#ProTops: Former Hilltoppers' NFL Futures in Balance on Cutdown Day
Ahead of Tuesday's deadline, a few ProToppers already know their fate.
Cut down day looms for players on the fringe of NFL rosters all over the league and that includes a majority of this year’s ProTops.
This year, only four former Hilltoppers are sure-fire 53-man roster picks: Mike White, George Fant, Tyler Higbee and DeAngelo Malone, with the strong possibility the Patriots keep Bailey Zappe around as a third quarterback.
Other than that, a lot of futures are up in the air.
Deadline day is today at 3 p.m. CT. This story is publishing at 6 a.m. CT so, if you’re an email subscriber, be sure you’re heading to our actual website for the most up-do-date information throughout the day, as we’ll be updating it as cuts come in.
Prior to the third week of the NFL’s preseason, it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks had released Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed my suspicion that he didn’t have a great camp by simply telling reporters that “Other guys were just doing better.”
On Monday, we learned the fate of four Hilltoppers:
Forrest Lamp got struck by the injury bug again, being sent to the Saints’ IR and will, most likely, miss all of the 2022 season.
Jerreth Sterns was among the cuts from the Buccaneers: A move not entirely surprising, given the Bucs’ depth at the position, but he put together an impressive camp and it’s still disappointing. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t sign elsewhere, or even stay in Tampa, as a practice squad member.
Also released Monday was Deon Yelder who, if I had to guess, will see his NFL career come to an end. Don’t get it twisted, however: If this is how it ends, it was a heckuva career from Yelder, all things considered - he had one insanely productive college season, signed as a UDFA and hung around for three years, getting himself a Super Bowl ring. Not too shabby.
The one piece of good news regarding a former Hilltopper came in New York, where it was announced the Jets were releasing Chris Streveler, making Mike White QB3 and the presumptive backup to start the regular season, assuming Zach Wilson misses time.
As of this story’s publication, the official fates of six Hilltoppers remain:
As stated above, I’d bet every dollar I have that Fant and Higbee join White on 53-man rosters. DeAngelo Malone is also essentially a lock for the Falcons, though it remains to be seen how much he factors into first-string reps once the season starts. I also feel really good about Zappe’s chances to hang around as a QB3, but I’m not sure how often the Patriots do something like that.
I also think Jordan Meredith has a good shot to make the Raiders. I’m far from an offensive line expert, but everything I’ve seen regarding him out of camp remains positive, and he has posted high PFF grades throughout the preseason while getting starter’s reps.
That leaves the biggest remaining question mark: Devon Key. He was a training camp favorite last season and while not nearly as hyped this year, has put together a good preseason. I honestly wouldn’t be shocked either way. It feels like he’s either player 52 or 53 on the roster or player 54 or 55 who just misses the cut.
Update: 1:50 p.m.
DeAngelo Malone is an NFLer, making the Atlanta Falcons 53-man squad.
His inclusion on the team is far from surprising, though it remains to be seen how much usage the Falcons plan for him.
The cutdown deadlines for each team are due by 3 p.m. The Towel Rack will update this story as final decisions are handed down.