BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Samford wide receiver Kelvin McKnight, defensive lineman Ahmad Gooden and quarterback Devlin Hodges will each get an opportunity to continue their football careers at the next level.
 
McKnight and Gooden both signed undrafted free agent deals with the Denver Broncos. Hodges received a minicamp invitation from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 
McKnight ended his Samford career as the school's all-time leader in career receiving yards (4,144), receptions (313) and touchdown receptions (32). This season, McKnight caught 100 passes for 1,453 yards and nine touchdowns. He had at least 100 receiving yards in 10 of Samford's 11 games this season.
 
Gooden posted an impressive 15.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season. He had 49 total tackles, 12 quarterback hurries and four pass break-ups. He also recovered two fumbles, returning one for a 58-yard touchdown at Furman. As a junior in 2017, Gooden earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
Hodges, the 2018 Walter Payton Award winner as the top offensive player in all of FCS football, set a school record for single-season passing yards, throwing for 4,283 yards this season. He also became the all-time leader in career passing yards in FCS history. His 14,584 career passing yards broke the old FCS national record of 14,496, set by Steve McNair at Alcorn State from 1991-94. Hodges had six games this season in which he threw for at least 400 yards. He was a three-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Year.
 
During the 2018 season, four Samford players were on NFL rosters. Michael Pierce started on the defensive line for the Baltimore Ravens. James Bradberry started in the secondary for the Carolina Panthers, while Jaquiski Tartt started at safety for the San Francisco 49ers. Austin Barnard spent the season on the injured reserve list with the Tennessee Titans.