Tag: emani bailey

Panthers announce flurry of practice-squad moves, including 4 additions

The Panthers have signed RB Emani Bailey, TCU’s leading rusher from 2023, to their practice squad along with three others.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of moves to their practice squad on Tuesday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed four players to the group—including running back Emani Bailey. The 23-year-old is an undrafted rookie out of Texas Christian University.

A Dallas, Texas native, Bailey played his first two seasons of collegiate ball (2020 to 2021) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Over 16 games as a Ragin’ Cajun, he rushed for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries.

Bailey transferred over to TCU in time for the 2022 campaign, where he was positioned behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado on the Horned Frogs’ depth chart. He took over starting duties in 2023, running for 1,209 yards and eight scores in 12 games.

The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring. Bailey would, however, be selected in 2024 UFL draft in July—as he was taken in the third round by the Birmingham Stallions.

He’d remain with the Chiefs through the summer and go on to appear in all three of their preseason contests, amassing 29 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Carolina also added wide receiver T.J. Luther, tight end Dominique Dafney and outside linebacker Thomas Incoom—who was waived from the 53-man roster this past Saturday.

To make room for the signings, the Panthers released wide receiver Sam Pinckney and safety Alex Cook from the practice squad.

They also placed running back Dillon Johnson and tight end Stephen Sullivan on the practice squad/injured list. Sullivan, as noted by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, sustained a “pretty significant” knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Chiefs terminate practice squad contracts of two veteran defensive linemen

Kansas City #Chiefs terminate practice squad contracts of two veteran defensive linemen | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ roster moves aren’t finished, as general manager Brett Veach has made more changes before Thursday’s season opener.

The league continues to shuffle players. Unexpected releases find their way into new teams, forcing general managers to adjust the 53-man roster and the practice squad.

On Saturday night, the Chiefs officially signed running back Emani Bailey and defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu to the Practice Squad. They terminated defensive tackles Matt Dickerson and Neil Farrell’s Practice Squad contracts to make room for the latest signings.

Bailey was an undrafted free agent who was initially waived by Kansas City ahead of the 53-man roster deadline, while Tuipulotu was recently let go by the Philadelphia Eagles. The former 2021 sixth-round pick appeared in 28 games over three seasons for Philadelphia.

The Chiefs part ways with two veteran defensive linemen who spent time on the active roster during last season’s Super Bowl run. The Chiefs acquired Farrell before the beginning of last season after starting his career with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Dickerson played in 12 games, totaling 15 combined tackles in 2023.

UDFA rumors: Former TCU RB Emani Bailey to sign with Chiefs

UDFA rumors: Former TCU RB Emani Bailey is signing with the #Chiefs

The roster additions don’t end following the NFL draft, as every general manager around the league seeks more young talent from the undrafted players pool. Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach prides himself on making wise selections in the undrafted free-agent market after years of success.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero states that former TCU running back Emani Bailey will join Kansas City after being undrafted. Bailey is an improving runner who started his college career in Louisiana from 2020 to 2021 before entering the transfer portal to TCU. He served primarily as the third running back in his first year with the Horned Frogs until becoming the starter last season.

In 2023, Bailey played 12 games, accumulating 223 carries for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns. He was effective per rush, averaging 5.4 yards while catching 25 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. At 5-foot-7 and 202 pounds, he isn’t afraid to get physical in the trenches and is a solid option in the passing game.

The Chiefs already have Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind starter Isiah Pacheco in the depth chart, with Deneric Prince potentially becoming a factor.

For more Chiefs UDFA signings, follow our tracker.

Browns meet virtually with TCU RB Emani Bailey before 2024 NFL draft

Another running back gets a virtual visit with the Browns

As the Cleveland Browns remain without a timetable on the return of running back Nick Chubb, they may turn to the 2024 NFL draft. They have already hosted Florida State’s Trey Benson, and now they have met virtually with TCU’s Emani Bailey on a pre-draft visit as well (according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson).

A transfer from Louisiana, Bailey broke out with the Horned Frogs during his senior campaign. Doubling his previous career high, Bailey rushed for 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging over five yards per carry in 2023. He even caught 25 passes out of the backfield for another 184 yards and one additional touchdown.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, however, Bailey did not leave a lasting impression. Running just a 4.61 40-yard dash, Bailey then tested in the 21st percentile and 33rd percentile respectively in his agility drills while hovering right around the 50th percentile in his jumps.

The Browns signed Nyheim Hines and D’Onta Foreman to one-year deals during free agency, so drafting another running back is not urgent. However, if Bailey goes undrafted, the Browns may just give him a ring.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Emani Bailey, TCU

Emani Bailey cashes in his fine senior season in search of an NFL job

After a sterling career at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, Emani Bailey signed with the University of Louisiana  where he was never more than the No. 3 running back for two seasons. Bailey transferred to TCU as a junior but played behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado that year. He finally had his shot as the primary back in 2023, when he led the team with 1,393 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns.

He projects as a Day 3 selection in the draft due mostly from his smaller stature, lack of experience, and a slower 40-yard dash time.

Height: 5-7
Weight: 202 pounds
40 time: 4.61 seconds

Table: Emani Bailey NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD
2020 Louisiana 5 10 60 6.0 0 0 0 0
2021 Louisiana 11 102 642 6.3 8 15 153 0
2022 TCU 14 31 250 8.1 2 7 43 0
2023 TCU 12 223 1209 5.4 8 25 184 1
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Decisive North-South rusher that always falls forward
  • Tough competitor
  • Patient runner that waits for his blockers and the vision to see the cutback lanes and then find the clear space for big gains
  • Excellent burst that translates into being able to navigate traffic and break into the open
  • Elusive with superior footwork and acceleration
  • Minor experience in receiving but has always been sure-handed with sharp routes
  • Plays faster than his 40-time thanks to burst and top-end gear

Cons

  • Pass protection needs improvement
  • Will run wide looking for big play and give up the shorter but certain yards inside
  • Smaller size will challenge even more on inside runs in the NFL
  • Lack of long speed will be more apparent in the NFL

Fantasy outlook

Emani Bailey only produced one notable season in college and that took four years and two schools to get there. But he was a tough, competitive runner that could slice his way through the Big 12 as the best weapon for TCU last season. But his 40-time at the NFL Combine was a 4.61 for the fourth best time among running backs and each of the slower runners carried 15 to 20 more pounds.

History has not been kind to 5-7 running backs either.

Bailey had many impressive runs last year and he has a place in the NFL as a depth player or in a committee, but he’ll need to show up with impressive plays in the preseason to expect much 2023 fantasy value. As with many of the deeper drafted players, his production will rely heavily in the backfield  situation that he lands and some luck in having the depth chart shaken up enough by injuries to allow Bailey the opportunity to produce as a rookie.

List of running backs at 2024 Senior Bowl

A quick list of the running backs in Mobile this week for the Senior Bowl.

Rolling on with taking a look at who will be in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl — a game in which Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be a head coach — here are the running backs that will take part this week.

Coaching the running backs in Mobile will be Cardinals running backs coach Autry Denson and Jamel Mutunga, who spent last season coaching the running backs for the Panthers.

Running back could be a spot the Jets look at late as they look for help behind Breece Hall and Israel Abanikanda. This looks like an interesting group in Mobile, including one of the stars of Missouri’s surprise run to a win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Report Card: Offensive fireworks help gloss over Sooners’ defensive woes

Offense dominates the day and passes final Big 12 test en route to a 69-45 win over TCU. We graded the team’s performance in this week’s report card.

Oklahoma has rebounded from the nightmarish season from 2022. They’ll spend the rest of Thanksgiving weekend at 10-2, a sharp contrast from the 6-6 record they amassed before their bowl game last year.

Friday saw the Sooners end their final regular season as Big 12 members in true Big 12 fashion with an old-fashioned shootout. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense and 114 points in a 69-45 Oklahoma win.

Senior Day festivities preceded the game, with more than 20 Sooners recognized. Oklahoma’s win also solidified their 59th undefeated home record as well.

As Oklahoma waits to see how the rest of the Big 12 race plays out, we’re here to grade their performance in the win over TCU. Here’s the final report card for the regular season.

No. 13 Oklahoma vs. TCU Horned Frogs: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

How will the Oklahoma Sooners final Big 12 regular season game play out? Sooners Wire staff predicts OU vs. TCU Horned Frogs.

And just like that, we’ve reached the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. As they old saying goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

Though the results haven’t gone Oklahoma’s way each week, here we sit heading into game 12 with a chance at a 10-win season and an outside shot to play in the Big 12 title game.

Yes, 10 wins and “a shot at a conference title game” aren’t meeting the standards at the University of Oklahoma. However, the improvement we’ve seen from this team from year one of Brent Venables is as important as anything.

There are still things that have to continue to get better. But as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to host the TCU Horned Frogs, one more opportunity awaits for Venables and the Sooners to prove they’re a team on the rise.

Here are this week’s Sooners Wire Staff Predictions for OU vs. TCU.

Keys to the Game: Aggressive playcalling on both sides of the ball critical to a Sooners win over TCU

Oklahoma takes on TCU this Friday in their final Big 12 regular season game. Here are our keys to the game and how the Sooners can win.

Oklahoma and TCU get set for one final battle on the gridiron before Oklahoma departs for the SEC next summer. For both schools, the game still has a lot of significance.

On the home side, the Sooners are looking to reach 10 wins for the year and keep their slim Big 12 title game hopes alive. It’s also Senior Day, and a host of Oklahoma players could be putting on the crimson & cream at home for the last time.

TCU is searching for that elusive sixth win to clinch bowl eligibility.

TCU is a flawed team, but they have the talent at critical positions to push Oklahoma. A close game in the fourth quarter is anyone’s game, and that’s all TCU has to do.

Brent Venables has the more talented team, but the possibility of being without their veteran quarterback and fighting off the emotions of a final home game and an unfamiliar gameday experience could make things challenging.

For Oklahoma to win, we believe these five keys are essential. Check them out below.

Know Your Foe: Five TCU Horned Frogs to know for regular season finale

Oklahoma takes on TCU in their final Big 12 home game to end their regular season. Here are five TCU players to know as the Sooners prepare.

Friday will be an emotional day of celebration. The Oklahoma Sooners (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) will host their Senior Day. This will be the last time the Sooners host a Big 12 game on Owen Field.

The crimson and cream have made it through another Big 12 slate. The chances of earning a trip to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship are slim but not quite zero. The Sooners will need help from other Big 12 members to make that happen.

All Oklahoma can do is worry about finishing their final Big 12 slate with a win at home.

Their opponents were the first Big 12 team not named Oklahoma to make it to the College Football Playoff. Sonny Dykes orchestrated a masterful coaching job to get TCU (5-6, 3-5) to the national championship last year. Things didn’t go so hot in their game against Georgia, but his work speaks for itself.

The Horned Frogs lost a significant amount of production from that team, and this season has hardly been as fruitful. This team can still hang with many teams and is hungry for bowl eligibility. They are one win shy of playing in a bowl game and would love nothing more than to spoil Oklahoma’s festivities and get that sixth victory.

There is no Max Duggan, Quentin Johnston, Kendre Miller, Dee Winters, Steve Avila, or Derius Davis for this year’s TCU Horned Frogs. That group of players was the backbone of last year’s team and a big reason Oklahoma lost 55-24 in Fort Worth last year.

With so many faces gone and off to the NFL, who are the players to know for Sonny Dykes’ team? We break down five TCU Horned Frogs to know ahead for Oklahoma’s regular-season finale.