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Five Former Dukes with NFL Franchises for 2016 Season
9/7/2016 5:15:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football has been known to produce great players in the National Football League, from 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Charles Haley, to Gary Clark and Scott Norwood.
Haley won a league-record five Super Bowl rings between the Cowboys and 49ers, while Clark won two with the Redskins and Norwood kicked in back-to-back title games.
This season, JMU will have five former players represented in the NFL, all of whom have played at least one season in the league.
The 2016 NFL Dukes consist of left outside linebacker Arthur Moats (Pittsburgh Steelers), strong safety Dean Marlowe (Carolina Panthers), offensive linemen Earl Watford (Arizona Cardinals) and Josh Wells (Jacksonville Jaguars) and tight end Daniel Brown (Baltimore Ravens).
Once again this season, we will look at the JMU football alumni currently playing in the NFL, starting with week one. Three Dukes will open the first week in primetime, including Thursday night's Super Bowl rematch in Denver.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers – at Washington – Monday, Sept. 12 at 7:10 p.m. on ESPN (National)
Moats is the veteran of the group, entering his seventh season in the NFL and the third with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is projected as the starter at left outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Keith Butler's 3-4 defense. Last season, Moats played in all 16 games, making 11 starts, and tallied 35 total tackles (24 solo), to go with 4.0 sacks, two pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. Moats will open the year just up the road as the Steelers take on the Washington Redskins in the first of two Monday night contests.
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers – at Denver – Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Marlowe enters his second season in the NFL after being part of Carolina's NFC championship squad a year ago. Listed as backup strong safety behind Kurt Coleman, Marlowe appeared in four games last season as a rookie. Week One will be a revenge game, so to speak, as the Panthers fly to the Mile High City for a Super Bowl rematch with the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.
Earl Watford – OG, Arizona Cardinals – vs. New England – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Watford, a former fourth-round draft pick, is entering his fourth season with the Arizona Cardinals. He's been moved all around the line, but seems to have found a niche on the left side of the offensive line, being listed as the No. 2 left tackle and left guard entering week one. A year ago, Watford played in eight games with two starts. Like Moats and Marlowe, Watford will be in primetime as the Cards battle New England on Sunday night in Glendale.
Josh Wells – OT, Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Green Bay – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Wells has battled thumb injuries for the last two seasons after appearing in 12 games back in 2014, but much like last season, Wells was placed on injured reserve this week after having thumb surgery during camp. Prior to his injury, he had been listed as the backup tackle on the Jags' front line.
Daniel Brown – TE, Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Brown had a roller coaster of a rookie season, going from practice squad, to being cut, to the practice squad, to even starting a game later in the year after a plethora of injuries on the Ravens' roster. Having bulked up to 243 pounds, Brown transitioned from receiver to tight end during the offseason. Despite not making the 53-man roster, he was resigned to the practice squad.
Come back every week for a weekly "NFL Dukes Roundup," as we'll recap the week that was for our alumni playing at the next level.
Haley won a league-record five Super Bowl rings between the Cowboys and 49ers, while Clark won two with the Redskins and Norwood kicked in back-to-back title games.
This season, JMU will have five former players represented in the NFL, all of whom have played at least one season in the league.
The 2016 NFL Dukes consist of left outside linebacker Arthur Moats (Pittsburgh Steelers), strong safety Dean Marlowe (Carolina Panthers), offensive linemen Earl Watford (Arizona Cardinals) and Josh Wells (Jacksonville Jaguars) and tight end Daniel Brown (Baltimore Ravens).
Once again this season, we will look at the JMU football alumni currently playing in the NFL, starting with week one. Three Dukes will open the first week in primetime, including Thursday night's Super Bowl rematch in Denver.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers – at Washington – Monday, Sept. 12 at 7:10 p.m. on ESPN (National)
Moats is the veteran of the group, entering his seventh season in the NFL and the third with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is projected as the starter at left outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Keith Butler's 3-4 defense. Last season, Moats played in all 16 games, making 11 starts, and tallied 35 total tackles (24 solo), to go with 4.0 sacks, two pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. Moats will open the year just up the road as the Steelers take on the Washington Redskins in the first of two Monday night contests.
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers – at Denver – Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Marlowe enters his second season in the NFL after being part of Carolina's NFC championship squad a year ago. Listed as backup strong safety behind Kurt Coleman, Marlowe appeared in four games last season as a rookie. Week One will be a revenge game, so to speak, as the Panthers fly to the Mile High City for a Super Bowl rematch with the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.
Earl Watford – OG, Arizona Cardinals – vs. New England – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (National)
Watford, a former fourth-round draft pick, is entering his fourth season with the Arizona Cardinals. He's been moved all around the line, but seems to have found a niche on the left side of the offensive line, being listed as the No. 2 left tackle and left guard entering week one. A year ago, Watford played in eight games with two starts. Like Moats and Marlowe, Watford will be in primetime as the Cards battle New England on Sunday night in Glendale.
Josh Wells – OT, Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Green Bay – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Wells has battled thumb injuries for the last two seasons after appearing in 12 games back in 2014, but much like last season, Wells was placed on injured reserve this week after having thumb surgery during camp. Prior to his injury, he had been listed as the backup tackle on the Jags' front line.
Daniel Brown – TE, Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo – Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Brown had a roller coaster of a rookie season, going from practice squad, to being cut, to the practice squad, to even starting a game later in the year after a plethora of injuries on the Ravens' roster. Having bulked up to 243 pounds, Brown transitioned from receiver to tight end during the offseason. Despite not making the 53-man roster, he was resigned to the practice squad.
Come back every week 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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