 2022 and has some good finishing power. He weighed in at just 248 pounds and did not have a great workout, however (32-inch vertical, 4.82 40-yard dash per one scout).
Offensive lineman Mike Caliendo was a five-year starter with experience at both guard and center. He thrived during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and has the intelligence and strength in the run game to merit a priority free agency look from Detroit.
Western Michigan OLB Ali Fayad is up next in Unpacking Future Packers, a countdown previewing the 2022 NFL draft for Packers Wire.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The position of strength in the 2021 NFL Draft was wide receiver. The position of strength for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft is edge rusher.
It’s a position that will likely see two edge rushers go in the top-five picks and could have up to six go in the top 20.
While teams will be lining up to get their hands on the cream of the crop from this group, there will be plenty of impactful edge rushers on the board later in the draft.
A player that the Green Bay Packers could target from this deep pool of edge rushers is Ali Fayad. The Western Michigan edge rusher checks in at No. 75 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
A Michigan native, Fayad recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a reserve in 2017. In 2018, Fayad recorded 12 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and forced four fumbles.
Fayad recorded 53 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2019. In six games in 2020, Fayad recorded five tackles for loss and three sacks.
This past season Fayad earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
Fayad continued his dominance from his 2021 season with an impressive showing during Shrine Bowl week. During practice, Fayad dominated during one-on-ones with his polished skill set.
“Ali has a knack for making highlight plays giving the scouts in attendance as well as our virtual attendees plenty to talk about,” Shane Coughlin, the Director of College Scouting for the Shrine Bowl, said. “His performances during 1 on 1s were consistent with what we had seen at Western Michigan as one of the MAC’s best and most productive players over his career. Ali also has a really bright personality. He was humble, hungry, respectful, and professional in handling his business on and off the field all week.”
Fayad had outstanding production during his time at Western Michigan. In his last two full seasons (2019 and 2021) Fayad recorded 33 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks, while consistently putting pressure on the quarterback.
“His pass-rushing plan is refined and complex,” Coughlin said. “You can see he’s determined to create pressure even if his initial move is stalled. He’s always ready for second levels of contact and is ready to swim or rip around back blocks to hit home. His pass-rushing instincts paired with the motor and flexibility make him dangerous from all alignments.”
Fayad doesn’t have the most explosive first step, but he has juice getting upfield. He has a wide array of pass rush moves. If he doesn’t win with his first move he has a backup plan. His trump card is a spin move that would make Dwight Freeney proud.
Yesterday in our interview session, @AFAYAD3 told me that he was going to bust out the spin move today in one on ones.
“The move that continues to stand out is the spin,” Coughlin said. “There’s the explosiveness and agility to execute the actual movement but then you see the upper body strength to bring his outside arm through contact to clear the line of scrimmage along with the balance to stay on the path and pursue the quarterback. His get-off and pad level will force tackles to occasionally overset or extend and the spin allows him to beat those bigger offensive linemen.”
As a run defender, Fayad plays with consistent effort. He won’t back down at the point of attack. He sets a strong edge and understands how to create leverage. He has a knack for poking the ball out, with eight forced fumbles during his career.
“We had Ali on the East squad running a 3-4 scheme and giving him that 7-9tech outside linebacker role really let him thrive,” Coughlin said. “He has natural leverage and stoutness to set the edge against tight ends and you love his slipperiness to counter inside and disrupt wider run concepts.”
Fit with the Packers
With a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the future of both Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith following the 2021 season, the Packers will likely be looking to address the edge rusher position early and often in the 2022 NFL draft.
Even if the Packers snag an edge rusher in the first three rounds, Fayad would provide the Packers with quality depth at a premium position.
Fayad creates pressure with his diverse bag of tracks as a pass rusher and he’s strong at the point of attack against the run.
“The motor and production are the first two things that really stand out about Ali,” Coughlin said. He’s been dominant in the MAC with 37.5 TFL and 19.5 sacks along with eight forced fumbles. Watching him work against a really talented Shrine Bowl offensive line solidified him as someone who will consistently work and succeed creating pressure and rushing the passer.”
A team can never have enough pass rushers. If Green Bay loses the Smith Bros., they’ll need to reload at the position to get Rashan Gary new running mates.
With the edge class being a deep and talented group, it would not be surprising to see Brian Gutekunst using multiple picks on the edge position in the upcoming draft. Don’t be surprised if Fayad, with his variety of moves, is a target for Gutekunst on day three of the draft.
