By Ryan Satsky, Maryland Athletics Communications
More than 15 former Maryland football stars are set to begin action this weekend as the National Football League kicks off the 2016 season. Most notably, 2016 NFL Draft selections Sean Davis, Yannick Ngakoue and Quinton Jefferson are set to make their respective debuts for their organizations. Check out the rundown below:
Carolina at Denver | 8:30 pm, NBC (Thursday Night Football)
Darius Kilgo (D_kilgo97), DT, Denver Broncos – After winning the Super Bowl in his rookie season, Kilgo is returning for his second season with the Broncos and has seen extended action with the starting unit throughout the preseason. He has recorded 6 total tackles, a half of a sack, and nearly picked up another sack with this monstrous hit against the Arizona Cardinals.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta | 1:00 pm, FOX
Joe Vellano (@joevellanoDT), DL, Atlanta Falcons – After playing two seasons with the New England Patriots, Vellano was one of the team's final cuts this past week. However, the Falcons added the Maryland all-American to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Minnesota at Tennessee | 1:00 pm, FOX
Stefon Diggs (@stefon_diggs), WR, Minnesota Vikings – Sophomore sensation Stefon Diggs is looking to improve on a stellar rookie campaign despite losing his starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. During the preseason, Diggs has led the Vikings with seven receptions, amassing 82 yards. He figures to be the primary deep threat in the Vikings offense this season, and could possibly connect in the end zone with former Maryland quarterback Shaun Hill. Check out Stefon having fun with kids on the sideline:
Shaun Hill, QB, Minnesota Vikings – Hill is entrenched in an intense battle with newly acquired Sam Bradford for the Vikings' starting quarterback spot. Head coach Mike Zimmer has not announced when he will name the starter. Hill completed 68 percent of his passes, totaling 192 yards during the preseason.
Cleveland at Philadelphia | 1:00 pm, CBS
Nolan Carroll (@CarrollCity), CB, Philadelphia Eagles – Carroll enters his seventh season in the NFL and is back in Philadelphia for a third season as the only returning starting defensive back. He was the only Eagle to record two interceptions during the preseason, and also chipped in three total tackles.
Cincinnati at New York Jets | 1:00 pm, CBS
Erin Henderson (@50ErinHenderson), LB, New York Jets – Henderson is returning to the Jets for a second season, after spending his first six seasons in Minnesota. He finished the preseason with eight total tackles as he looks to start in the Jets' linebacker corps.
Dexter McDougle (@blasian_kiddd), CB, New York Jets – Despite appearing in 14 games last season, McDougle was unable to make the Jets' final 53-man roster. However, the third-year cornerback will stay in New York on the team's practice squad.
Oakland at New Orleans | 1:00 pm, FOX
Jon Condo (@JonCondo), LS, Oakland Raiders – Two-time Pro Bowler Jon Condo is back with the Raiders for a tenth season. He'll serve as the team's starting long snapper again.
Chicago at Houston | 1:00 pm, FOX
Nick Novak (@9NickNovak), K, Houston Texans – One of Maryland's all-time greatest kickers, Novak is returning to Houston as the team's starting placekicker. He nailed all five of his field goal attempts throughout the preseason, including four from at least forty yards out. This will mark his ninth NFL season.
Green Bay at Jacksonville | 1:00 pm, FOX
Yannick Ngakoue (yan_d1prospect), DE, Jacksonville Jaguars – Fresh off of a record-setting junior season at Maryland, Ngakoue left school early and was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He safely made the Jaguars 53-man roster and finished the preseason with four total tackles, and was one of nine Jaguars to record a sack.
Miami at Seattle | 4:05 pm, CBS
Quinton Jefferson (@Q_JEFF), DT, Seattle Seahawks – After being selected in the 5th round of the NFL Draft, Jefferson became one of five defensive tackles to make the Seahawks' 53-man roster cut. He registered nine total tackles throughout the preseason. Head coach Pete Carroll noted that Jefferson's impressive output thus far was a significant factor in the release of fellow defensive tackle Jordan Hill.
AJ Hendy (@AJ_selfmade), DB, Miami Dolphins – Hendy went undrafted in the NFL Draft yet still nearly made the Dolphins' 53-man roster. The team liked his talents enough to bring him on to their practice squad, however. In four preseason games, Hendy totaled eight tackles and intercepted a pass.
Detroit at Indianapolis | 4:25 pm, FOX
D'Qwell Jackson (@DQ52), LB, Indianapolis Colts – After registering a career-high 150 tackles last season, Jackson is returning to the Colts for his 11th NFL season with zero signs of slowing down. He finished the preseason with seven total tackles. The former Maryland All-American has registered at least 100 tackles in seven of his 11 seasons in the NFL.
Pittsburgh at Washington | 7:10 pm, ESPN (Monday Night Football)
Vernon Davis (@VernonDavis85), TE, Washington Redskins – A year removed from winning the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, the former sixth-overall NFL Draft selection is returning home to Washington, D.C. to play for the Redskins in his 11th NFL season. Davis hauled in three passes during the preseason, totaling 42 yards.
Darrius Heyward-Bey @theDHB85), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers – Heyward-Bey will be stepping into a larger role with the Steelers this season with Martavis Bryant suspended. The former top-10 NFL draft pick reeled in three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown throughout the preseason.
Sean Davis (@umdsfinest21), S, Pittsburgh Steelers – Davis was the highest drafted Terrapin in the 2016 NFL Draft. He will move back to the safety position after playing cornerback as a senior for the Terps. Davis has impressed so far, making 16 tackles throughout the preseason - the second most amongst all Steelers defensive backs.
St. Louis at San Francisco | 10:20 pm, ESPN (Monday Night Football)
Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR), WR, San Francisco 49ers – Smith is listed atop the 49ers' wide receiver depth chart after hauling in 663 reception yards through the air last season. The former second-round NFL draft selection will look to continue developing a strong rapport with quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
