Tag: Branden Bowen

Cardinals sign former Ohio State OL Branden Bowen

Bowen was an undrafted rookie in 2020 and spent the offseason with the Carolina Panthers.

The Arizona Cardinals announced the addition of an offensive lineman to the offseason roster. On Wednesday, they announced the addition of Branden Bowen.

Bowen did not play in 2020. He was an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State who signed with the Carolina Panthers but was cut at the end of training camp.

He is listed at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds.

He played in 32 career games for the Buckeyes, including starting 13 games at tackle as a senior in 2019 when he was selected second-team All-Big Ten.

He has the potential to play both tackle and guard.

In his NFL draft profile, he is described as a player who could be depth on a roster.

He’s well-built and maximizes his length in pass protection. Has an outside shot of competing for a spot at the back-end of a roster as a late-rounder or priority free agent.

It is highly unlikely he will be in the mix for any starting job and he might only be what many consider a “camp body.” However, he is the sort of player the team would like to try and develop, either at the back of the roster or on the practice squad if he shows promise in the offseason and training camp.

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Panthers position battles: Is there room for a rookie on the offensive line?

Here are the three remaining undrafted free agents who are competing for a spot the rest of the month.

After quite the eventful offseason, things finally seem to have settled down for Carolina’s revamped offense. Not only do the Panthers now have a new starting quarterback and another weapon at wide receiver, but there was also a major overhaul of the offensive line.

To recap, the unit has lost three starters from last year and the franchise brought in new offensive line coach Pat Meyer. They also traded for veteran left tackle Russell Okung, landed two notable free-agents in John Miller and Michael Schofield and signed four undrafted free agent linemen – now down to three after Fred Mauigoa was cut. After all those changes, Pro Football Focus ranked Carolina’s offensive line No. 17 in the league going into 2020.

Whatever happens during training camp, the five starters up front are all-but-decided. Is there any room for a rookie on this roster, though? Here are the three remaining undrafted free agents who are competing for a spot the rest of the month.

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Panthers injury updates: Greg Little to start camp on PUP list, Jordan Mack opts-out

The Carolina Panthers have announced several roster moves ahead of the opening of training camp.

The Carolina Panthers have announced a series of injury-related roster moves ahead of 2020 training camp.

Here is a quick review of what’s going on.

OT Greg Little

2019 second-round pick Greg Little’s development continues to be hindered by health issues. Little missed 12 games as a rookie due to several injuries and will begin this one on the sidelines. According to the team website, Little will start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after he failed his physical.

OT Branden Bowen

In related news, the undrafted rookie Branden Bowen will begin on the active/reserve list with a non-football illness.

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty

Carolina will begin camp down three tackles, in fact. Former Michigan lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty has been waived.

LB Jordan Mack

The Panthers have their first opt-out of the year due to the pandemic. Former Virginia linebacker Jordan Mack has decided to sit out his rookie season. This might explain why the team added two linebackers yesterday, bringing back Adarius Taylor and picking up Kyahva Tezino off waivers from the Patriots.

P Michael Palardy

In case you missed it, earlier NFL Network reported that the team put punter Michael Palardy on the reserve/NFI list, ending his 2020 season. Apparently, Palardy tore his ACL at some point this offseason and will undergo surgery. South Carolina’s own Joseph Charlton projects as the new starting punter.

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Panthers rookie destroys anti-mask argument with one tweet

One way we can all help is to wear a mask in public.

The NFL is determined to start the 2020 season on time, with the Texans and Chiefs slated to kick things off Thursday, Sept. 10. Whether or not the league is able to finish it depends a great deal on the rest of the country getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.

At the moment, the virus is rampaging through the south and the southwest regions. Florida, Texas and Arizona are the hardest-hit states, with hospitals being pushed to the brink by a surge in cases.

One way we can all help is to wear a mask in public. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem determined not to. There are a lot of stupid reasons being offered as to why. The laziest of which is the “I can’t breathe in a mask” argument.

Observe Panthers rookie offensive tackle Branden Bowen demolishing that argument with this tweet from Sunday night, showing some of his former teammates at Ohio State working out in masks.

Amen.

Bowen is one of four undrafted offensive linemen currently on the roster. The team doesn’t have much depth at tackle, but a lack of preseason games won’t help his chances of making the cut.

Then again, the rules might be different this year. There’s been speculation about rosters being expanded to accomodate players needing to be put on IR due to quarantine measures.

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Watch: College highlights for Panthers undrafted OL Branden Bowen

Bowen (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) also has experience at right guard, which should help his chances of making the roster.

The Panthers offensive line has some serious question marks on the interior. They are deeper at tackle than most people think, though. For one, Taylor Moton is a criminally underrated right tackle. Assuming he and left tackle Russell Okung stay healthy, it will provide some stability Carolina’s starting five hasn’t had in years.

There are also some backups with potential further down the depth chart. That includes 2019 second-round pick Greg Little and Ohio State’s Branden Bowen, who was one of the team’s 17 undrafed free agent signings this year.

Let’s get to know Bowen’s game better on film. (Bowen is No. 76, playing right tackle).

Bowen vs. Clemson

Bowen vs. Maryland

Bowen vs. Florida Atlantic

Bowen (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) also has experience at right guard, which should help his chances of making the roster.

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Ohio State players that didn’t go in the 2020 NFL Draft

Ohio State football had ten players go in the 2020 NFL Draft, but there are still some looking for free-agent deals.

The 2020 NFL Draft is officially over, and once again it was a big success for the Ohio State football program. A total of ten players were selected throughout the seven rounds of the first-ever virtual draft.

Despite all of the players that had their names called, some that were hoping to did not. But that doesn’t mean their dreams are over. There’s still a lot of work to do after the draft with the signing of all the undrafted free agents.

So who for the Buckeyes will be hoping to field phone calls, sign a free-agent contract and get a chance to prove themselves? Here’s the complete, and remaining list that we’ll be watching over the next few days.

Next … Ohio State undrafted free-agent hopefuls

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East-West Shrine Bowl 2020: How and where to watch, listen, or stream

The annual East-West Shrine Bowl is set to take place in St. Petersburg, FL. Here’s all the television and radio information you need.

The annual East-West All-Star college football game is set to take place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida Saturday. The game has been a yearly event since 1925 and pits college seniors from the Western parts of the U.S. and Canada against those from the Eastern states and provinces (yes, Canadian players to participate in this thing).

And of course, if you’ve reached this page, you are more than likely an Ohio State fan, so we’ll remind you that the Buckeyes have three players taking part in all the festivities. Wide-receiver Binjimen Victor, offensive lineman Branden Bown, and safety Jordan Fuller all accepted invites to play in the game on the West roster (explain that).

If you’d like to take part in watching this one, if for no other reason than to see how the former OSU players fare, we’ve got your television, radio, and streaming information.

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Next … East-West Shrine Bowl television, radio, and streaming information

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Trio of Buckeyes accept invite to play in East-West Shrine Bowl

Jordan Fuller, Branden Bowen and Binjimen Victory have all accepted invites to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

If you’re like me, you have memories of watching the last bit of college football you can soak up when the East-West Shrine Bowl kicks off after the post-season. It pits senior college players considered all-stars from the eastern part of the United States and Canada with those from the western part of the U.S. and our neighbors to the north.

What makes it so iconic though is the trading of college logos. You’ll see various traditional helmets with those of other schools. It’s one of the two showcases (the other being the Senior Bowl) for senior college football players to get in front of NFL scouts and executives one last time.

Ohio State always seems to have some talent in this game, and it’s no different this time. We’ve already informed you of safety Jordan Fuller’s intentions on playing in the game, and now we have two more Buckeyes that have accepted invites.

Both right tackle Branden Bowen and wide-receiver Binjimen Victory have also agreed to play in the game set to take place on January 18 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

All three had integral roles with Ohio State this year. Fuller is a multiple-year starter that earned All Big Ten First Team status this year. Victor is a three year starter/co-starter at one of the wide-receiver spots, and Bowen stepped in to provide leadership as a starter on a rebuilt offensive line in 2019.

Now they’ll get to strap those helmets on one last time before hoping to hear their names called during the 2020 NFL Draft.