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Five Former Dukes Affiliated with NFL Teams this Season
9/8/2015 11:00:00 AM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The James Madison football team has a long history of players who have gone on to play in the National Football League. Many that have played at the next level have found great success, including five-time Super Bowl champion and 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Charles Haley.
Two players from the 2014 JMU football team made NFL squads for the time in their respective careers in safety Dean Marlowe and wide receiver Daniel Brown while three others (linebacker Arthur Moats and offensive linemen Earl Watford and Josh Wells) were previously on NFL rosters.
This year, we will look at the JMU football alumni currently playing in the NFL, starting with week one. One former Duke will open the season Thursday night in Foxboro while the other four will have their teams kick off the season this Sunday.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers – at New England – Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Moats is the elder statesman of the group. Entering his sixth season in the NFL and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he is the projected starting left outside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Keith Butler's 3-4 defense. Having made 23 tackles and four sacks in his first season with the Steelers, Moats is primed for a big season in the Steel City.
Earl Watford – OL, Arizona Cardinals – vs. New Orleans – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:05 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Watford is entering his third season with the Arizona Cardinals. The 6-4, 295-pound offensive lineman played in a career-high 10 games last season and is projected to start at right tackle this week.
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers – at Jacksonville – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
One of JMU's senior leaders last season, Marlowe went undrafted in the NFL Draft, but didn't let that deter him. The standout defensive back signed an undrafted rookie contract with the Carolina Panthers and battled his way onto the 53-man roster after making 12 tackles and the game-clinching interception in Carolina's first preseason game at Buffalo. Listed as the second-string strong safety under Head Coach Ron Rivera, Marlowe may see the field early in his NFL career.
Daniel Brown – WR, Baltimore Ravens – at Denver – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Local)
The 6-5 wide receiver from Windsor, Va., walked on to the JMU football team in 2011 and excelled. After a standout senior season, he was signed to an undrafted rookie contract with the Baltimore Ravens. During preseason, he made four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns and a blocked punt in the final preseason outing at Philadelphia. Brown did not make the active roster but was signed to the Ravens' practice squad.
Josh Wells – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Carolina – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
Wells continues the trend of going from an undrafted free agent to member of a NFL 53-man roster. He came to James Madison as a quarterback and is now a 6-6, 310 pound offensive lineman. Unfortunately, Wells suffered an injury in the preseason and has been placed on the injured reserve for the 2015 season.
Come back every Tuesday for a weekly "NFL Dukes Roundup," as we'll recap the week that was for our alumni playing at the next level.
Two players from the 2014 JMU football team made NFL squads for the time in their respective careers in safety Dean Marlowe and wide receiver Daniel Brown while three others (linebacker Arthur Moats and offensive linemen Earl Watford and Josh Wells) were previously on NFL rosters.
This year, we will look at the JMU football alumni currently playing in the NFL, starting with week one. One former Duke will open the season Thursday night in Foxboro while the other four will have their teams kick off the season this Sunday.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers – at New England – Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Moats is the elder statesman of the group. Entering his sixth season in the NFL and second with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he is the projected starting left outside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Keith Butler's 3-4 defense. Having made 23 tackles and four sacks in his first season with the Steelers, Moats is primed for a big season in the Steel City.
Earl Watford – OL, Arizona Cardinals – vs. New Orleans – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:05 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Watford is entering his third season with the Arizona Cardinals. The 6-4, 295-pound offensive lineman played in a career-high 10 games last season and is projected to start at right tackle this week.
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers – at Jacksonville – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
One of JMU's senior leaders last season, Marlowe went undrafted in the NFL Draft, but didn't let that deter him. The standout defensive back signed an undrafted rookie contract with the Carolina Panthers and battled his way onto the 53-man roster after making 12 tackles and the game-clinching interception in Carolina's first preseason game at Buffalo. Listed as the second-string strong safety under Head Coach Ron Rivera, Marlowe may see the field early in his NFL career.
Daniel Brown – WR, Baltimore Ravens – at Denver – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Local)
The 6-5 wide receiver from Windsor, Va., walked on to the JMU football team in 2011 and excelled. After a standout senior season, he was signed to an undrafted rookie contract with the Baltimore Ravens. During preseason, he made four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns and a blocked punt in the final preseason outing at Philadelphia. Brown did not make the active roster but was signed to the Ravens' practice squad.
Josh Wells – OL, Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Carolina – Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on Fox (Regional)
Wells continues the trend of going from an undrafted free agent to member of a NFL 53-man roster. He came to James Madison as a quarterback and is now a 6-6, 310 pound offensive lineman. Unfortunately, Wells suffered an injury in the preseason and has been placed on the injured reserve for the 2015 season.
Come back every Tuesday for a weekly "NFL Dukes Roundup," as we'll recap the week that was for our alumni playing at the next level.
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