Tag: john rhys plumlee

Jaguars sign QB/WR/RS John Rhys Plumlee to practice squad

Jaguars sign QB/WR/RS John Rhys Plumlee to practice squad

Former Steelers quarterback, wide receiver, return specialist and special teamer John Rhys Plumlee, an undrafted rookie out of UCF, is signing with the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Plumlee shared a picture of his locker at the Jaguars’ Miller Electric Center on Friday, before Jacksonville confirmed his addition to the practice roster.

The Jaguars list Plumlee as a quarterback.

Plumlee operated as Pittsburgh’s fourth-string quarterback throughout his inaugural NFL preseason, completing three-of-four passes for 32 yards and rushing once for four yards.

He also logged 34 special teams snaps at various positions, notably returning six kickoffs for 145 yards (24.2 yards per attempt) and two punts for 16 yards (eight yards per attempt).

While he did not rep at wide receiver in preseason games, Plumlee reportedly practiced at the position throughout the Steelers’ training camp.

Over two seasons with UCF and three with Ole Miss, where he originally enrolled for college, Plumlee completed 61.1% of his 760 passes for 5,838 yards with 34 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He added 2,556 yards and 28 touchdowns over 453 rushing attempts and 26 receptions for 296 yards.

Plumlee fills Jacksonville’s final open practice squad spot, after quarterback E.J. Perry was released from the unit on Thursday.

Steelers lose QB John Rhys Plumlee to UFL draft

John Rhys Plumlee was selected No. 3 overall in the UFL draft.

On Wednesday, the United Football League held its draft which allowed them to select NFL undrafted free agents who are currently on NFL rosters. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee at the end of the 2024 NFL draft due in large part to his ridiculous athleticism.

However, Plmulee was selected No. 3 overall by the Arlington Renegades. This means the Renegades hold his rights at this point but could give them up if Plumlee is doing well with the Steelers and could make the team. Even after they have signed a UFL contract, players have the option to leave for the NFL until December 31, 2024.

Despite strong OTAs with the Steelers, Plumlee could stick around with Arlington. Pittsburgh has their three-deep at quarterback with Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen so Plumlee would have been a longshot to make the team without a position change during training camp.

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Steelers could keep 3 UDFAs this season

The Steelers have some solid undrafted players who could make the final roster.

The level of detail the Pittsburgh Steelers put into the entire process from the 2024 NFL draft to the undrafted free-agency period has been a clinic in finding athletes to fill the team’s most significant needs.

Pittsburgh signed a particularly small group of UDFAs this year but it is all part of their plan. If the players signed, we like three of them to make the team either as part of the 53-man roster or on the practice squad.

First up we have cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. Physical, scrappy, quick and strong against the run sounds like a Steelers slot cornerback to me. The team is excited about what Bishop brings as a sort of hybrid cornerback/safety up and around the line of scrimmage and he has a real shot to make the final roster.

The Steelers went out and signed quarterback John Rhys Plumlee based on his remarkable athleticism and intangibles. All Plumlee needs to do in order to make the roster is beat out veteran Kyle Allen.

Finally, we have running back Daijun Edwards. More football player than athlete, Edwards was particularly productive at Georgia around the end zone and with the team in need of a No. 3 running back, he could slide right into that role without much competition.

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Seahawks hosting UCF quarterback prospect for top-30 visit

According to Pete Nakos at On3, the team is hosting former Ole Miss and UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee for an official top-30 visit.

The Seahawks may have traded for Sam Howell, but apparently they’re not done looking at quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

According to Pete Nakos at On3, the team is hosting former Ole Miss and UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee for an official top-30 visit.

Plumlee (6-foot-0, 200 pounds) played his first three college seasons at Mississippi, appearing in 29 games. In 2022 he transferred to UCF and was elevated to a starting role. In 23 games there he posted nearly 5,000 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 141.3 rating.

While his passing numbers don’t exactly scream NFL future, Plumlee is undeniably an excellent rushing quarterback. All together he had 453 carries in college, totaling over 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights from Ole Miss.

And here’s some from UCF.

Plumlee was not invited to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, so we don’t have measurables as of yet. He will participate in the inaugural Big 12 Pro Day next week, though. Plumlee is generally ranked near the bottom of this quarterback class, which gives him a late Day 3 or UDFA projection.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Grading Seattle’s second wave of free agent signings, trades

Ranking all 32 NFL teams after first wave of 2024 free agency

5 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners victory over Kansas

Can the Oklahoma Sooners extend their winning streak over Kansas on Saturday? Here are our five keys to the game.

On Saturday, No. 6 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0) will take on Lance Leipold’s [autotag]Kansas Jayhawks[/autotag] (5-2, 2-2) for the final time as Big 12 foes.

Oklahoma needs to play a much better game on Saturday than they did against the UCF Knights. They looked to be sleepwalking through the game at times and could have been more crisp on offense. The offensive line had its worst game of the season in pass protection, and until the fourth quarter, the Sooners couldn’t expose a lousy run defense.

Defensively, two busted plays defined the day, as both led to UCF touchdowns. Those plays aside, it was an excellent day for an Oklahoma defense that continues to show improvement.

Kansas will present another challenge for this revitalized Oklahoma defense. The Sooners D continues to make opposing offenses look outmatched at times. Aside from the occasional busts in coverages, this unit is much better than the one that Kansas saw in Norman last year when Kansas quarterback Jason Bean threw four touchdowns.

The Jayhawks have two solid running backs, Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. They are as explosive as teams get and will provide Oklahoma with a challenge.

Ultimately, the Sooners still hold advantages at multiple spots. With their lackluster performance from UCF behind them, the Sooners should come out on fire.

The Jayhawks surely won’t go down without a fight, and Brent Venables will make sure the team knows that.

Kansas hasn’t beaten OU since 1997. The Sooners have won the last 18 matchups between the two sides. But what are the keys to Oklahoma closing out the 100-year series with a win? Here are this week’s keys to the game.

‘It was a weird moment’: Peyton Bowen reflects on first sack of his career

Peyton Bowen didn’t play much in the win over UCF, but came up with a huge play on Saturday.

With about eight minutes to go in the game, the [autotag]UCF Knights[/autotag] lined up for a 3rd and 6 after the Oklahoma Sooners just took the lead. [autotag]John Rhys Plumlee[/autotag] took the snap, went back to pass, and coming unblocked was star freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag]. Bowen sacked him for a nine-yard loss, ending the drive.

Bowen only played five snaps in the win, according to Pro Football Focus. There’s been speculation on why that might be as he was reportedly wearing a boot after the game. However, he made his limited opportunities count. Oklahoma’s offense took over and went down and scored again to go up eight.

That essentially ended the game.

Bowen talked to reporters after the game and said getting a sack is not something he’s used to feeling.

“That was my first ever one,” Bowen said. “High school, all of it. So, I was confused once I got it. It was a weird moment.”

Bowen said that package was something they talked about on the sidelines, so he knew the play was coming. He admitted he wasn’t totally surprised he was unblocked on the play.

“We ran it during practice, and it was kind of the same thing. So I was really just like, someone is coming free, though,” Bowen said. “If it comes down to me, whatever, the dude next to me is going to get it. Once I came up free, I was like, ‘Oh snap, my moment.”

Bowen seized his moment as he’s becoming a guy with a reputation for making big plays at big moments. He finished with two tackles on the day but none bigger than that one.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Report Card: Sooners sleepwalk on offense in UCF scare

Oklahoma took on UCF for the first time Saturday. UCF hung tough but the Sooners pulled it out late. Here is this week’s report card.

Saturday’s performance was an aberration for Team 129. The team we saw on Saturday was eerily reminiscent of the team that took the field 13 times last season to not-so-fun results. Yet, they knuckled up and found a way when it mattered most.

If we’re being honest, last year’s team would not have won that game. But despite the miserable team performance, it never felt like they wouldn’t make the necessary plays to win. That is a true testament to the wholesale changes in mentality, effort, talent, and coaching from last year to 2023.

Let’s get to the bottom line here with the dust settled. Oklahoma won, but it might have been the worst they looked on offense all year. It’s time to pass out grades in this week’s report card.

3 Stars of the Game: Defensive end duo plays inspired ball in Sooners win

Oklahoma escaped UCF’s upset bid on Saturday. While it wasn’t pretty these three players stood out most for their performance.

Oklahoma narrowly escaped on Saturday against UCF in a game many did not foresee as razor-tight. At no point outside of the game’s first minutes did  Oklahoma have control.

Ultimately, that remained the case for the rest of the game. However, somehow, Oklahoma found themselves walking off Owen Field still undefeated and 7-0, surpassing their 2022 win total in October of this year.

While the product was far from pretty, the result mattered, and the Sooners won. A few players from the team stood out, and we have declared them our three stars for this week.

Three Stars of the Game

No. 1 Star – Ethan Downs, DE

Ethan Downs has upped his level of play this season and has become an impact defender along the defensive line for the Sooners.

He had a lights-out performance vs. Texas and was just as disruptive against UCF.

He had a highlight play that saw him blow up two UCF players on a 3rd and 8 in the first quarter and ended up sacking Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee.

Downs also had five tackles in the run game and was credited with a tackle for loss. His ability to set the edge was vital in forcing UCF to run between the tackles, where they did not have the physical or schematical advantage against the Sooners.

No. 2 Star – Trace Ford, DL

Trace Ford had arguably his best game of the season on Saturday. He was a disruptive force on the ground and as a pass rusher.

Ford came up with two tackles for loss and knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage. He was active and energetic.

While he did struggle to contain the edge at times, he was undoubtedly one of the more impactful defenders on Saturday.

No. 3 Star – Nic Anderson, WR

There’s no way to overstate Nic Anderson’s arrival this year, but he’s announced himself in a big way. He’s third on the team in receiving yards, first in touchdowns, and is averaging 24.8 yards per reception.

On Saturday, he scored twice, led the team in receiving yards, and further proved to be a reliable weapon in the passing game.

Anderson is showcasing route running, awareness, and explosiveness.

With Andrel Anthony out for the remainder of this season, Nic Anderson looks like he’s officially a starter for the long haul. Oklahoma will depend on him to make plays going forward. It’s up to Anderson to continue to make the most of those opportunities.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

‘Adversity is going to happen’: Kendel Dolby, Sooners defense battled to seal win

Kendel Dolby and the Oklahoma Sooners defense rose to the occasion when it mattered most.

With 1:16 left in the fourth quarter, the [autotag]UCF Knights[/autotag] had just completed an effortless drive to score a touchdown to cut the lead to two. In an attempt to tie the game, the Knights’ offense stayed on the field and lined up for a two-point conversion.

Quarterback [autotag]John Rhys Plumlee[/autotag] took the snap and slung it out to his left to [autotag]Xavier Townsend[/autotag] who then looked to throw the ball. The Sooners’ defense, led by [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], was all over it.

They covered it beautifully. From [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] taking away his main read to Dolby and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] staying out wide and defending the cutback to make sure he didn’t try to run it in as well. Ultimately, Dolby was the one who wrapped him up for an eight-yard loss, which essentially sealed the Sooners’ win.

Dolby talked to reporters after the game about that play. “Adversity is going to happen, Dolby said. “Coach (Venables) preaches that to us all of the time. Next play, that’s our mindset. It’s how I was thinking on that.”

The biggest thing that stood out about that two-point stop was that everyone on defense simply did their job. That’s not something we’ve seen from Sooners’ defenses in the past. At times those units seemed more concerned with making the big play as opposed to doing what the defense asked them to do.

Dolby was asked about Townsend wanting to throw it, and he said flat out his job was to play the ball and not worry about the throw. The throw was Bowman’s and Washington’s responsibility. Both of them did a great job taking that away as well. And because of it, the Sooners avoided overtime and remained undefeated on the 2023 season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Five Takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 31-29 win over the UCF Knights

Oklahoma pulled out a nailbiter as they hung on to beat UCF 31-29 in Norman on Saturday. Here are our five takeaways from the game.

Oklahoma escaped by the skin of its teeth on Saturday as they downed Big 12 newcomer UCF 31-29. It was a game that came down to the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

Considering how well Oklahoma has looked all season, it was a jarring performance. Especially after the Sooners had a bye week to put the Texas win behind them. Yet, on Saturday, after a relatively solid start, a pair of missed field goals kept the door open for UCF to run through. Before long, Oklahoma was fighting for its life and the right to stay undefeated.

When the dust cleared, the Sooners came out on top. A late surge in the fourth quarter was enough for Brent Venables’ team to get it done.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ win.