11 Buffs At NFL Rookie Minicamps

BOULDER – Eleven former Colorado Buffaloes are participating in rookie minicamps with NFL teams over the first two weekends in May.

Here is a look at the Buffs as they work to make their respective NFL teams.

Chidobe Awuzie & Jordan Carrell – Dallas Cowboys
The second-round draft pick, Awuzie, and seventh round pick, Carrell, both report for rookie minicamp with the Cowboys Thursday night. Dallas' rookie minicamp runs Friday through Sunday.

The Cowboys lost four key components from its 2016 secondary and drafted four players in the defensive backfield to help fill the void. Awuzie will have his opportunity to compete to get on the field right away in his rookie season.

"I really like him. Everyone is kind of looking at him as a nickel player (in the slot) because he's good at blitzing," former Cowboys head coach Dave Campo (2000-02) told DallasCowboys.com. "He's very quick-footed, and he's also very physical. He's a little small, they say. But in reality he's 5-11. If he were 6-0 everyone would say he's got the perfect height. He's 5-11 and ¾ , so he's not that little. I think he's an outside corner first, and a nickel (interior/slot) second. That's great because he has the ability to play both positions. And he could even be a cover safety. The way the league is today – with four receivers, including tight ends – you need safeties that can cover."

For Carrell, DallasCowboys.com staff writer David Helman says "As competitive as the defensive line promises to be, it doesn't look like there's a lot of room on the bubble. The Cowboys typically keep anywhere from eight-to-10 defensive linemen on their 53-man roster…" He goes on to note that "there should be plenty of competition for the final few spots between guys like free agent signee Damontre Moore, as well as seventh round draft picks Joey Ivie and Jordan Carrell."

Tedric Thompson – Seattle Seahawks
After Seattle drafted just one defensive back (safety Earl Thomas in the first round of the 2010 draft) over the last seven years, the Seahawks selected four defensive backs this year. Thompson will join his other three defensive backfield draft mates at Seattle's rookie minicamp being held this weekend.

Four Buffs were in San Francisco
CB Ahkello Witherspoon was one of four Buffs drafted this year, going in the third round to the 49ers. OLB Jimmie Gilbert signed an undrafted free agent contract with the 49ers after the draft and DL Samson Kafovalu and center Alex Kelley were two of 56 players San Francisco invited to tryout at its rookie minicamp last weekend along with its 10 draftees and 18 total undrafted free agents.

"I think people say a big upside, and I really believe with Ahkello that there is," San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said of Witherspoon to ESPN staff writer Nick Wagoner. "But yet, I think we can throw him out there next year and he can play. He's demonstrated that he can hang with big-time receivers."

Here is the full ESPN feature on Witherspoon: Link

Sefo Liufau – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Bucs, Liufau participated in Tampa Bay's rookie mini camp last weekend. He wore No. 8 with the Bucs and up next for Liufau is OTA offseason workouts that run May 23-25, May 30-31, June 1 and June 5-8.

With the departure of Mike Glennon to Chicago, there is an opening in Tampa to be the back up to Jameis Winston at quarterback. Tampa Bay also signed Tufts' Alex Snyder to compete with Liufau and four-year NFL quarterback Ryan Griffin, who has two seasons under his belt with the Bucs, for the back-up spot.

Kenneth Olugbode - Cleveland Browns
Olugbode was one of two linebackers the Browns signed undrafted free agent deals with following the draft. Cleveland signed 11 total undrafted free agents to go with its 10 draft picks and all will report for rookie minicamp this weekend.

Josh Tupou – Cincinnati Bengals
The undrafted free agent signee with Cincinnati participated last weekend in the Bengals rookie minicamp.

Tupou, who was given jersey number 68, is one of nine defensive tackles currently on the Bengals roster and of those nine, he is one of two rookies along with Michigan's Ryan Glasgow.

Sean Irwin – Jacksonville Jaguars
The former Colorado tight end was invited to tryout this weekend at Jacksonville's rookie minicamp. The Jaguars have six tight ends on its roster and two fullbacks. Irwin can be used both as a blocker out of the backfield or attached to the line, as well as a receiving tight end.

Colorado University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Chidobe Awuzie

Jordan Carrell

Jimmie Gilbert

Sean Irwin

Samson Kafovalu

Alex Kelley

Sefo Liufau

Kenneth Olugbode

Tedric Thompson

Josh Tupou

Ahkello Witherspoon

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