Tag: safety

Alabama lands in top 4 for 2025 3-star safety Rylon Dillard-Allen

2025 three-star safety Rylon Dillard-Allen narrowed his list of finalists down to four schools. Alabama was listed as one of the finalists for the Arizona native.

2025 three-star safety Rylon Dillard-Allen narrowed his list of finalists down to four schools. Alabama was listed as a finalist for the Arizona native. Along with Alabama, Dillard-Allen listed Texas A&M Aggies, UCLA Bruins, and Washington Huskies as finalists to land his commitment.

Dillard-Allen landed an offer from Alabama in May. Kalen DeBoer previously recruited him during his time at Washington. Now, Dillard-Allen has become a priority target for the Crimson Tide coaching staff.

Dillard-Allen plays for Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He is listed at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds. Given his size, there is a possibility that Dillard-Allen converts to being a full-time cornerback at the college level. For now, he is being listed as a safety, however.

Dillard-Allen will make his first trip to Tuscaloosa for an official visit on June 7. He is likely to return for an unofficial visit in the fall. Alabama likes where they stand, so it will be interesting to see how this weekend goes.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program and its efforts on the recruiting trail.

Tyrann Mathieu makes the cut for list of NFL’s 11 best safeties

Tyrann Mathieu made the cut for Touchdown Wire’s list of the 11 best safeties in the NFL. The Saints’ fan-favorite is aging like fine wine:

Shoutout to Tyrann Mathieu. The New Orleans Saints safety is aging like fine wine, and he earned a spot on Touchdown Wire’s list of the 11 best safeties in the NFL for his efforts in 2023. He’ll continue to be a major playmaker and leader in the secondary for New Orleans, but here’s why TD Wire’s Doug Farrar argues Mathieu is so special:

Through the years, Tyrann Mathieu’s deployment metrics from season to season have been unpredictable, to say the least. The Cardinals picked Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 draft, and had him as a primary slot defender most of the time. One year with the Texans in 2018 had him more as a versatile rover — that was the first season in which Mathieu had at least 300 snaps at free, box, and slot. Mathieu signed with the Chiefs in 2019, just in time for Steve Spagnuolo to really let him bloom in that role. That got him a three-year, $27 million deal with the Saints in 2022.

Last season in Dennis Allen’s defense, Mathieu was more of a deep-third player, with 776 snaps as a high safety, 210 in the box, and 191 in the slot. He was good for 54 solo tackles and 19 stops. In coverage, he allowed 21 catches on 35 targets for 249 yards, 194 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, four interceptions, eight pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 70.7.

2023 marked Mathieu’s highest rate of deployment in the deep third that he’s ever had, which is a pretty interesting construct for a 31-year-old guy. But he handled it with aplomb, showing the kind of route-matching and robber skills you’d expect from a much younger player.

Farrar ranked Mathieu 8th-best among his peers, alongside NFC South rivals like Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (No. 2; Winfield is also the highest-paid safety in the NFL), Atlanta Falcons standout Jessie Bates III (No. 5), and Carolina Panthers starter Xavier Woods (No. 11).

And the Saints are betting big on Mathieu continuing to play at a high level. They released his tag-team partner Marcus Maye earlier this offseason while tapping Johnathan Abram and Jordan Howden to compete for the now-vacant spot in the lineup. Mathieu turned 32 in May and agreed to a renegotiated contract that will keep him in New Orleans through the 2025 season, so he’s entrenched as a starter for the foreseeable future. Hopefully he can maintain the high standards he’s set. No Saints player has intercepted more passes than Mathieu (7) since he joined the team.

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Check out these highlights of new Broncos DB Omar Brown

The Broncos have a crowded safety depth chart, but undrafted rookie Omar Brown will get a chance to compete for a spot this summer.

The Denver Broncos signed college free agent Omar Brown out of Nebraska following the 2024 NFL draft. Brown, who comes in with measurements of 6 feet and weighing 201 pounds, has the chance to perhaps make the roster or the practice squad with a productive summer.

His stats from Nebraska appear solid: he finished his final season with 12 appearances and eight starts. During that time, he totaled 51 tackles while adding three tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception. His production allowed him to become an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection.

Check out his highlights:

Competing at a crowded position, Brown will face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster this summer. Brandon Jones, Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke top the safety depth chart with JL Skinner, Delarrin Turner-Yell and Brown behind them. If there’s not room on the active roster, Brown should be a strong candidate for the practice squad in 2024.

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Broncos greats Steve Foley, Riley Odoms elected to Ring of Fame

Riley Odoms and Steve Foley helped the Broncos reach their first Super Bowl in 1977. They will now join the team’s Ring of Fame in 2024.

The Denver Broncos announced that former teammates safety Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms have been elected to the team’s Ring of Fame on Thursday.

Odoms and Foley were teammates on the first Super Bowl roster in Broncos history in 1977, where they were eventually defeated by the Dallas Cowboys 27-10. The duo will be the 12th and 13th members of the 1977 team to be inducted into the Ring of Fame, joining quarterback Craig Morton, wide receivers Haven Moses and Rick Upchurch, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, owner Gerald Phipps, defensive tackle Paul Smith, safety Billy Thompson, kicker Jim Turner, cornerback Louis Wright and head coach Red Miller.

Foley was part of the back end of the famed “Orange Crush” defense, which was anchored by linebacker Randy Gradishar. Foley played his entire career for the Broncos from 1976-1986, starting 136 of 150 total games, snatching 44 interceptions (a franchise record) with 622 return yards.

Odoms caught a total of 41 touchdowns from 1972-1983, totaling 5,755 yards. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team AP All-Pro.

The 2024 campaign is shaping up to be a huge year for this historic roster. Randy Gradishar is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, the first member of the “Orange Crush” defense to receive this distinction. In addition, Denver will roll out special throwback jerseys that specifically honor the 1977 Super Bowl team.

Gradishar, Odoms, Foley and the rest of the 1977 team will be honored during Week 5’s Alumni Week game against the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the Broncos’ oldest rivals.

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Alabama a finalist to land 2024 4-star safety CJ Jimcoily

Alabama is one of four finalists in the mix to land a commitment from 2025 safety CJ Jimcoily.

On Friday, 2025 four-star safety narrowed his list of finalists down to four schools — Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers, Stanford, and Tennessee Volunteers. Jimcoily fielded an offer from the Crimson Tide on May 14. He is scheduled to take an official visit to Alabama on June 21.

The product of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He has the mold to play either safety or cornerback at the next level. His ability to play multiple positions is certainly something that is valuable at the next level. As a junior, Jimcoily was an intricate piece of the Mustangs defense.

Alabama feels like it is in a good position to land Jimcoily’s commitment despite extending an offer more recent than any other school in the mix.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding Alabama football news and the program’s efforts on the recruiting trail.

Chiefs DB Justin Reid earns crown as the NFL’s top chess player

#Chiefs DB Justin Reid won a tournament to become the top chess player in the NFL. | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid became a chess champion this week after being crowned the winner of BlitzChamps III, defeating Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray 2-0 in the grand final of an eight-player double-elimination bracket.

The annual event ‘BlitzChamps’ is a chess tournament series in which NFL players compete against each other to see who is the best on the chessboard. Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill was the winner of BlitzChamps II.

Reid’s victory marked the second year in a row that a Chiefs player took home the top spot. The two-time Super Bowl Champion earned $30,000 for his charity, outlasting seven other players.

BlitzChamps III was broadcast live from the NFL studio, which was transformed to Chess.com green for the event.

“I’m a competitive guy, but it’s not always about winning,” said Reid, speaking to the broadcast commentary team following the win. “This is awesome, but I just love getting better, so I’ll continue to challenge myself.”

Reid took advantage of his chess opponents’ mistakes to win the title, similar to his strategy of patrolling the Chief’s secondary.

Dennis Smith was the best player to wear No. 49 for the Broncos

Dennis Smith, a six-time Pro Bowler, helped the Broncos reach three Super Bowls in the 1980s. He was Denver’s best player to wear No. 49.

Dennis Smith was the best player to ever wear jersey No. 49 for the Denver Broncos. 

After playing college football at USC and winning a national championship, Smith was picked by the Broncos in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft. He went on to spend his entire 14-year career in Denver, helping the team reach three Super Bowls.

A hard-hitting safety, Smith totaled 1,158 tackles, 30 interceptions, 15 sacks and 17 fumble recoveries during his 184 games with the Broncos (170 starts).  He was a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection.

Although the team lost all three Super Bowls in the 1980s (XXI, XXII, XXIV), Smith played a key role in helping Denver reach the NFL’s biggest stage. He was added to the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2001.

Smith is tied with Justin Simmons for seventh place on the team’s all-time interceptions list, above Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Atwater (24). Smith was one of the best safeties in franchise history, and the best player to ever wear No. 49 for the Broncos.

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Alabama lands commitment from 2026 safety Jamarrion Gordon

Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide landed a commitment from 2026 four-star safety Jamarrion Gordon out of Jackson, Alabama.

The Alabama Crimson Tide added a commitment from 2026 athlete Jamarrion Gordon. Gordon announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Saturday. Gordon is the first prospect to commit to Alabama as a part of the ’26 recruiting class.

The native of Jackson, Alabama is ranked as the No. 186 prospect in the country according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He is listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds.

Gordon was an intricate piece of an Aggies squad that reached the Class 4A quarterfinals. As a sophomore, Gordon recorded 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, and one interception.

The Crimson Tide is getting a versatile safety that fans should be excited about. It will be interesting to continue to follow Gordon’s high school career as he enters his junior season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding Alabama football news and the program’s efforts on the recruiting trail.

John Lynch was the best player to wear No. 47 for the Broncos

Pro Football Hall of Fame safety John Lynch made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons with the Broncos.

John Lynch was the best player to wear No. 47 for the Denver Broncos.

Lynch spent the first 11 years of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning Super Bowl XXXVII and earning four All-Pro nods with the Bucs. He joined the Broncos ahead of the 2004 season and he went on to reach the Pro Bowl in all four years he played in Denver.

Lynch hung up his cleats following the 2008 preseason and he retired with 1,059 tackles, 68 pass breakups, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, nine forced fumbles and nine Pro Bowl selections on his resume.

The hard-hitting safety was added to the Bucs’ Ring of Honor and the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 2016. Five years later, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gerald Willhite is also deserving of a shout-out. Willhite played running back for the Broncos from 1982-1988. He helped the team reach two Super Bowls in the late 1980s, rushing for 1,688 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 1,767 receiving yards and five touchdown catches in 78 games (21 starts).

Linebacker Josey Jewell also recently played six seasons in Denver, recording 453 tackles and nine sacks. Jewell and Willhite were never recognized with All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors, so we’re giving the best-ever title to Lynch, a deserving Hall of Famer.

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Steve Foley was the best player to wear No. 43 for the Broncos

Steve Foley ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time interceptions list with 44 takeaways.

Steve Foley was the best player to ever wear jersey No. 43 for the Denver Broncos.

Foley played college football at Tulane before spending one season with the Jacksonville Express in the World Football League. He later joined the Broncos in 1976 and he spent his entire 11-year career in Denver.

After starting his career as a cornerback, Foley later switched to safety. He recorded 44 interceptions in his career, which ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time interceptions list. Foley appeared in two Super Bowls with Denver and was named an All-Pro following the 1978 season.

Another former safety, T.J. Ward, also deserves a shout out. Ward played for the Broncos from 2014-2016, earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2014 and 2015. Ward was a key member of Denver’s famous “No Fly Zone” secondary that helped the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Foley earns the nod over Ward because he played 11 seasons and recorded more interceptions than any other player in franchise history.

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