logo
First Independence Bowl alum taken in Round 1 of NFL Draft since 2021

First Independence Bowl alum taken in Round 1 of NFL Draft since 2021

Yahoo25-04-2025

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Wide receiver Matthew Golden became the 74th Independence Bowl alumnus and first since 2021 to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Golden appeared in the 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl for Houston and caught two passes for 17 yards. He finished his collegiate career with Texas before being drafted 23rd overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Former LSUS player becomes first-ever to play in MLB
Before Golden, former Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau was the last Independence Bowl alumnus to be drafted in the first round. The Buffalo Bills selected Rousseau with the 30th overall pick in 2021.
Golden will now join the list of 88 Independence Bowl alums who played in the NFL last season.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each offensive position following OTAs
One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each offensive position following OTAs

USA Today

time18 minutes ago

  • USA Today

One player on the Ravens roster bubble at each offensive position following OTAs

AI-assisted summary Wide receiver Malik Cunningham and tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden face tough competition for roster spots. Offensive lineman Ben Cleveland's position is uncertain with the addition of three drafted players. Baltimore is loaded on the offensive side of the football, and GM Eric DeCosta knowingly chose to restock the defense with the organization's first two NFL draft picks. The Ravens are cruising through the off-season workout program and have a looming two-day mandatory mini-camp scheduled before the team takes a five-week break before returning for the mid-July training camp. There are a couple of positions with competitions scheduled, and we're taking an early look at one player on the roster bubble at each offensive position. QB --Devin Leary Baltimore didn't select a quarterback in the NFL draft and signed no signal callers in the undrafted free agent class. The Ravens have an MVP as QB1 and a solid backup in Cooper Rush. Baltimore did select a quarterback in last year's NFL Draft, Devin Leary, out of Kentucky in the sixth round, but it didn't work out too well. Leary was cut in the preseason and then signed to the practice squad. If the Ravens carry two quarterbacks on the roster, Leary could be released and signed to the practice squad again. RB Rasheen Ali Baltimore didn't draft a running back and only has four players on the roster at the position. Henry is an All-Pro, Justice Hill is a solid No. 2 running back, and Keaton Mitchell provides a home run threat. Ali needs a strong training camp to warrant the Ravens carrying three running backs. Former Monmouth running back Sone Ntoh is an undrafted free agent to watch. WR Malik Cunningham Baltimore has ten wide receivers on the roster after selecting Colorado's LaJohntay Wester in Round 6. Cunningham is the only player in the position who is not a natural wide receiver but offers special-teams abilities. Cunningham needs an intense training camp to warrant a roster spot over Dayton Wade, Anthony Miller, and Keith Kirkwood. TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden Baltimore has a big three at the tight end position, and two of the top players in the league. Charlie Kolar is the clear No. 3, making things difficult for Mitchell-Paden. OL Ben Cleveland The Baltimore Ravens retained one of their key free agents, re-signing Ben Cleveland. Cleveland saw action in all 17 regular-season games as a backup at left guard, plus both playoff contests. The 2021 third-round pick finished the final year of his rookie deal and had no major suitors on the open market. Baltimore added three players to the NFL draft and has solid depth in key positions. Cleveland could be the odd man out if Emery Jones, Carson Vinson, or Garrett Dellinger established themselves at the offensive guard position.

Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II tabbed for breakout season
Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II tabbed for breakout season

USA Today

time38 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II tabbed for breakout season

Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II tabbed for breakout season The Seattle Seahawks are expecting a developmental step forward from sophomore defensive tackle Byron Murphy II this year. Murphy looked effective when healthy, but an injury derailed a sizable portion of his rookie campaign. The No. 16 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft is now entering a big second season. Pro Football Focus recently compiled a 2025 NFL All-Breakout Team. They selected one player at each position. Murphy was their choice at defensive tackle. "Many thought that Mike Macdonald had found his white whale out west when the Seahawks drafted Murphy 16th overall in 2024," Bradley Locker wrote. "After one year, that hasn't looked like the case, but it isn't time to panic yet. In Year 1, the former Texas star earned just a 57.8 overall PFF grade with a 64.5 PFF pass-rushing grade. Murphy also played only 457 snaps in 14 games, ceding time to Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed — each of whom returns to the team in 2025." A deeper dive into the analytics reveals Murphy was more effective than meets the eye. "There are still a bevy of reasons to get excited about Murphy, including his 70.0 PFF pass-rushing grade on true pass sets, 10% pass-rush win rate and 76th percentile run stop rate," Locker continued. "Macdonald helped Nnamdi Madubuike break out in earnest during the 2023 season, which was Macdonald's second in Baltimore. Perhaps Murphy will follow a similar arc and become a true disruptor along Seattle's interior in his second season." Murphy flashed pass-rushing upside in spurts as a rookie. A healthy, more mature sophomore version should be an effective defender in 2025. Mike Macdonald and his defensive staff will attempt to continue developing Murphy this season.

Eagles biggest reason for optimism shouldn't come as a surprise
Eagles biggest reason for optimism shouldn't come as a surprise

USA Today

time38 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Eagles biggest reason for optimism shouldn't come as a surprise

Eagles biggest reason for optimism shouldn't come as a surprise PFF reveals the Eagles' biggest reason for optimism, and it shouldn't catch anyone off guard. For just the fifth time in their 93-year history, the Philadelphia Eagles will enter the regular season as the defending champions. Three titles preceded the 1966 NFL/AFL merger (1948, 1949, 1960). They've added two Vince Lombardi Trophies to the shelf after winning Super Bowl 52 and 59. These young Birds fans certainly haven't gotten spoiled, haven't they? Most don't know the anguish of enduring Leonard Tose. They don't remember Bryce Paup shredding Randall Cunningham's knee. Three consecutive NFC Championship Games are foreign, and so is a depressing Fog Bowl. Young Eagles fans never had to endure seeing Reggie White leave, and you know what? The older guard ought to be thankful that they didn't. It would be cruel to wish that type of pain on anyone. This is one of the best eras of football this organization has seen, and there's still reason for more optimism. Pro Football Focus would undoubtedly agree with that last point. They recently offered a refreshing take, 'One reason for optimism for every team ahead of the 2025 NFL season'. As we know, Philadelphia has several, but it's hard to argue with the answer that PFF provided. How about a round of applause for the Eagles' loaded roster? There's plenty of content to wade through following Eagles OTAs and their single-day minicamp. Thank Dalton Wasserman for providing a nice distraction as we take a break before training camp begins in July. Philadelphia tacked an extension on the end of Saquon Barkley's current deal. Most of their young roster is locked up for the foreseeable future. They have young stars on an excellent defense. All are great reasons why Wasserman lists a 'stacked roster's return as cause for Birds fans to rest easy and smile broadly. Here's his explanation. "Philadelphia ran roughshod through the NFL last season en route to its second Super Bowl victory. This year's edition of the Eagles is poised to defend their title, returning 20 of their 25 players who led the team in snaps last season. Their defense, which paced the NFL in PFF grade last season, took most of the damage but returns stars such as Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. The Eagles boast the best roster in the NFL heading into this season." This isn't the first time we've heard praise heaped on the Eagles' talent. The kudos are well deserved. Let's do some brief inventory. Their quarterback is the reigning Super Bowl MVP, and despite losing his first appearance in the big game, he has outplayed Patrick Mahomes on the big stage twice. Barkley is the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Philadelphia has the game's best one-two punch at wide receiver. They're also home to the game's best offensive line and a defense that is young and hungry, one led by one of the game's top defensive minds. Their owner is phenomenal. Howie Roseman is the best in the business. The fan support is otherworldly. One can certainly do a lot worse than being an Eagles fan. This season, Philadelphia tackles one of pro football's most demanding and challenging schedules, but they are armed well enough to handle the task of what will be a gauntlet. They return six Pro Bowlers (they should have had more). They return six All-Pros. Make no mistake. They'll be up to the challenge.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store