Tag: Kevin Atkins

Giants sign former XFL DT Kevin Atkins

The Giants have signed former XFL defensive tackle, Kevin Atkins.

The New York Giants have added another defensive lineman to their offseason roster, with the team signing defensive tackle Kevin Atkins.

The news comes from Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. Atkins, who worked out for the Giants recently, played for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL earlier this year, posting 14 tackles and one sack.

Prior to that, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound lineman was an undrafted free-agent signing of the San Francisco 49ers out of Fresno State in 2022. He finished his collegiate career with 141 tackles (31 for loss) and 16.5 sacks over 47 games.

The signing comes on the heels of defensive lineman Vernon Butler being placed on the reserve/did not report list. Atkins will likely take his spot.

In addition to not having Butler, the Giants may also be missing defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches for a bit after the he was involved in a car accident on Tuesday after leaving the facility.

Nunez-Roches is reportedly in the concussion protocol, but thankfully he appears to have escaped serious injury.

On top of Atkins, the Giants also recently added defensive lineman Brandin Bryant, who was inked to a contract on Monday.

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Giants working out 2023 USFL Offensive Player of the Year

The New York Giants hosted RB Mark Thompson, the 2023 USFL Offensive Player of the Year, as part of their Monday workouts.

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With training camp just around the bend, the New York Giants will hold workouts at the Quest Diagnostics Giants Training Center on Monday.

Among those in attendance will be running back Mark Thompson, who earned 2023 USFL Offensive Player of the Year honors this past spring as a member of the Houston Gamblers. He shared word of his visit on Twitter.

The 28-year-old Thompson signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2018. He quickly turned into a journeyman, making stops with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders before entering the USFL this year. He also had a brief second stint with the Ravens in 2019.

In eight games (seven starts) for the Gamblers, Thompson rushed 653 yards and scored 14 touchdowns while adding 90 yards as a receiver. He was second in the league in rush yards and first in rushing touchdowns.

Thompson’s workout has nothing to do with the Saquon Barkley contract situation.

In addition to Thompson, free agent linebacker Joe Giles-Harris is also expected to work out for the Giants on Monday.

Giles-Harris, 26, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted rookie out of Duke in 2019. He spent his first two seasons with the Jags before joining the Buffalo Bills in 2021 when both current Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll were still with the team. He was released by the Bills in late January.

In 17 career games (three starts), Giles-Harris has recorded 26 tackles (14 solo, two for a loss), five QB hits, and one sack. He’s a talented special teams player who earned a 78.3 Pro Football Focus grade a season ago.

Others also working out on Monday: Rookie linebacker Kyahva Tezino and defensive tackle Kevin Atkins.

The Giants are expected to hold a second round of workouts later this week.

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Packers host official pre-draft visit for Fresno State DL Kevin Atkins

The Packers hosted Fresno State DL Kevin Atkins on a Top 30 visit before the 2022 NFL draft. Atkins created 17 sacks over the last three years.

The Green Bay Packers hosted Fresno State defensive lineman Kevin Atkins on an official pre-draft visit, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.

Atkins played in 47 career games and was a three-time All-Mountain West selection. As a senior in 2021, he created 13 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished the year with 30 total pressures. He produced 17.0 total sacks over his final three seasons at Fresno State, highlighting his pass-rushing potential.

Atkins (6-2, 314) is Dane Brugler’s 51st ranked defensive lineman in the class. He is projected to be an undrafted free agent, suggesting the visit is more about recruiting Atkins to Green Bay as a signing after the draft.

Thanks to a redshirt freshman season and an extra year of eligibility granted in 2021 by the pandemic, Atkins spent six total years at Fresno State.

At the school’s pro day, Atkins hit 31.5″ in the vertical leap, covered 8-7 in the broad jump and completed 13 reps in the bench press. He did not run the 40-yard dash or do agility testing, so the Packers could be looking to complete a full athletic profile.

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