Magnus

April 30th, 2016 at 9:23 PM ^

The Saints have two fullbacks on their roster. One is a third-year guy named Austin Johnson from Tennessee who played in ten games last year and started one. He had 4 carries for 9 yards and a TD, plus 5 catches for 30 yards. The other guy is a second-year player from Kansas named Toben Opurum, who played in two games last year. Both players were linebackers in college, although Johnson played some fullback during his first couple seasons before moving full-time to defense.

demoesu

April 30th, 2016 at 9:25 PM ^

I'm a Saints fan and its been a revolving door at fullback recently, Austin Johnson got some time last year and they signed Toben Opurum this offseason.  Sean Payton likes to get the ball to the fullback in the redzone and will handoff in short yardage situations even without those players being dynamic at all so Sione has a real shot here as neither fullback on the roster has a skill set beyond blocking.  

Magnus

April 30th, 2016 at 9:29 PM ^

The Jaguars basically have three starting safeties on their roster. Jonathan Cyprien and Josh Evans have each been starting there for the past three seasons. They also signed Tashaun Gipson from the Browns, who started the past three seasons for Cleveland. 

hailtoyourvictor

April 30th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^

Wilson probably won't make the roster. Gipson is a lock to start at FS and Jalen Ramsey will probably be the primary backup there. There is already a battle at SS between Cyprien/Sample and maybe Josh Evans. Jags will probably roll with:

SS: Cyprien, Sample

FS: Gipson, Evans

 

 

The good news is Cyprien and Sample are nothing special, so maybe the Jags try to keep him around on the practice squad.

 

Jason Kapsner …

April 30th, 2016 at 9:45 PM ^

One of the many delights of this past season was watching Sione burst through (penetrate?) the opponent's unsuspecting front seven on a fullback dive with his manly mane gloriously trailing in the wind. If only for another year of eligibility, sighhhh…

Shallman's turn now?

Wolfman

May 2nd, 2016 at 6:05 AM ^

He would be about 6-7 deep on the RB depth chart. If Harbaugh  sees something there, and that is not a spot to be scoffed at. Houma is taking us back to the days of Aaron Shea and I want to say Askew, who was a "tweener," but also the firt FB taken and had a couple good pay days. I get it. If a player absolutely does not  want the position, transfer to  a smaller school where you  may or may not shine at your desired position. However, open your damn eyes and ask someone other than immediate family what your ceiling is.

stephenrjking

April 30th, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^

I'm bullish on Houma and Kerridge making it in the NFL. Their skillset isn't the sort of thing people look for in the draft, and the game has evolved significantly, but when you come down to it a lot of teams still need a guy to be a backfield run-blocker, and they can do it. Seems likely they'll find a place to catch on, see the field a decent amount, and scratch out a career for a couple of years.

Really, nobody knows who any fullbacks are in the NFL, because they all came into the league as guys like Kerridge and Houma. 

bronxblue

April 30th, 2016 at 10:36 PM ^

Good luck to them both.  Houma seems more likely to stick in NO, but I could see Wilson getting a practice squad/late preseason signing with a team dealing with injuries.

The Dreaded Re…

April 30th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^

Last fullback I really recall being a beast was big badass Lorenzo Neal.  Blocked for 1000+ yard rushers for 11 straight seasons, career lasted 16 fucking years in the NFL.  The dude was a monster.  Here's hoping Houma gets a bit of that going on.

Wolfman

May 2nd, 2016 at 5:46 AM ^

Interesting read. I am certain the bloodlines had a lot to do with that, but bloodline are a completely different issue than nepotism. As was the case here, obviously no one performed to the  level of their respective fathers, but having that competitive gene that separates you from all those with the  exact measurements, I'd go the  same way.

DrMantisToboggan

May 1st, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^

I think Houma will play in the NFL for a while. Less teams use FBs now but he can play. If he can catch on in NO, even if they don't keep him forever, he can be a FB in the league that teams know they pick up and plug in right away. Good team guy, hard-nosed dude. He's got a great shot. 

M-Dog

May 1st, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^

These are the kind of guys that really benefit from playing for Harbaugh in terms of getting a shot at the NFL.  

Guys like Peppers are going to make it regardless, but there is a whole next level of guys that really benefit from being coached by Harbaugh's staff.