Heel Tough Blog: 30 Tar Heels Set to Participate in NFL Training Camps
- Anthony Pagnotta
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Thursday was the start of NFL training camps around the league, meaning 30 former Tar Heels will begin their pursuit of spots on 53-man roster across the 32 teams. To get you ready for preseason football, here’s where we think each player stands heading into their respective camps and if we believe they end up making a roster this year.
Locks (9)
WR Josh Downs- Indianapolis Colts
LB Cedric Gray- Tennessee Titans
RB Omarion Hampton- Los Angeles Chargers
WR Mack Hollins- New England Patriots
QB Drake Maye- New England Patriots
OT Asim Richards- New Orleans Saints
QB Mitch Trubisky- Tennessee Titans
WR Devontez Walker- Baltimore Ravens
RB Javonte Williams- Dallas Cowboys
Maye is looking to build off of his amazing second season in New England and compete to win the AFC again this season…Hampton is coming off a season that was shortened by injuries and is looking to break out this season as he’s set to carry the load this season with the Chargers…Williams is the starter in Dallas after running for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns last season…Downs is coming off the quietest season of his career but is set to start in the slot again this season and could get more opportunities with Michael Pittman now gone in Indy…Hollins looks like he will once again serve as a starter for the Patriots on the outside after catching 46 passes for 550 yards and two touchdowns a year ago…Gray is back as a starter in Tennessee after he settled into his starting role very well last season, finishing 164 total tackles (4th most in the NFL)...Walker is bordering on being a starter this season and could break out if he earns that role in training camp…Richards has become the swing tackle for the Saints and will be a valuable piece for them even though he isn’t starting…Trubisky was signed by the Titans in the offseason to help Cam Ward in Brian Daboll’s offense, so it would be a shock if he isn’t on this 53-man roster at the end of camp.
Probably Makes It (4)
OT Charlie Heck- Miami Dolphins
LB Cole Holcomb- Pittsburgh Steelers
DB M.J. Stewart- Houston Texans
LB Chazz Surratt- Seattle Seahawks
Heck seems like the most secure here as a swing tackle, but he has not been great when he has been in there, so you never know…Holcomb has settled into a backup role with the Steelers and appears as if he will hold on to a job this season with them likely moving on from Malik Harrison…Surratt was a key special teams member for most of the season in Seattle and that should allow him to hold on to a roster spot this year…Stewart is probably the most questionable of this group, but he was re-signed earlier this offseason by the Texans because of the versatility he provides, so he should stick around.
Firmly on the Bubble (5)
RB British Brooks- Houston Texans
WR Dyami Brown- Washington Commanders
RB Michael Carter- Tennessee Titans
EDGE Tomon Fox- Los Angeles Rams
DB Alijah Huzzie- Houston Texans
Brown is the biggest name here, but he is firmly on the bubble with his return to the Commanders after a quiet season with the Jaguars, so he needs to turn it back to 2024 if he is going to secure a roster spot this year…Carter seems like he is attracting some attention in Tennessee and if he can impress in what should be a high amount of reps in the preseason, he could sneak onto the roster…Brooks spent time on the active roster last season and he looks like he has a shot to make the roster out of the preseason if he shines…Huzzie is a guy that will be challenging for one of the final roster spots in Houston and his versatility and a lack of depth at the nickel position might just be enough for him to sneak his way onto the opening day roster…Fox is probably the biggest longshot here, but after he made the Giants roster multiple times over the past few years, you can’t count out the possibility of him surprising in the preseason
Practice Squad Bound (6)
CB Marcus Allen- Minnesota Vikings
RB Ty Chandler- New Orleans Saints
QB Sam Howell- Dallas Cowboys
C Willie Lampkin- Philadelphia Eagles
EDGE Kaimon Rucker- Baltimore Ravens
C Austin Blaske- Los Angeles Rams
Chandler was the most difficult guy to leave off the roster bubble list, but with the reporting coming out around the Saints, it seems very likely that he won’t make this initial roster but has a good chance of hanging on with the team as a veteran practice squad member…Lampkin is the other guy where it feels like he has an opportunity to make the roster, but there are simply too many bodies ahead of him that the staff in Philadelphia likes…Howell was signed in the offseason by Dallas and seems to be the clear QB3 for the team and should stick around as the practice squad quarterback for the team…Rucker was able to stick around on the practice squad a year ago in Baltimore and it feels like he has the talent to do the same this preseason…Allen seems to have caught enough eyes to stick around in Minnesota even if he doesn’t surprise and make the opening day roster this year…Blaske’s versatility feels like it might be enough to keep him around as one of the last practice squad members in Los Angeles
Likely Cut (5)
OL Joshua Ezeudu- New York Giants
LB Amari Gainer- New England Patriots
TE Bryson Nesbit- Minnesota Vikings
DL Jahvaree Ritzie- Minnesota Vikings
EDGE Smith Vilbert- Minnesota Vikings
Ezeudu is the guy that probably has the best chance of sticking on a roster out of this group but it feels like the Giants might just be ready to move on with the struggles that he has had over the past few years…Gainer was an interesting pickup for the Patriots after he had some flashes last preseason, but he has work to do if he is going to make the opening day roster in New England…Ritzie is a second year guy in the league that might be more prepared this preseason than he was a year ago, but it is going to be an uphill battle for him…Vilbert was a late signing after the draft and appears to be buried on the depth chart heading into camp meaning he’ll need to over perform to have any chance of making the roster or sticking around on the practice squad…Nesbit is buried further than anyone on the depth chart and will likely be one of the first cuts for the Vikings
Injured Reserve (1)
CB Thaddeus Dixon- New York Giants
Dixon went down with a torn Achilles earlier this offseason during rookie mini camp but looks as if he’ll get another opportunity with the Giants next season after they placed him on the IR