Working Men: Buckeye Rookies Making Waves at NFL Training Camps

By 11W Staff on July 30, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Vonn Bell
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Ohio State football under Urban Meyer operates under a constant state of urgency.

So it only makes sense that its players take this culture with them to the NFL, where its 12 draft picks as well as its free agents aren't wasting any time getting used to their new surroundings

Yesterday Michael Thomas electrified Saints practice with a one-handed grab. Today:

He was not being guarded by former and current teammate Vonn Bell on that play, who picked off Drew Brees yesterday and is wearing the best gloves among all NFL rookies (above) today.

Free Agent Jalin Marshall - as everyone expected after he went undrafted - is arguably making the biggest splash of any of the NFL Buckeyes appearing in their first training camps:

If you played in the defensive back-seven for the 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide you should avoid looking at this next tweet LOOK AWAY LOOK AWAY TOO SOON

Not buying the hype yet? Don't trust random tweets? Ask his teammates then.

Brandon Marshall:

"I'm in love with Jalin, it's as simple as that," Brandon Marshall said quite bluntly. "The kid is special. I mean, he's just got it. His mentality, his approach to the game, he's smart, he has skills. So, he's a rookie and he has to work at it and get better and we'll see."

Erik Decker:

"Love Jalin a lot. Not only is he physically gifted, he's going to help us in the receivers' room (and) he's going to help us on special teams, but he's a guy that's hungry for knowledge in the meeting rooms, Eric Decker said. "He's asking questions, he knows his stuff, and being in the league for awhile it's good to see those guys when they're hungry and they want to learn."

Staying in New York, Adolphus Washington has stepped into a rookie's dream scenario:

Diesel will have to beat out Northwestern alumnus and NFL veteran Corbin Bryant for the job. Bryant started 10 games for the Bills last year and recorded zero sacks. 

His former and current teammate Cardale Jones is trying to win the backup job behind Tyrod Taylor for the Bills against E.J. Manuel. Thus far he's doing some extremely-Cardale things:

  It looks like his arm strength hasn't waned a bit. That's good! And not good! It's still early!

Meanwhile in that State up North:

That's where Decker played during spring practices and it looks as though Detroit is intent on keeping him there, which means he'll be in charge of protecting Matthew Stafford's blind side, as a rookie. Good luck, Guy Who Jim Bollman Didn't Bother Recruiting.

Opportunities abound. Houston Texans' Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins left training camp to hold out for a new contract, which moves everyone up in the practice rotation:

Braxton signed a 4-year, $3.11MM contract in May and he now has the chance to show that he's underpaid.

Eli Apple enters his rookie season in good shape for some serious playing time:

  That's great for him. Wait hold on who will he have to cover in practice oh nooooo

Welp, iron sharpens iron. Apple will do nothing but improve facing ODB every day in practice.

We'll close with Nick Vannett in Seattle, where he's intent on making his presence felt both as a blocker and as a target for Russell Wilson in the seam:

Yes sir, he sure did. Go Bobcats.

And Go NFL Buckeyes. Make those professional waves.

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