01-22-2020, 04:30 AM
Three former Lions are getting a second shot at professional football." Detroit Lions News3 former Detroit Lions participate in XFL Summer ShowcaseNew Dwayne Washington Jersey White ,10commentsThree former Lions are getting a second shot at professional football. EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:3 former Detroit Lions participate in XFL Summer ShowcaseTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Thomas B. Shea/Getty ImagesWith the AAF no longer a thing, several football players outside of the NFL are looking for work. The next big opportunity appears to be the XFL, which is slated to debut in 2020. To get ready for the season, the XFL is hosting eight different Summer Showcases over the next month to evaluate talent. Two showcases—Dallas and Houston—have already taken place, and we’ve already seen a few familiar faces. Three former Detroit Lions were on the invite-only list: cornerbacks Ian Wells and Sterling Moore, and defensive tackle Khyri Thornton. If Wells and Moore don’t sound all that familiar Sam Martin Jersey , that’s understandable. Moore spent just 11 days on the Lions’ roster last year, but had seven years of NFL experience before that. Wells was an undrafted rookie signing back in 2016, but a training camp injury landed him on IR. Though he started 2017 on the Lions roster, he didn’t end up making it to training camp that year. Thornton, though, is a guy all fans should recognize. Thornton spent three years on the Lions roster Womens Jake Rudock Jersey , tallying 28 tackles and 1.0 sacks over 23 game appearances. In his final year in Detroit, he served a six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.Now all three players will get another shot at professional football.With six more Summer Showcases on the schedule for June, we could see a few more former Lions get another crack at the game they love. We saw Dontez Ford play well for the San Diego Fleet in the AAF, though he wasn’t able to parlay that into a job in the NFL.In addition to the players above, there are also a handful of local college players who attended the XFL tryouts. Here are some names that may sound familiar to you Michigander college football types:WR Keith Mumphrey (Michigan State)TE Josiah Price (Michigan State)LB Malik Fountain (Central Michigan)LB Taiwan Jones (Michigan State)You can see the full rosters of the Houston and Dallas tryouts here and here. What more could you want out of a tight end prospect?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Lions NewsDetroit Lions NotesDetroit Lions AnalysisDetroit Lions TransactionsDetroit Lions Game RecapsNFL DraftThe Detroit Lions should draft Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson New,74commentsWhat more could you want out of a tight end prospect?EDTShareTweetShareShareThe Detroit Lions should draft Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson Mike Granse-USA TODAY SportsAnyone who has been around the NFL draft for a few years has heard the phrase “there is no perfect prospect” thousands of times. What if I told you that anyone who says that is wrong? What if there was a prospect who could bring literally anything you could ask for out of someone who played his position?Enter Iowa Hawkeyes tight end T.J. Hockenson. It’s impossible to overstate what this guy can bring to a team. There has never been a football player that embodies the saying “Float like a butterfly DeShawn Shead Jersey White , sting like a bee” better than Hockenson. He is an excellent receiver that combines strong, hard, releases at the line of scrimmage with silky-smooth route running that reminds you of the best of wide receivers over the years. He is strong and ferocious at the point of attack, using every inch of his 6’5 frame to snag passes when they are thrown anywhere within his reach. Contrast that with his soft hands, that act as safety cushions for the ball to rest in as he brings in almost every pass without fail.After the catch he has surprising burst and long speed that leaves defenders eating dust as he scorches them for huge gains. He has the footwork and flexibility to dance his away around defenders, and if that does not work he has the strength to just bulldoze through them.That does not even include what he does in the trenches. Hockenson is a fierce Marvin Jones Jr Jersey White , violent, blocker who attacks defenders and drives them into submission. He is relentless and never gives up on a play. Every snap with this guy on the field feels like the final stand of a great war. He has more than just raw power, though, as his near-excellent blocking technique and high football IQ allow him to take on even the biggest of challenges up front. The craziest part is that he can only get better from here. Hockenson is an elite athlete who killed the NFL Combine in March. He showed incredible burst and speed for someone of his size and he proved to be surprisingly nimble. Hockenson’s ceiling as a prospect is in the Stratosphere. Detroit is in need of a starting tight end and a potential all-time great might fall to them at the eighth pick in the draft. He would breathe life into a stagnant offense and provide Matthew Stafford with another incredible weapon to take advantage of the quarterbacks special talent. If T.J. Hockenson is on the board when the Lions are on the clock then they have no excuse not to select him.