© Credit:© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser & Jackson State Athletics
How Can The NFL, UFL, And CFL Justify Failing To Sign The Former SWAC Offensive And Defensive Players Of The Year?
What are the reasons behind professional teams not signing the former SWAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, yet?
How can professional football leagues justify not having Aqeel Glass and Aubrey Miller Jr. on a club's roster? HBCU fans could easily digest this if each were a borderline player with little upside. Let's be honest; this is an egregious error by the NFL, UFL, and CFL.
The UFL starts its spring football this weekend and Arena, CFL, European, and NFL teams are signing offseason talent — but no league has yet to sign these two HBCU legends.
Alabama A& M quarterback Aqeel Glass (4) throws against Alabama State University at Legion Field
Mickey Welsh / Advertiser
AQEEL GLASS
Glass was an unsigned free agent who spent a short time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a quarterback room with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Brady as their starter.
The two-time Black College Football Player of the Year latched on with the New Orleans Breakers of the now-defunct USFL, but the team signed veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson as its starting signal-caller, leaving Glass as a reserve for the entire season.
The UFL and NFL recycle quarterbacks year after year; indeed, there's a place for Glass in someone's system.
Aqeel Glass' Resume
- 6-5, 215 pounds
- 12,136 passing yards and 109 passing touchdowns
- 2× Deacon Jones Trophy (2020, 2021)
- 2× SWAC Offensive Player of the Year (2020, 2021)
- 2× First-team All-SWAC (2020, 2021)
- 2× Second-team All-SWAC (2018, 2019)
- 2021 BOXTOROW National Player of the Year
- 2021 Phil Steele SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
JSU linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. (45) goes after Southern running back Karl Ligon (19) in Jackson
Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA
AUBREY MILLER JR
Aubrey Miller Jr.'s professional status is another enigma. The 2022 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year is keeping in shape through the offseason but is still without a team.
Jackson State's defensive leader had an outstanding week at the Reeses Senior Bowl, leaving NFL teams intrigued by his talent and relentless pursuit to the football.
However, the concern about his size was puzzling since professional teams highly seek the "hybrid" defensive safety/linebacker/edge rusher type of player. Also, if you want a "DAWG" on defense, few players are as tenacious and hard-hitting as Aubrey Miller II.
Several times, the Miami Dolphins coaches and the media praised him.
Nonetheless, Miller didn't survive the final 53-man roster cut. More importantly, the organization did not offer him to sign on its practice squad.
It's difficult to assess why Miller hasn't had an opportunity to connect with a professional team — even as a special teams player. Miller's play is similar to that of former New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers linebacker Sam Mills. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was considered small in stature but had a huge heart and struck fear into the hearts of offensive coordinators.
Eventually, after being cut by several NFL teams, playing in the USFL, Mills won the hearts of Saints coaches and fans while leading the greatest linebacking corps in NFL history — The Dome Patrol (Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling, Vaughan Johnson, and Sam Mills). Many believe Miller has Mills' abilities and possibly better.
Aubrey Miller Jr.'s Resume
- 6-2, 225 pounds
- SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
- BOXTOROW National Defensive Player of the Year
- BOXTOROW HBCU All-American
- Associated Press FCS All-American
- Stats Perform FCS All-American
Grambling State's legendary head coach, Eddie Robinson, said it better than anyone else - all they "need is an opportunity." Will Aqeel Glass and Aubrey Miller II ever get another chance to become professionals?
We shall see.