Bulls in the NFL: Former Stars Earn Roster Spots
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 4, 2018 – Former USF football standouts
Deatrick Nichols and
Bruce Hector were rewarded for solid preseasons by being named to their respective teams' initial 53-man rosters.
Both players headed to NFL camps as undrafted free agents after contributing to the winningest era of USF football the Bulls added to last Saturday with a season-opening victory at Raymond James Stadium.
Nichols showcased his solid defensive skills throughout the preseason for the Arizona Cardinals with 19 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in four games. The three-time all-conference cornerback earned a chance to shine in the NFL after finishing his super productive USF career with 175 tackles (136 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 24 pass breakups and 11 interceptions, good for the third-most in program history.
Hector was a force in the middle of the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line this preseason with seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in four games. The 2017 all-conference pick from Tampa headed to the pros with momentum after racking up 18 sacks (fourth-most in USF history), 90 tackles (60 solo) and 28 tackles for loss as a Bull.
Valdes-Scantling Makes Packers Roster
Marquez Valdes-Scantling made Green Bay's initial 53-man roster after totaling nine catches for 157 yards and a touchdown this preseason.
The St. Petersburg native set USF's season receiving yards record (879 in 2017) and was drafted by the Packers in the fifth round.
Senat Joins McClain on Falcons' Active Roster
Defensive tackle
Deadrin Senat is joining forces with former USF star Terrell McClain on the Atlanta Falcons' active roster.
Senat was drafted in the third round by Atlanta after posting 66 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in his monster senior season for the Bulls in 2017. Senat is listed second on the Falcons' depth chart behind McClain, who started three games for Atlanta this preseason.
Keep up with more of USF's current NFL talent by checking out the final Bulls in the pros update of the preseason.
- DE MIKE LOVE: The first-year pro landed a spot on Buffalo's practice squad after signing with the Bills as an undrafted free agent. Love totaled seven tackles, including three tackles for loss, in four preseason games.
- RB QUINTON FLOWERS: USF's former record-breaking quarterback signed with Cincinnati as an undrafted free agent and is now on Cincinnati's practice squad.
- CB KAYVON WEBSTER: The former USF standout recently signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Houston Texans.
- RB MARLON MACK: Mack Attack is projected to be the Indianapolis Colts' starter this season but his status for week 1 has yet to be determined. The second-year pro suffered an injury on Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the preseason.
- DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL: The first-year Buccaneer started three times and made six tackles in three preseason games.
- LB AARON LYNCH: The fifth-year pro made the Chicago Bears' initial 53-man roster.
- C AUSTIN REITER: The third-year pro started once and played in four preseason games for Cleveland and was recently claimed off waivers by Kansas City.
- LB ERIC LEE: The second-year Patriot posted 11 tackles and two sacks in four preseason games. Lee was released by New England and recently was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.
- LB RESHARD CLIETT: The second-year pro totaled seven tackles (two TFL) in four preseason games with Minnesota. Cliett was recently signed to the Vikings' practice squad.
- LB NIGEL HARRIS: The second-year pro was waived by Tampa Bay after making 12 tackles in four games for the Bucs this preseason. Harris has a workout scheduled with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman.
- OT DARRELL WILLIAMS: The third-year pro started four times for the L.A. Rams this preseason before being released.
- G KOFI AMICHIA: Green Bay's sixth-round pick in the 2017 draft played 141 snaps in three games this preseason before being released.
- OT QUINTERRIUS EATMON: The former USF standout played 112 snaps in four preseason games for Carolina before he was released.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
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