Tag: USF Football

Saints sign Deatrick Nichols, XFL’s interceptions leader

The New Orleans Saints signed former Houston Roughnecks and USF Bulls defensive back Deatrick Nichols, who led the XFL in interceptions.

The New Orleans Saints landed one of the early stars of the XFL, the upstart professional football league that closed its inaugural season early in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Per his agent Aston Wilson, the Saints signed Houston Roughnecks defensive back Deatrick Nichols, who paced the XFL with three interceptions (and six pass breakups) in its first five weeks. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound defender also recorded 24 tackles (with three tackles for a loss of yards).

With both pro leagues agreeing to allow former XFL players to sign contracts as free agents with NFL teams on Monday, Nichols becomes one of the first to make the jump from one level to the next, along with Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker (who signed with the Carolina Panthers).

Nichols has played both cornerback and safety in his collegiate and XFL careers, though his previous NFL experience was limited to 11 snaps on special teams with the Arizona Cardinals back in 2018. The University of South Florida graduate was a ballhawk in college, racking up 11 interceptions and 24 pass breakups (plus 15 tackles for loss) in three years as a starter. He’ll have ample opportunities to earn playing-time in the Saints secondary.

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Report: Alabama RB Jerome Ford now in transfer portal

Former four-star running back Jerome Ford is now in the transfer portal. Could USF be a potential destination?

Alabama backup running back Jerome Ford, a former four-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite rankings in the 2018 class, has entered the transfer portal, according to a tweet from Joey Knight with The Tampa Bay Times.

Alabama is still waiting on a NFL decision from its top rusher in 2019, Najee Harris, but regardless of that decision, the running back position looks loaded as the team enters the offseason.

Brian Robinson Jr. should be back after totaling 1,002 yards (878 rushing, 124 receiving) and nine touchdowns through three seasons. Former five-star running back Trey Sanders will also be back from a foot injury.

In addition, the Crimson Tide signed three players at the position: four-star, top-50 player Jase McClellan out of Aledo (Tex.), four-star Roydell Williams out of Hueytown (Ala.) and three-star Kyle Edwards out of Destrehan (La.).

In two seasons at Alabama, Ford has rushed for 151 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and three touchdowns while also adding two receptions for 11 yards through the air. Some of that action, however, has come during mop up duty in the second half of games.

The biggest impact Ford has made throughout his career, at least up to this point, was in Week 1 of this past season when Harris and Robinson Jr. were suspended for the first half against Duke. In that game, Ford rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, but he also had a costly fumble.

With how loaded the Crimson Tide are at the running back position, the news of Ford’s potential transfer isn’t all that surprising. He did post this tweet on Tuesday:

Whether he stays or leaves, good luck to Jerome Ford in the future!

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