Time for College Football's Warm-Up Act as NFL Preseason Lets SEC Fans Kill Time

More than two dozen former Razorbacks set to spend next month battling decreased opportunity to prove worth for 53-man roster

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jul 24, 2023 1:51 PM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback fans recognize when former Arkansas football player turned NFL owner Jerry Jones gets ready to give his state of the team speech Tuesday to kick off Dallas Cowboys training camp, that the season before the season has begun.

Everyone knows college football is king in Arkansas. The hierarchy goes Arkansas Razorbacks, SEC football, NFL football. However, with neither the Hogs, nor any other SEC teams slated to play for awhile, Arkansas fans have to ease their way into a football frenzy by tracking former Razorbacks as they attempt to stick with NFL teams across the country during preseason games.

Despite the lack of elite level success, especially on defense, over the past six seasons, Arkansas has a surprisingly high number of players on NFL rosters. With 26 players spread across 16 teams, it will almost be impossible to have a preseason time slot without a reason for Razorback fans to take an interest. Some of these former Hogs are well entrenched and unlikely to lose their roster spots like Tennessee receiver Treylon Burks, San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw and New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. However, there are plenty of players whose journey through this preseason will be filled with high drama.

The NFL has cut the preseason to three games in exchange for a 17-game schedule, which means less time to shine in game situations. Guys like wide receivers Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers, along with defensive back Latavious Brini, will have to make a splash early in practice shortly after reporting to camp this week if they hope to hang on.

Here is a list of Razorback football players who can be watched over the next few weeks to see how many make the final cut. The team leading the way with the most Razorbacks is the Washington soon to no longer be Commanders with five former Hogs. The Jacksonville Jaguars finish second with three. In all, six teams feature multiple Arkansas players on their preseason rosters.

The first round of cuts will take place Aug, 16 as five players will pack their bags. A week later, on Aug. 23, five more will depart as rosters are cut to 80. Then, on Aug. 30, just in time for attention to fully switch back to college football, 27 players will be cut to create the final 53 man roster.

NFC

ARIZONA CARDINALS

HJALTE FROHOLDT, OL, #72, 6-5, 310, 2015-18

Aug. 11, vs. Denver Broncos, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 6 p.m.
Aug. 26, @ Minnesota Vikings, 11 a.m.

ATLANTA FALCONS

FELEIPE FRANKS, TE, #15, 6-6, 234, 2020

Aug. 11, @ Miami Dolphins, 6 p.m.
Aug. 18, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 24, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30 p.m. (NFL Network)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

BUMPER POOL, LB, #47, 6-2, 235, 2018-22

Aug. 12, vs. New York Jets, 3 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 18, @ New York Giants, 6 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 25, vs. Detroit Lions, 7 p.m. (CBS)

DETROIT LIONS

JERRY JACOBS, CB, #39, 5-11, 198, 2020
FRANK RAGNOW, C, #77, 6-5, 311, 2014-18

Aug. 11, vs. New York Giants, 6 p.m.
Aug. 19, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Noon (NFL Network)
Aug. 25, @ Carolina Panthers, 7 p.m. (CBS)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

TJ SMITH, DT, #50, 6-3, 300, 2016-20

Aug. 10, @ Seattle Seahawks, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, vs. Tennessee Titans, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 11 a.m.

PHILIDELPHIA EAGLES

JADON HASELWOOD, WR, #87, 6-3, 215, 2022

Aug. 12, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 6 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 17, vs. Cleveland Browns, 6:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 24 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 7 p.m. (Prime Video)

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

BRANDON ALLEN, QB, #4, 6-2, 209, 2011-15
DRE GREENLAW, LB, #57, 6-0, 230, 2015-18

Aug. 13, @ Las Vegas Raiders, 3 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, vs. Denver Broncos, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25, vs. L.A. Chargers, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

MATT LANDERS, WR, #17, 6-5, 200, 2022

Aug. 10, vs Minnesota Vikings, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 26, @ Green Bay Packers, Noon

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

KAMREN CURL, S, #31, 6-2, 198, 2017-19
DE'JON HARRIS, LB, #45, 6-0, 245, 2016-19
JOHN RIDGEWAY, DT, #99, 6-6, 321, 2021
RICKY STROMBERG, C, #53, 6-4, 313, 2019-22
JONATHAN WILLIAMS, RB, #41, 6-0, 217, 2012-15

Aug. 11, @ Cleveland Browns, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 21, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Aug. 26, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 5:05 p.m.

AFC

DENVER BRONCOS

DREW SANDERS, LB, #41, 6-5, 234, 2022

Aug. 11, @ Arizona Cardinals, 9 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, @ San Francisco 49ers, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26, vs. LA Rams, 8 p.m. (NFL Network)

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

MCTELVIN AGIM, DT, #97, 6-3, 300, 2016-19

Aug. 12, @ Buffalo Bills, Noon
Aug. 19, vs. Chicago Bears, 6 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 23 @ Philadelphia Eagles, 7 p.m. (Prime Video)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

LATAVIOUS BRINI, S, #21, 6-2, 215, 2022
MONTARIC BROWN, CB, #30, 6-0, 190, 2017-21
JEREMIAH LEDBETTER, DE, #99, 6-3, 299, 2015-16

Aug. 12, @ Dallas Cowboys, 4 p.m.
Aug. 19, @ Detroit Lions, Noon (NFL Network)
Aug. 26, vs. Miami Dolphins, 6 p.m.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

DALTON WAGNER, OT, #78, 6-9, 320, 2018-22

Aug. 13, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 3 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, @ L.A. Rams, 8 p.m.
Aug. 26, @ Dallas Cowboys, 7 p.m.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

HUNTER HENRY, TE, #85, 6-3, 250, 2013-15
DEATRICH WISE, DE, #91, 6-5, 285, 2012-16

Aug. 10, vs. Houston Texans, 6 p.m. (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, @ Green Bay Packers, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25, @ Tennessee Titans, 7:15 p.m. (NFL Network)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

JONATHAN MARSHALL, DT, #91, 6-3, 310, 2016-20
ARMON WATTS, DT, #68, 6-5, 307, 2014-18

Aug. 11, @ Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.
Aug. 19, vs. Buffalo Bills, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 24, @ Atlanta Falcons, 6:30 p.m. (NFL Network)

TENNESSEE TITANS

TREYLON BURKS, WR, #16, 6-3, 225, 2019-21

Aug. 12, @ Chicago Bears, Noon (NFL Network)
Aug. 19, @ Minnesota Vikings, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25, vs. New England Patriots, 7:15 p.m. (NFL Network)