NFL Draft: 12 mid/late-round prospects that could be steals for the Eagles

We’re looking at 12 mid to late-round NFL draft prospects that could end up being steals for the Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have had success hitting on late-round picks in the past few years, with Jordan Mailata (2018), Kenneth Gainwell (2021), Jack Driscoll (2020), Quez Watkins (2020), Josh Sweat (2018), Nathan Gerry, Jalen Mills, and Jason Kelce being some of the late round picks who’ve played in a Super Bowl.

The 2023 NFL draft offers Philadelphia another opportunity to reload in the late rounds.

The expectation is that GM Howie Roseman will move around the board, acquiring draft assets and a large group of undrafted free agents.

With the draft just three weeks away, we’re taking an early look at 12 mid to late-round prospects that could end up as steals for the Eagles.

Ferris State head coach Tony Anesse suspended for team’s championship celebration

Ferris State head coach Tony Anesse received a suspension per the NCAA. The circumstances aren’t what we are accustomed to hearing about.

Ferris State head coach Tony Anesse has been suspended for Ferris State’s next playoff game, the NCAA announced on Thursday.

The reasoning, however, is not due to recruiting violations or any off-the-field conduct but instead for how some of his team celebrated their second-straight Division II FBS championship game this past season defeating Colorado Mines 41-14.

The suspension comes after two unnamed Ferris State players lit and smoked cigars inside their locker room following their championship win. This issue arises, however, from the fact that it occurred on the McKinney Independent School District grounds in McKinney, Texas.

As most school districts do, McKinney Independent School District has a strict no-tobacco policy on school district property. According to FootballScoop.com, Ferris State did the same following their championship in 2021 and was served a fine for the behavior – notably that instance also did occur at McKinney Independent School District.

On top of the suspension that Anesse will serve the next time Ferris State makes the postseason, the university and program will also have to pay $15,383 in restitution to McKinney Independent School District for cleaning and repair expenses, pay a fine worth $2,500, and also suffer public reprimand.

Annese has been with the Ferris State program since 2011 building the football program located in Grand Rapids, Michigan into one of the best at the Division II level. On top of their two national championships, they also were the Division II runner-up in 2018, losing narrowly to Valdosta State 49-47.

10 Sleeper prospects for the Eagles to watch at 2023 NFL Combine

With the workouts set to begin, we’re looking at 10 sleeper prospects for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

The Eagles contingent is at the NFL scouting combine and with two first-round picks for the second year in a row, they’ll look to retool with 18 pending free agents set to hit the open market.

The Eagles have 9 critical contributors on defense set for free agency, and GM Howie Roseman has acknowledged that he won’t be able to retain his core of free agents with Jalen Hurts set to land a massive contract extension.

With the onfield portion of the combine set to heat up, we’re looking at 10 sleeper prospects for the Eagles to watch.

How did lacrosse great Jared Bernhardt wind up catching Falcons’ game-winning TD?

A former lacrosse great catching a game-winning TD pass in the preseason? Yep.

There are many fantastic stories in the preseason. None may be better than Jared Bernhardt, who caught the game-winning TD pass from rookie Desmond Ridder in the Atlanta Falcons’ 27-23 victory over the Detroit Lions on Friday.

Why you ask?

Because two years ago Bernhardt was a lacrosse star at the University of Maryland.

He ended his lax career as the Terrapins’ all-time record holder in career points (290), goals (202), single-season points (99), single-season goals (71), goals in a single NCAA tournament (18), and points in a single NCAA tournament (24).

That earned Bernhardt the 2021 Tewaaraton Award, given to the nation’s best lacrosse player, equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in college football.

From Maryland, he ended up at Ferris State University, where he led the Bulldogs to a 14-0 record and rushed for three touchdowns in a 58-17 win in the national championship over Valdosta State.

Overall, Bernhardt passed for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for 1,273 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2021.

During his prep football career, Bernhardt totaled more than 4,000 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns over his final two seasons running the triple option. As a senior, he rushed for 1,457 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 751 yards and six scores in 11 games.

Per Ferrisstatebulldogs.com:

The son of Catherine and the late Jim Bernhardt, Jared comes from an athletic family. His father played football and lacrosse at Hofstra and later became a longtime collegiate football coach and later an assistant for the NFL’s Houston Texans. Two older brothers, Jake and Jesse, both played lacrosse at Maryland and were members of the 2018 USA Gold Medal Lacrosse Team who went on to play professionally in Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League.

He signed with the Falcons as a free agent at the end of April and that set the stage for his heroics on Friday.

And no, he didn’t throw the football into the net behind the goalposts to celebrate his game-winning reception.

Years ago another pretty good lacrosse player went on to have a nice NFL career. Remember Jim Brown?

Michigan State basketball announces game times for exhibition contests

MSU has announced game times for their two preseason exhibition games

The Michigan State basketball season is just around the corner and Spartan fans are ready. The team is working to prepare for the season in training camp right now, gearing up for a bounce-back season.

MSU will open up their regular season on November 9th against Kansas in the Champions Classic.

Prior to the Champions Classic, Michigan State will have a couple of tune-up games against in-state division 2 opponents Ferris State and Grand Valley State. Both games are considered as exhibitions.

Michigan State and Ferris State will tip off on October 27th, and Grand Valley will play the Spartans on November 4th. Game times for both games will be 7pm.

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Report: Chiefs to sign DE Austin Edwards to practice squad

Another practice squad move for the Kansas City Chiefs.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have made another move on the practice squad after a very active start to the week.

According to Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, the Chiefs will add DE Austin Edwards to their 16-man practice squad. Edwards was one of the seven players that the team had in for a visit on Tuesday. His contract with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2019 season expired just this past Monday, making him free to sign with any team.

Edwards played for Ferris State and was a highly-decorated player, earning the Gene Upshaw Award in 2019, denoting the top Defensive Lineman of the Year in NCAA’s Division II. He accumulated 187 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, three forced fumbles and two balls batted in his final two seasons for the Bulldogs.

 

Edwards was one of the few D-II players to get an opportunity during an offseason altered by COVID-19. He made the most of his situation and signed on with the Atlanta Falcons following the draft, ultimately earning a spot on their practice squad during the 2020 season. The Chiefs, however, showed some pre-draft interest in Edwards, meeting with him at the East-West Shrine Game. He recorded a tackle and a pass defended during the game and had one of the better weeks of practice.

Kansas City currently has a full 16-man practice squad, so they’ll need to make a corresponding move in order to officially sign Edwards. The team currently has five receivers on the practice squad, so they could cull from that group in order to make room.

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Falcons waive Jordan Miller, place Austin Edwards on COVID-19 reserve

Falcons rookie defensive end Austin Edwards was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday afternoon.

Falcons rookie defensive end Austin Edwards was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday afternoon. Edwards, an undrafted free agent out of Ferris State, has only been active in one game — playing just one snap — this season against the Detroit Lions.

After spending most of the year on Atlanta’s 16-man practice squad, Edwards may not see the field again this season.

The Falcons made an another move on Tuesday, waving cornerback Jordan Miller from the reserve/injured list. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 draft, Miller played in ten games as a rookie before getting suspended.

He’s only seen the field once in 2020, during Atlanta’s Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

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