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SI Editorial | Aug 13, 2021

Latest Alternate Football News /

August 13th, 2021

Hamburg Sea Devils Sign Three New Players

One of the newcomers is Curtis Slater, who joins the team for Marloshawn Franklin Jr. who has to return to the USA for medical reasons. With Slater, the Hamburg Sea Devils sign a player with a Hamburg past. In 2015 he already played for the Hamburg Huskies, before the 31-year-old moved to Finland to the Helsinki Roosters and Wolverines. At 1.75m and 83kg, the safety comes mainly through his game intelligence and ball skills.

Slater, who was born in Japan and raised in Texas, showed his skills at West Texas A&M University (DIV-II). Now the defensive back is looking to intercept balls and keep the defensive backfield clean in the European League of Football. The Hamburg Sea Devils think Slater is the optimal candidate to add another upgrade to a strong secondary.

Jeffrey Juurlink will also bolster the Sea Devils' defensive backfield. The 26-year-old free safety and nickel back hails from the Netherlands and has already been invited to the 2019 NFL International Pathway Program Combine. Juurlink was able to impress Sea Devils officials with his athleticism and instincts, and at 1,85m and 86kg, is another weapon for the defense.

Furthermore, Oscar Sundqvist, a talented European offensive lineman, joins the Sea Devils team. Sund9vist was born and raised in Orebro, Sweden. With the Orebro Black Knights, the now 28-year-old could already celebrate a championship title this year.

-Zack Patraw

July 28th, 2021

HUB Football CAMP alum, Joran Veasy, signs with the Houston Texans.

The former CAL Bear was in San Diego at The HUB earlier this year (May) to work out in front of NFL scouts. Veasy performed well enough to get a call from the Houston Texans after they trade Randall Cobb to the Green Bay Packers.

Veasy is just under 6'3" and weighs 219 pounds. He's a big wide receiver with a big catch radius. At just 26 years of age, Veasy has plenty left in the tank and will look to showcase that during the Texans training camp.

Click Here: Jordan Veasy NFL Free Agent HUB Report

CLICK HERE: For more on other NFL free agents, visit our Free Agent Database.

CLICK HERE: To register for The CAMP, visit HUB Football.

-Zack Patraw

July 28th, 2021

HUB Football CAMP alum, Justin Hardy, signs with the Chicago Bears.

The Bears are picking up former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy. He was in San Diego for The CAMP HUB Football event on July 18th, and it didn't take him long to find a new home. After the Bears traded Anthony Miller to the Houston Texans, Chicago came calling.

Hardy spent four years in Atlanta, where he caught 95 passes for 946 yards and nine touchdowns. The 2015 fourth-round pick brings another weapon on offense and special teams. The Bears haven't had the return game since one of the best to ever do it retired (Devin Hester). Hardy looks to bring his dynamic ability to the Bears and will look to crack their roster this year.

READ JUSTIN HARDY'S SCOUTING REPORT: CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE: For more on other NFL free agents, visit our Free Agent Database.

CLICK HERE: To register for The CAMP, visit HUB Football.

-Zack Patraw

July 19, 2021

Numerous NFL Free Agents shine at The CAMP presented by HUB Football.

The HUB has done a terrific job providing an opportunity for NFL free agents to show their skills in front of NFL teams. The July 18 event had 68 free agents attending the CAMP with Atlanta, Carolina, Cincinnati, Denver, Jacksonville, Los Angeles (Chargers), Seattle, Winnipeg (CFL), and USA Rugby in attendance.

Out of the 68 players, quite a few stood out and could find a professional home soon.

Cornerback Ahkee Cox-Cowan from Kutztown had one of the best performances at the CAMP. He is on the smaller side (5-9, 188 pounds), but you wouldn't guess that with the way he performed on the field. He was extraordinarily boisterous and made a lot of great plays in one-on-one drills. Even in position drills, he shined above many others.

One of the wide receivers that continued to make plays on nearly every rep was Nevada-Reno's, Ben Putman. Another smaller player (5-9, 185-pounds), but you wouldn't guess it with the way he played. He displayed strong hands, outstanding footwork in drills, and tremendous body control in 7-on-7 drills.

A lot of eyes were on former NFL wide receiver Jordan Matthews. He added weight to make the transition to tight end, and he carried it very well. He was one of the most athletic players on the field and didn't lose much of that despite adding weight. Matthews could find himself back on an NFL field sooner rather than later.

In the trenches, the player that stood out was Boogie Roberts from San Jose State. He's 25 years old and has the size (6-1, 295-pounds) to play as a rotational inside defensive lineman. He's a tad on the shorter size but has an outstanding motor. Roberts won many of his reps inside with power and a great counter move. His hustle and determination to get to the quarterback in one-on-one drills stood out above many defensive linemen.

CLICK HERE: For more on other NFL free agents, visit our Free Agent Database.

CLICK HERE: To register for The CAMP, visit HUB Football.

-Zack Patraw

July 15th, 2021

CFL: Former NFL First Round Pick Struggling To Latch On

The Montreal Alouettes have plenty of NFL experience currently in training camp vying for a roster spot. One of those players is former Green Bay Packer's first-round pick, Datone Jones. Considered somewhat of a ‘longshot’ to make the team, Jones is currently taking backup reps behind starters Woody Baron and Almondo Sewell I practice. “I’m an NFL guy, so a lot of people think the job’s just going to be thrown to me,” said Jones. “It actually made me more humble.” Could Jones turn it around, it could make for an intriguing defensive line rotation for defensive coordinator Barron Miles, who is excited about the possibilities. “We’re looking for him to be more explosive and powerful, as a first-rounder would be. We’ve told him that. The expectations are high,” said Miles. “I think he’s built for the CFL. He’s a big guy and he’ll have every opportunity.” One advantage that Jones does have is Alouette's defensive line coach Todd Howard was also his positional coach during his time in Green Bay. In 68 NFL games, Jones produced 57 tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, two interceptions and knocked down eight passes. The potential for him to be a high-impact player north of the border remains a possibility but he will need to turn it around fast. “I’m not going to lie, it was a tough choice,” Jones added. “I really didn’t understand the dynamics of the CFL.”

-Ric Serritella

July 14th, 2021

USFL in Talks with Former Gunslingers Jim Bob Morris and Rick Neuheisel for a Franchise in San Antonio.

The San Antonio Express News is reporting that former USFL Gunslinger safety Jim Bob Morris has been in talks with an executive from the new USFL regarding the potential to bring a franchise to San Antonio. Morris immediately tapped Rick Neuheisel to gauge his interest in being the head coach, and Neuheisel is all for it. Currently a college football analyst for CBS, Neuheisel is no stranger to spring football due to his days in the USFL and more recently as the head coach of the Arizona Hotshots in the ill-fated Alliance of American Football.

San Antonio is an ideal location for a new USFL franchise. It proved the most successful live venue during the AAF’s season as the Commanders drew an average of over 27,000 people in attendance — more than double the league average. It also harkens back to the heyday of the USFL and recaptures the nostalgia of a golden era in American football. If for whatever reason San Antonio wouldn’t work out, Morris sees Birmingham, Alabama as another ideal location.

No one from the City of San Antonio has been in touch with members of the USFL operations regarding bringing a team to the Alamo City, but they would be all for it as long as the city doesn’t have to foot the bill.

While many are still skeptical that a semi-pro spring football league can survive, Morris and Neuheisel are optimistic. Fox reported that The Spring League, also owned by new USFL CEO Brian Woods, drew viewership ratings earlier this year that were competitive with the NHL and MLS. With Fox now a financial partner in the USFL, ratings will only go up from there. Morris believes that with these types if viewership levels and friendly media rights, there is no reason the league can’t be successful. Neuheisel echoes those sentiments and believes that the support from players, fans, and coaches are there to make a spring league both sustainable and profitable.

Morris also sees this as a great opportunity for other business ventures he’s currently a part of. One of which is Wanna.com, a sports betting app that he could see being rebranded into a daily fantasy sports app.

While spring football faithfuls still wait for official announcements from the USFL brass, it is obvious the wheels are in motion and the hope of a spring 2022 launch is still alive and well for the USFL.

-John Ferguson

July 13th, 2021

HUB Alum Devonte Williams Signs with CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Andrew Harris Inactive at Camp. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed former Southeastern Louisianna running back Williams today. The news comes at an ominous time as star running back and reigning Grey Cup MVP Andrew Harris left practice on Monday and did not return. Coach Mike O'Shea mentioned on Tuesday that Harris would "take it easy the next couple weeks, and then he'll be ready to go," per 3DownNation. The Blue Bombers are pretty thin behind Harris on the depth chart with little-to-no players with legitimate experience in the CFL. 2019 second-round draft pick Brady Olivera has reportedly been getting the first-team reps with Harris on the shelf, according to TSN's Darrin Bauming, while 2021 fifth-round pick Kyle Borsa could also be in the mix. Johnny Augustine has the most experienced in the CFL behind Harris but has been dealing with an ailment of his own and has yet to practice. This all could open the door for newcomer Williams who could prove himself quickly. A HUB Football Alum, Williams was a standout at the CAMP workouts in April 2021 who was projected to be an "eventual starter for a CFL team with his natural run skills and soft hands out of the backfield."

-John Ferguson

Published Aug 13, 2021

SI EDITORIAL