Tag: defensive lineman

Dre’Mont Jones tweets goodbye to Broncos Country

Dre’Mont Jones: “Denver gave me my first opportunity and I’m forever thankful to the city. I loved the ups and downs we shared. Take care!”

Most of the Denver Broncos’ departing free agents seem to be going out on good terms

Former Broncos guard Graham Glasgow and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson posted kind messages to Denver and its fans after leaving. Elsewhere, defensive lineman DeShawn Williams seemingly left a bit disgruntled, tweeting on his way out that the Broncos did not want him.

Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones was more aligned with Glasgow and Anderson than Williams in his farewell message.

“Thank you Bronco’s organization and community for the last 4 years,” Jones tweeted last Friday. “The hardest part will be leaving behind the relationships that I’ve made in that building. Denver gave me my first opportunity and I’m forever thankful to the city. I loved the ups and downs we shared. Take care!”

Jones left the Broncos in free agency to sign a three-year, $51.53 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Denver will replace him with free agent addition Zach Allen, who received a three-year, $45.75 million deal.

We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on Broncos Wire.

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Badgers offer four-star defensive lineman from California

Wisconsin offered Jericho Johnson, a four-star class of 2024 defensive lineman from Fairchild, California on Monday.

Wisconsin offered Jericho Johnson, a four-star class of 2024 defensive lineman from Fairchild, California on Monday. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound athlete still has one more season of football at Armijo High School before he’d make the jump to the collegiate level.

Johnson has experience playing on both sides of the ball, also taking snaps as an offensive tackle in high school. That being said, he is being recruited for his defensive talents and has now received 18 Division 1 offers, including top programs like Alabama, Georgia and future Big Ten program and home state option USC.

Considering the prestige of some of the other teams that have offered, Wisconsin would appear as an unlikely destination for Johnson, but with Luke Fickell at head coach and Mike Tressel at defensive coordinator, the Badgers certainly have a shot.

To this point, Wisconsin has yet to reel in a defensive player for the class of 2024, but that will likely change in the coming months.

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DeShawn Williams after leaving Broncos: ‘They didn’t want me’

After joining the Panthers, DeShawn Williams said of the Broncos: “They didn’t want me.”

The Denver Broncos’ defensive line depth chart took a big hit on Wednesday when DeShawn Williams agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, reuniting with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

After news of Williams’ departure broke, the defensive lineman shared the following message on his official Twitter page:

Want to say #BroncosCountry going to miss y’all. The countless times getting cut and coming back. Seeing me grown to the player I knew I could be, with a chance. To Carolina thank you for the opportunity for giving me another chance and opportunity.

A Denver fan replied to the tweet and told Williams he should have stayed with the Broncos, to which Williams replied: “They didn’t want me.”

In what may or may not be a related statement, Williams also tweeted this on Wednesday:

It’s not yet clear if the Broncos did not try to re-sign Williams, or if they simply did not offer what he was seeking on his next contract. Either way, Williams clearly felt that Denver did not value him in free agency.

The Broncos will now need to find someone to replace Williams’ 37 tackles, eight quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks and three pass breakups in 15 starts last season. We are tracking all of the team’s free agency moves on this page.

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Vikings set to meet with Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks on top-30 visit

Brooks is a high-upside lineman who could make an immediate impact on the #Vikings’ defense in 2023

The Minnesota Vikings are set to meet with Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks on a top-30 visit ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Brooks, who was a standout for the Falcons last season, is one of the more underrated linemen in the upcoming class.
Despite being a first-team All-American selection by Pro Football Focus and making the All-MAC first team in 2022, he has managed to fly under the radar of most fans who aren’t familiar with Bowling Green’s football program.
Despite this, the Vikings seem to be well aware of Brooks’ talent and upside and could target the promising prospect with one of their premium picks in the upcoming draft. Minnesota needs as much help as they can get on defense, and given Brooks’ versatile skillset as a pass rusher and run stuffer up front, he could prove to be a natural fit for the Vikings’ front four.
Time will tell if this pre-draft visit plays out in such a way that would become consequential to their strategy during the annual selection meeting, but the prospect of adding such a capable defender should excite Vikings fans who have clamored for defensive upgrades after the team’s early exit from the playoffs in January.

Twitter reacts to Broncos signing DL Zach Allen

The Broncos have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with DL Zach Allen. Here’s a sampling of how Twitter reacted to the news.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a three-year, $45.75 million contract with free agent defensive lineman Zach Allen.

The deal will become official when the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday. Here’s a sampling of how Twitter reacted to the news.

Detroit Lions re-sign former Alabama DL Isaiah Buggs to two-year deal

The Detroit Lions and Isaiah Buggs agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $6-million dollars on Monday. He joined the Lions in 2022.

The Detroit Lions agreed to a two-year deal with former Alabama defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs on Monday. According to Tom Pelissero, the deal is worth $6-million and will keep Buggs in Detroit for the next two years.

Buggs transferred to Alabama by way of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In two seasons in Tuscaloosa, he tallied 103 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks.

In 2019, Buggs was drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent three seasons with the Steelers, he recorded 31 tackles.

After his third season, he signed with the Detroit Lions. In 2022, Buggs added 45 tackles and one sack. He started in 13 games for the Lions.

His role will likely increase moving forward. He played his best ball toward the end of the season. It will be interesting to see how he performs in 2023-2024 with one of the league’s most improved teams.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Buggs’ professional career as well as other former Alabama players in the NFL.

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2023 NFL draft: Jalen Carter returns to Combine after arrest

Given the uncertainty of his legal jeopardy, there’s no telling how this incident will affect Carter’s draft stock.

In a bit of shocking breaking news earlier in the week, Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter had an arrest warrant issued for him. Carter, who is widely expected to be a Top 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was arrested, booked and released from jail on Wednesday.

Carter faces misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, stemming from a tragic night where Georgia recruitment staffer Chandler LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock lost their lives in a car accident not even a week after the Bulldogs decimated TCU in the National Championship.

Carter was allegedly driving the other car in what appears to be a street race, which took the lives of LeCroy and Willock. According to a statement from Athens-Clarke County Police, LeCroy had a BAC of .197 at the time of the crash.

While Carter complied with the arrest warrant, he was shortly released on $4,000 bail and promptly returned to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Given the uncertainty of his legal jeopardy, there’s no telling how this incident will affect Carter’s draft stock. Should he swiftly clear charges and prove his innocence, as he claims he will, he will likely still hear his name called out by the NFL Commissioner early on draft night. However, if this still lingers, there is a chance he could fall drastically.

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Alabama offers 2024 DL Kellen Lindstrom

2024 defensive lineman Kellen Lindstrom has been receiving a lot of interest from power-five programs lately. Alabama jumped on board and extended him an offer on Wed.

Kellen Lindstrom, who is a 2024 defensive line prospect, is one of the latest recruits to receive an offer from the Alabama coaching staff. The Missouri native already holds over 20 offers heading into his senior year of high school.

Lindstrom plays for Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri. As a junior, he tallied 73 tackles and six tackles for loss.

Wisconsin has hosted Lindstrom for two unofficial visits so far. Arkansas and Missouri have also hosted Lindstrom for unofficial visits.

Alabama will have time to get Lindstrom and his family on campus for  Junior Day or possibly an official visit during the season. Recruits are permitted to five official visits during their senior season.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Kellen Lindstrom’s recruiting profile.

Wisconsin offers three-star defensive lineman from Cleveland

The Badgers offered Dominic “DK” Kirks, a three-star class of 2024 defensive lineman from Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday.

The Badgers offered Dominic “DK” Kirks, a three-star defensive lineman from Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5, 250 pound athlete still has one more season of high school football at Villa Angela-St. Joseph before he’d potentially make the jump to a college program in 2024.

Considering he’s from the state of Ohio, it doesn’t come as a surprise that coach Luke Fickell has offered him. So far, Kirks has received 12 Division 1 offers, with Wisconsin becoming the first Big Ten team to offer him.

To this point, the Badgers have yet to secure a defensive commitment for the class of 2024, but they have reeled in three offensive guys including four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer (The Woodlands, Texas).

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Badgers in Top 11 of four-star defensive lineman

Brandon Davis-Swain a class of 2024 four-star defensive lineman from Michigan named the Badgers as one of his top 11 destinations on Monday.

Brandon Davis-Swain a four-star defensive lineman from West Bloomfield, Michigan named the Badgers as one of his top 11 destinations on Monday. The class of 2024 athlete is narrowing down his options and Wisconsin has certainly garnered his consideration.

Davis-Swain spent the greater part of the 2022 calendar year committed to Notre Dame, but he actually withdrew his commitment after he received an offer from the Badgers in early December. Since Dec. 11, he has received offers from Auburn, Colorado and Purdue, all of whom are in his final 11.

With Luke Fickell taking over at head coach and Mike Tressel joining him as defensive coordinator, both of which coming from Cincinnati, the Badgers have become a more enticing all-around team. Fickell and Tressel have produced NFL talent in recent years, most notably cornerback Sauce Gardner, the 2023 AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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