The Spring League: Linemen 2021 Spring Roster Breakdown

With the excitement of the NFL draft, the TSL league is proud to announce the roster of the 2021 Linemen. Among the many players in The Spring League, we have NFL draft prospects, international talents, and players with legendary stats who need a platform to prove their worth. If you’re like many other eager fans disappointed college and NFL football is over, we here at the TSL league provide world-class athletes. There have even been alumni in the roster from The Spring League that have gone to the NFL.

Quarterbacks

Stan Bedwell – Trinity Bible

From a small town in Arkansas, this European Football Hall of Famer has made quite the name for himself even if it was not in the states. After finishing his career with 27,300 yards, 343 touchdowns, 8 MVPs, and won 3 national championships. The upcoming offensive coordinator will take his talents to the XFL league.

Ryan Willis – Virginia Tech/ Kansas

Straight out of high school, the talented quarterback began the first couple years of his career at Kansas and finishing college at Virginia Tech. The 2020 NFL draft prospect lead an outstanding college career with 6,152 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Running Backs

Tra Minter – South Alabama

What is football without the birth of electric players? Tra Minter from South Alabama had a season-best of 1057 yards rushing and 6.5 yards per carry.

Elliot Taylor – Arizona

Elliot Taylor is currently listed as a running back. However, the Arizona attendee put up blistering speed at 10.45 in the 100-meter dash. With that speed, he specialized in kick returns. While only appearing in three games, there is potential for this elusive running back.

DJ Davis – Southern Illinois

An outstanding 2020 draft prospect. The athlete from Southern Illinois averaged 26 yards per kickoff return in his freshman year, ranking him second nationally in the freshman class. Not only showing impressive numbers in his freshman year but continued his career with back-to-back 1000 yard seasons.

Wide Receivers

Ben Putman – Nevada

Nevada walk on Ben Putman made his name known when scoring the winning touchdown in the Arizona Bowl. The clutch wide receiver continued to put up decent numbers in his senior year. With 297 all-purpose yards and mainly playing kick returner.

DeAndre McNeal – Texas/FAU

With Texas leading the nation with 33 draft picks from the state, it is no surprise the young men created in Texas far outrival other states. DeAndre McNeal was ranked the number 13 athlete in the nation, 200 overall. In 2017, he transferred to the Florida Atlantic Owls, where he received 317 yards.

Christian Gibbs – Illinois State

A versatile two-sided wide receiver, Gibbs would record second on the team with 36 receptions for 604 yards and five touchdowns. In his senior game against Indiana State, he would post a career-high of 189 yards on five catches to score a win.

Michael Dereus – Georgetown

Ranking 7th in Georgetown history, the Georgetown native was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent for a brief period. The accomplished athlete would continue to record 1879 receiving yards in his career, 13 touchdowns, and an average of 60.3 yards per reception.

Chaz Barnes – Lindsey Wilson

Standing at 6 foot, 4 inches, 205 lbs, this underrated receiver would play in all ten games as a true freshman leading the team with 33 receptions. Earned him the rank of 50th in the Division I league. His career would slow. With 702 total yards and half of them scored in his first year.

Reece Horn – Indianapolis

With the number of awards Horn has received, it would be a mistake not to draft him. The young athlete received numerous awards throughout 2014 and 2015. These accomplishments would include GVLC Offensive Player Of The Year, Sporting News Division II Preseason All-America Team, UIndy Wide Receiver of the Year, and a candidate for the Harlon Hill Award. To put it in perspective, the Harlon Hill Award is considered the Heisman for Division II football. The Greyhound wide receiver would record two back-to-back seasons receiving 1000 yards. In his senior year, he would average 1396 yards, 108 receptions, and eight touchdowns. He also played for the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL.

Kwadarrius Smith – Akron

Two-sport competitor. Smith has a long history of athleticism that dates back to high school. In high school, he would be ranked the 93rd safety in Florida, participated in the World Junior Olympics, and won the state championship in the 100 and 200. While recording times of 10.45 and 21.35. The undersized athlete would finish his career with 1342 yards

Tight Ends

Delfonte Diamond – McMurry

As a tight end, Diamond did not see much action until his sophomore season. Here is where the 240lb tight end truly shined in the air raid offense system Delfonte would have a career-best of 526 yards, 44 passes, and six touchdowns. With honorable mentions, the sophomore would surpass the 100-yard mark on three different games. An injury in his junior season left him unavailable to perform at his best for the rest of his college career.

Offensive Linemen

Jerrod Brooks – UTEP

In 2016, Jerrod would play all his sophomore games as the starting tackle. He was used in multiple run-blocking schemes resulting in helping Aaron Jones gain a program record of 1,779 yards in a season.

Junior Diaz – FAU

Rising at Tulane University, the center would transfer to FAU. He started 18 games at Tulane before transferring. At FAU he would start all 26 games of his career. The aspiring athlete has scouts evaluating him to be NFL material. Some of his accolades would include the highest pass-blocking grade (83.6), a candidate for the Rimington Award, and finished the season as an all-conference team as a center.

Brandon Grady – Greensboro

The dedicated athlete would finish two years of education prior at Moorpark College. He was part of the Westlake High football team, where he participated in a local championship. With limited playing time, the lineman would only play nine games in 2017.

Jack Kramer – Bowling Green

With a bright future, Kramer is an NFL prospect. Out of high school, he was a multiple-sport player and ranked a three-star recruit. Jack played 52 games while starting for 24 of them. An all-American center three times, he would is a part of the success of his team. As he helped his team gain 3,829 total yards on offense.

Frederick Mauigoa – Washington

For an offensive guard, Frederick was by no means overlooked. Rated a three-star out of high school, he would get invited to the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl and Nike The Opening. The American Samoan descent would continue to be an honorable mention in the All-Pac-12 conference as a junior. During his senior year, he would be on the watchlist for awards like the Rimington Trophy Watch List, Polynesian College Player of the Year Watch List, and Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

Draw Richmond – USC

What is more impressive, being an accomplished football player or receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology? The successful student-athlete Richmond earned Max Preps All-American second team as a starting offensive tackle at Memphis Tennesse University. Upon his senior year, he would transfer to USC. He would start for all 12 games.

Linebackers

Drequan Brown – Central Oklahoma

A well-built linebacker, Drequan has demonstrated with his athleticism how he can use his size to his advantage. While being a ruthless tackler, his size is valuable to keep separation on his side of the field. While having a rough year at UCO, he would make 22 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and two fumble returns.

Angelo Garbutt – Missouri State

During his time at Missouri State, he was named ALL-MVFC in his first year at Missouri as a sophomore. During that same year, he would lead MSU in total tackles and quarterback hurries. His most electric season was as a junior, where he would progress to record 45 tackles, 11 sacks, and 54 assists.

Curtis Collins – Notre Dame College

Participating in 47 games, Curtis would lead a dominant high school career rushing for 1000 yards and twelve touchdowns in his senior year. The linebacker would have a career-high of 95 tackles, broke the NDC season record for fumbles recovered (three), and named Second Team All-MEC.

Marquis Smith – Savannah State

Smith would record an incredible 72 tackles as a true freshman. However, his junior season did not go as well. He posted 27 tackles, 3 QB hurries, seven tackles for loss.

Re’Shaun Meyers – Bridgewater

With the D1 league being as competitive as it is, Meyers did not get the attention he could have had his starting year where he recorded a tackle. In his last season, he would gain that recognition with the awards: Cliff Harris Award Finalist, Richmond TD Club State Linebacker of the Year, VaSID State Defensive Player of the Year, and Roanoke Times State Defensive Player of the Year. For two seasons. He would average 50 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and nine career sacks.

Defensive Linemen

Rashad Dillard – Troy

Rashard Dillard earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Team after leading the league with seven sacks, propelling him to third in D1 football. On top of returning a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown, Dillard would finish the year with 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 9.0 tackles for loss.

Eljah Qualls – Washington

Flourishing in high school, this lineman would replicate that in college. Playing in 38 games, he was selected to be on the First-Team All-Pac-12. Qualls recorded 43 career tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks.

Adewale Adeoye – Utah State

In 2018, Adeoye would receive an honorable mention for the All-Mountain West award. He would play in three seasons, recording career stats of 33 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks.

Chase DeMoor – Central Washington

In 2017, he would transfer from the College of Siskiyous to the Wildcat football team. While not accomplished as the rest, he would continue the season with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks for 17 yards.

Connor Christian – Jacksonville State

With three years at Savannah State, Christian would transfer to Jacksonville for his senior year. Connor recorded an impressive junior year and started in all 12 games at Jacksonville. His college career would end with 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks for 16 yards.

Stefen Banks – Savannah State

Named all-state defensive player of the year, Banks is considered a bit undersized at 6 foot, 1 inch, 230lbs. His award speaks for itself, as he ended the 2017 season with 47 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and ten sacks for 65 yards.

Defensive Backs

Vince Calhoun – Eastern Michigan

Statistically, an outstanding defensive back to come through the program. With 49 games started, Vince Calhoun has managed to make 196 solo tackles, ranked fifth in MAC for interceptions with 0.2 per game. Ending his career with 347 tackles in total.

Reggie Cole – UMHB

While on the light side, at 6 foot, 2 inches, 185, Reggie Cole has earned his position as starting cornerback and was selected for the Academic All-ASC selection. In his senior year, Cole recorded 35 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two interceptions. In one of them, he gained 88 yards.

JJ Dallas – Louisiana Monroe

Across two seasons at JUCO, the graduate would only play one season at Louisana. He would manage 12 solo tackles, four assists, and five pass break-ups.

Manny Bunch – Tulsa

The strong safety who had been a three-time letter winner played 28 games while starting in 18. In his final year, Bunch would record 41 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass break-ups.

Jordan Wyatt – SMU

As a three-star recruit, the expectations were not high for Jordan. In his career, he would earn an All-AAC honorable mention. To add, he would become a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy. To top it all, he finished his career with 288 career interception return yards. The most ever recorded at SMU.

Trey Dickerson – Emporia State

Before, a dual-threat athlete, Trey made 39 catches for 625 yards in high school. With that decided, he is now primarily utilized as a defensive back. Being 5 foot 11 inches, 160lbs would keep him from playing as much as he could have.

Special Teams

Jonathan Song – TCU

Star-kicker Jonathan Song has been awarded numerous trophies for his diligence, with notable awards including First-Team All-Big 12, Honorable-Mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, and Lou Groza Award Semifinalist. His stats speak for themselves, as he is ranked first in TCU’s history of field-goal percentage at 90.9 (40 of 44).

Paul Rucci – Rowan

Starting n all contests as a long snapper and occasionally tight end. Long snappers are vital to all teams, while not many players have the experience to quickly and effectively snap the ball in more ways than one. For reference, the average long snapper snaps the ball in 0.6 seconds.