Football can be cruel business for some and a rewarding business for others. After former San Antonio Brahmas Defensive Lineman Matthew Gotel, earned his second opportunity in the NFL, it only took three days for Gotel to once again find his way looking for another team. The Atlanta Falcons released Gotel, only to sign an unknown out of Missouri Southern State University (D-II) named LaColby Tucker.
If the name LaColby Tucker is familiar to you it’s because he’s essentially been the face of the XFL’s Social Media pages over the past several weeks. Sporting a giant frame of 6-9, 313 pounds Tucker dominated the XFL’s St. Louis showcase on July 7th and put together one of impressive performances at the XFL’s combine during the final week of July. Tucker regularly scored in the Top-5, in the XFL’s testing drills drawing the eyes of fans, XFL personnel, and apparently NFL Coaches as well.
While Tucker is now the newest member of the Falcons, former Brahma Defensive Lineman Matthew Gotel unfortunately gets released. Gotel spent part of 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the XFL in 2023. For the Brahmas, Gotel appeared in 10 games (9 starts) totaling 23 tackles (7 TFLs) for Jim Herrmann’s Defense.
With Gotel now released, he becomes the second XFL signee to be waived by their team during the 2023 NFL season. As of August 7th, 48 XFL players have earned an NFL contract, with that number growing everyday. While Tucker wasn’t an XFL signee, nor did he have his rights claimed by any XFL team, it is evident that his workouts in St. Louis and Arlington allowed him to have an opportunity that utlimately led to an NFL contract.
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