Hoos in the NFL: Offseason Recap

Each week we will be keeping tabs on the former Virginia Cavaliers now in the NFL. This week is an update on where all your favorite former Hoos are playing this season.

Starters:

Rodney McLeod - Philadelphia Eagles - Safety - McLeod is one of the starting safeties on the Eagles and is considered the 12th best safety in the NFL by Sports Illustrated. In that same ranking, the former Hoo is ranked 129th overall, which is the highest for any former Cavalier currently in the league. McLeod grabbed 3 interceptions and had 68 tackles last season and could earn his first Pro Bowl selection this year.

Morgan Moses - Washington Redskins - Offensive Tackle - Moses is the starting right tackle for the Redskins and earned a huge contract extension in the offseason. In the Sports Illustrated rankings mentioned above, he is ranked as the 14th best offensive tackle in the NFL and 185th best player overall.

Brent Urban - Baltimore Ravens - Defensive End - Urban earned one of the starting defensive end spots in Baltimore in the preseason. After injuring his ACL and bicep in previous seasons, Urban is poised to have a big year in his contract year.

Eli Harold - San Francisco 49ers - Linebacker – The former UVA LB is now the starting outside linebacker for the 49ers after San Francisco recently released another former Hoo, Ahmad Brooks. Harold started 13 games last season and recorded three sacks.

Rotation players:

Ahmad Brooks - Green Bay Packers - Linebacker - After being cut by the 49ers, Brooks signed with the Packers this week. The 11-year veteran will rotate in at outside linebacker in Green Bay after spending the past nine seasons in San Francisco. The former UVA star has 53 career sacks, 290 tackles, and made the Pro Bowl in 2013.

Chris Long - Philadelphia Eagles - Defensive End - The former UVA legend is now in Philadelphia after winning a Super Bowl ring last year with the Patriots. He is currently fourth on the Eagles DE depth chart but figures to rotate in frequently. Long has recorded 58 sacks in his 9-year career.

Dontrelle Inman - Los Angeles Chargers - Wide Receiver - Inman had a breakout season last year for the Chargers with 58 catches, 810 yards, and 4 touchdowns. However, Los Angeles drafted former Clemson star WR Mike Williams and return previously injured star WR Keenen Allen. Therefore Inman has been pushed down the depth chart and is the subject of trade talk. The former Hoo is currently slated to be the third WR for Week 1.

Oday Aboushi - Seattle Seahawks - Guard - Aboushi is currently slotted to be the backup guard in Seattle, but was in a close training camp battle for the spot, so he could be named the starter on a week to week basis.

Backups:

Austin Pasztor - Atlanta Falcons - Offensive Lineman - Pasztor was previously on the Cleveland Browns but was signed by the Falcons during the preseason. He is slated to be a backup offensive tackle or a swing tackle, but is currently dinged up. We will see how much playing time he gets with the defending NFC champs.

Matt Schaub - Atlanta Falcons - Quarterback - The former UVA legend is currently backing up the reigning MVP Matt Ryan in Atlanta. He only attempted three passes in relief last season for the Falcons and will be holding the clipboard again unless Matty Ice gets injured.

Luke Bowanko - Baltimore Ravens - Offensive Lineman - The star guest of the “To Homer and Back” podcast was traded from Jacksonville to Baltimore in the preseason and will be a backup on the Ravens interior line.

Anthony Harris - Minnesota Vikings - Safety - “Ant” Harris is currently a backup safety for the Vikings after appearing in all 16 games last year.

Taquan Mizzell - Chicago Bears - Running Back - The multi-talented RB on last year’s Virginia squad originally signed with the Ravens but was cut and then picked up by Chicago. He is currently slotted as the 4th RB on the Bears depth chart, but he could be featured in some passing downs.

Eric Smith - Miami Dolphins - Offensive Tackle - Smith went undrafted, but made the Dolphins roster as a backup left tackle.

Injured:

Maurice Canady - Baltimore Ravens - Cornerback - Canady injured his knee early in training camp and was placed on the IR, but is eligible to return to the roster on week 9.

LaRoy Reynolds - Atlanta Falcons - Linebacker - Reynolds was placed on injured reserve due to a pectoral muscle injury suffered in the preseason.

Cedric Peerman - Cincinnati Bengals - Running Back - Peerman injured his shoulder in the preseason and was placed on the injured reserve, ending his season. The former Cavalier RB made a name for himself on the Bengals on special teams, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2015.

John Phillips - New Orleans Saints - Tight End - Phillips was placed on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. The 9-year pro has five career TDs and has previously played for the Cowboys, Chargers and Broncos.

Keeon Johnson - New York Giants - Wide Receiver - Johnson broke his foot in the preseason and was placed on the injured reserve.

We will follow the progress of these former UVA stars throughout the season and update on a weekly basis.