University of North Texas Athletics
#NFLMeanGreen: Welcome To Camp
7/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Football
DENTON - With the National Football League's training camps getting underway, it is time to revisit those in the league that once called Denton home in 2018's first installment of #NFLMeanGreen.
Entering the preseason, there are now four players in the NFL that played for the Mean Green. New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson, Dallas Cowboys fullback Jamize Olawale, rookie running back Jeffery Wilson is in San Francisco with the 49ers and rookie kicker Trevor Moore is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Moore reported with Buccaneers rookies on Monday, July 23, while veteran Bucs reported Wednesday, and Robertson, Olawale and Wilson each reported with their respective teams Wednesday.
Once practices get underway and into full swing, it will soon be time for some preseason games.
Robertson's Saints open preseason play on Thursday, Aug. 9, when they travel to TIAA Bank Field to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at 6 p.m. CT. Robertson finished 2017 with 80 tackles, a pair of sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 16 regular season appearances, 12 of which were starts. New Orleans fell to Minnesota in the NFC Divisional round of the playoffs last year.
Olawale was acquired by the Cowboys in a trade with the Oakland Raiders earlier this year, and Dallas kicks off its preseason with a matchup against Wilson's 49ers in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium. That game will be broadcast live on NFL Network and kicks off at 9 p.m. CT on Aug. 9.
Wilson, an undrafted free agent, is looking to impress among a relatively unproven stable of running backs. The 49ers signed Jerick McKinnon to be their featured back in the offseason, who is expected to be backed up by Matt Breida, an undrafted free agent who impressed in 2017. Behind that pair, the third spot is up for grabs, as Wilson will compete against Raheem Mostert (a known commodity on special teams), Joe Williams (a 2017 fourth round pick) and Jeremy McNichols (2017 draft pick of the Buccaneers).
Moore and the Bucs stay in-state, traveling to take on the Miami Dolphins from Hard Rock Stadium at 6 p.m. CT to open their preseason. Moore, also an undrafted free agent, has a good opportunity to win the kicking job in Tampa. He is competing against former Clemson Tiger Chandler Catanzaro, who enters his fifth season in the NFL. Catanzaro was 25-of-30 last season for the New York Jets.
Be sure to follow the former Mean Green players in the NFL throughout the remainder of the preseason, and on into the regular season here on MeanGreenSports.com each Tuesday, beginning Aug. 14.
