Samford's UDFAs Hope To Emulate Former Players' Recent NFL Success
4.29.18 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following the 2018 NFL Draft, three former Samford players were invited to camps with NFL teams.
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Punter Austin Barnard signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, linebacker Shaheed Salmon received a mini-camp invitation from his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive back Omari Williams received a mini-camp invitation from the New York Jets.
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"It was amazing, there's nothing like it," Barnard said of when he got the news. "When I found out it was a done deal and my agent called me, my family and my girlfriend's parents were with me and we all just started screaming. I've been working for this for a long time. There aren't a lot of opportunities out there for punters, so I'm thankful to have the opportunity."
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Despite not being drafted, these players have reason to believe they will be able to make it at the next level. Just within the last few years, former Samford players have had success in the NFL going the undrafted free agent route.
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In 2016, defensive lineman Michael Pierce went undrafted, but that did not keep him from making his dreams come true. Following the draft, Pierce signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.
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"I know everybody wants to hear that call saying that you're drafted, but just because you go undrafted doesn't mean your dreams can't come true," Pierce said in a video posted on the Samford Football social media accounts. "Use everything you've learned at Samford, every person who's been through this situation, including myself, and make your dreams come true."
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In two seasons with the Ravens, Pierce has played in 32 games, including 14 starts. He has tallied 84 tackles, including 51 solo stops. Pierce also has three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one pass break up.
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Pierce has shown consistent improvement during his time in the NFL. In the 2017 season alone, he played in all 16 games, starting 13 contests. He finished the season with 49 tackles, 32 solo, one sack and two fumble recoveries.
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Barnard said seeing the success Pierce has had in the NFL gives him the confidence he can do the same thing.
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"In the NFL, it's not just about getting drafted, it's about getting a chance to show what you can do," Barnard said. "I learned a lot from Michael. He got his chance and showed them why he probably should have been drafted, and that's what I hope to do with the Titans."
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Pierce is not the only former Samford player to recently make an NFL roster, despite not being taken in the NFL Draft. Jeremy Towns, who went undrafted in 2014, spent time on the rosters for the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
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In addition to the success of the undrafted free agents, Samford has had five players drafted in the last 13 years, and four in the last seven years.
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Samford's two highest drafted players have come just in the last three years. Jaquiski Tartt was taken in the second round of the 2015 Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, and James Bradberry was selected in the second round of the 2016 event by the Carolina Panthers.
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In three seasons, Tartt has already accumulated 181 total tackles, 137 solo, despite missing the final seven games of the 2017 season with an injury. He has intercepted two passes and broken up nine in 39 games. Tartt recently receiving a two-year contract extension with the 49ers.
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Bradberry has played in 29 games in two seasons with the Panthers. He has 144 tackles, 113 solo. He also has one sack, four interceptions and 20 pass break ups.
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Before Tartt and Bradberry, Nick Williams was taken in the seventh round of the 2013 Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Corey White was selected in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints in 2012. Cortland Finnegan started the current run when the Tennessee Titans picked him in the seventh round in 2006.
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Finnegan spent 10 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Titans, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers. He was an All-Pro and a member of the Pro Bowl in 2009. In his career, he intercepted 18 passes, including four he returned for touchdowns. He had 663 tackles, including 542 solo stops and seven sacks. Following the 2015 season, he played in the Super Bowl with the Panthers.
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Williams played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins from 2014 to 2016. After not playing in 2017, he recently signed with the Chicago Bears. In his three seasons so far, Williams has 17 tackles, including 12 solo stops.
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White played from 2012 through 2016 with the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. In his career, he has tallied 161 total tackles, 132 solo. He intercepted six passes and broke up 22.
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Before Finnegan's selection in 2006, only two Samford players had been taken in the NFL Draft. The only two previous selections were Gary Fleming by the Baltimore Colts in 1969 and Rex Keeling by the Houston Oilers in 1967.
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The recent success of Samford players in the NFL has opened the door for more and more Bulldogs to receive the opportunity each year. Hopefully, the 2018 class will be able to experience some of the success their predecessors have enjoyed at the next level.
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Punter Austin Barnard signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans, linebacker Shaheed Salmon received a mini-camp invitation from his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers and defensive back Omari Williams received a mini-camp invitation from the New York Jets.
Â
"It was amazing, there's nothing like it," Barnard said of when he got the news. "When I found out it was a done deal and my agent called me, my family and my girlfriend's parents were with me and we all just started screaming. I've been working for this for a long time. There aren't a lot of opportunities out there for punters, so I'm thankful to have the opportunity."
Â
Despite not being drafted, these players have reason to believe they will be able to make it at the next level. Just within the last few years, former Samford players have had success in the NFL going the undrafted free agent route.
Â
In 2016, defensive lineman Michael Pierce went undrafted, but that did not keep him from making his dreams come true. Following the draft, Pierce signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.
Â
"I know everybody wants to hear that call saying that you're drafted, but just because you go undrafted doesn't mean your dreams can't come true," Pierce said in a video posted on the Samford Football social media accounts. "Use everything you've learned at Samford, every person who's been through this situation, including myself, and make your dreams come true."
Â
In two seasons with the Ravens, Pierce has played in 32 games, including 14 starts. He has tallied 84 tackles, including 51 solo stops. Pierce also has three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one pass break up.
Â
Pierce has shown consistent improvement during his time in the NFL. In the 2017 season alone, he played in all 16 games, starting 13 contests. He finished the season with 49 tackles, 32 solo, one sack and two fumble recoveries.
Â
Barnard said seeing the success Pierce has had in the NFL gives him the confidence he can do the same thing.
Â
"In the NFL, it's not just about getting drafted, it's about getting a chance to show what you can do," Barnard said. "I learned a lot from Michael. He got his chance and showed them why he probably should have been drafted, and that's what I hope to do with the Titans."
Â
Pierce is not the only former Samford player to recently make an NFL roster, despite not being taken in the NFL Draft. Jeremy Towns, who went undrafted in 2014, spent time on the rosters for the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Â
In addition to the success of the undrafted free agents, Samford has had five players drafted in the last 13 years, and four in the last seven years.
Â
Samford's two highest drafted players have come just in the last three years. Jaquiski Tartt was taken in the second round of the 2015 Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, and James Bradberry was selected in the second round of the 2016 event by the Carolina Panthers.
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In three seasons, Tartt has already accumulated 181 total tackles, 137 solo, despite missing the final seven games of the 2017 season with an injury. He has intercepted two passes and broken up nine in 39 games. Tartt recently receiving a two-year contract extension with the 49ers.
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Bradberry has played in 29 games in two seasons with the Panthers. He has 144 tackles, 113 solo. He also has one sack, four interceptions and 20 pass break ups.
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Before Tartt and Bradberry, Nick Williams was taken in the seventh round of the 2013 Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Corey White was selected in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints in 2012. Cortland Finnegan started the current run when the Tennessee Titans picked him in the seventh round in 2006.
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Finnegan spent 10 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Titans, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers. He was an All-Pro and a member of the Pro Bowl in 2009. In his career, he intercepted 18 passes, including four he returned for touchdowns. He had 663 tackles, including 542 solo stops and seven sacks. Following the 2015 season, he played in the Super Bowl with the Panthers.
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Williams played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins from 2014 to 2016. After not playing in 2017, he recently signed with the Chicago Bears. In his three seasons so far, Williams has 17 tackles, including 12 solo stops.
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White played from 2012 through 2016 with the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. In his career, he has tallied 161 total tackles, 132 solo. He intercepted six passes and broke up 22.
Â
Before Finnegan's selection in 2006, only two Samford players had been taken in the NFL Draft. The only two previous selections were Gary Fleming by the Baltimore Colts in 1969 and Rex Keeling by the Houston Oilers in 1967.
Â
The recent success of Samford players in the NFL has opened the door for more and more Bulldogs to receive the opportunity each year. Hopefully, the 2018 class will be able to experience some of the success their predecessors have enjoyed at the next level.
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Players Mentioned
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