Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NFL Update
8/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 4, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With NFL training camps in full swing across the country, here is an update on where former Demon Deacons are at in the league.
Josh Gattis - Chicago Bears
Gattis enters his second year with the Chicago Bears. The Bears began training camp on July 23 at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. Gattis is vying for a starting spot at safety but saw most of his action on special teams in 2007. Originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, Gattis played in four games for the Bears last season, recording one tackle. The Bears currently carry six safeties on their roster including Gattis, Mike Brown (Nebraska), Brandon McGowan (Maine), Kevin Payne (Louisiana-Monroe), Leonard Peters (Hawaii) and Craig Steltz (LSU).
Jon Abbate
Abbate was released by the Houston Texans in a move made by the team on July 22. Abbate spent all of last season with the Texans on the injured reserve list. A linebacker in college, the converted fullback was signed as an undrafted free agent by Houston in 2007.
Chris Barclay
Barclay entered 2008 training camp with his third NFL team, the New Orleans Saints. However, Barclay was waived by the team on July 31. The Saints had claimed Wake Forest's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns last December after Barclay was waived by the Tennessee Titans. Barclay saw most of his action as a kick returner last season for the Titans, averaging 11.3 yards per punt return and 21.7 yards on 14 kickoff returns.
Tyson Clabo - Atlanta Falcons
Clabo, in his fourth season with the Atlanta Falcons and fifth overall in the NFL, enters training camp on a mission to keep his starting position. Clabo started 11 games at tackle for the Falcons in 2007 and started 10 games at guard for the squad in 2006. Atlanta began training camp on July 25 at its training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. The Falcons currently list Clabo as a guard and carry a total of three players at that position. Atlanta also lists Kynan Forney (Hawaii) and Justin Blalock (Texas) as guards on its current roster.
Desmond Clark - Chicago Bears
Clark enters training camp in his tenth season in the NFL and his sixth consecutive season as the starting tight end for the Chicago Bears. Clark recorded 44 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns as he started all 16 games for the Bears in 2007. Clark leads the Bears in receptions and receiving touchdowns while ranking third in receiving yards since becoming a member of the Bears in 2003. Clark, who played at Wake Forest from 1995-98, remains the Deacs' all-time leader in receptions with 216 career catches. The Bears began training camp on July 23 at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. Tight ends listed on Chicago's current roster include Clark, Kellen Davis (Michigan State), Fontel Mines (Virginia) and Greg Olsen (Miami).
Chris Davis - Tennessee Titans
Davis enters his 2008 training camp with the Tennessee Titans, who signed the receiver on July 31 after he was released by the New York Jets in mid-June. Davis spent all of last season with the Jets, rotating between the practice squad and the team's active roster. He played in two games and caught one pass for three yards. He also rushed once for three yards. Davis is one of two wide receivers on Tennessee's roster who is named "Chris Davis". The other is a second-year player out of Florida State. The Titans began training camp on July 25 at the Baptist Sports Park in Nashville.
Patrick Ghee
Ghee was released by the Washington Redskins in a move made by the team on June 13. Ghee, a defensive back, was signed by the Redskins after being released by the Carolina Panthers in 2008.
Steve Justice - Indianapolis Colts
Justice enters his first NFL training camp vying for a starting position on the offensive line in Indianapolis. The Colts list Justice as their number two center behind veteran Jeff Saturday (North Carolina). Indianapolis began training camp on July 24 in Terre Haute, Ind. and will face the Washington Redskins Sunday, Aug. 3 in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Justice was one of three Demon Deacons selected in this year's NFL Draft. He was picked 35th in round six, 201st overall.
Eric King - Tennessee Titans
King enters training camp as the Titans' number two right cornerback behind Cortland Finnegan (Samford). King saw action in 15 games last season for Tennessee with one start at cornerback and led the team in special teams tackles in three games (at Denver, vs. Houston, vs. San Diego). The Titans began training camp on July 25 at the Baptist Sports Park in Nashville.
Kevin Marion
Marion was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a move made by the team on July 30. Marion, a wide receiver and kick returner, was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2008.
Kenny Moore - Detroit Lions
Moore enters Lions camp vying for playing time against highly-touted, former first round selections including Roy Williams (Texas) and Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech). Moore, one of three Demon Deacons selected in the 2008 NFL draft, could help the Lions at receiver and as a punt returner. Moore signed with the Lions on July 22. Detroit began camp at the team's training facility in Allen Park, Mich. on July 24.
Ovie Mughelli - Atlanta Falcons
Mughelli enters his sixth year in the NFL as the starting fullback for the Falcons. Atlanta started training camp on July 25 to the team's training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. The Falcons currently list one other fullback on their roster, Corey McIntyre, who is in his fourth season out of West Virginia. Mughelli saw action in all 16 games for the Falcons in 2007. Predominantly used as a run-blocker, Mughelli had one rushing touchdown and six receptions for 36 yards out of the backfield.
Calvin Pace - New York Jets
Pace enters his sixth year in the NFL and his first year with the Jets after signing with the team as a free agent on March 3, 2008. The Jets hope Pace will be a major factor in its 3-4 defense in 2008. Pace's former team, the Arizona Cardinals switched to a 3-4 defense and moved him to linebacker before the 2006 season. In 2007, Pace started all 16 games and proceeded to establish career highs in tackles (106) and sacks (6.5). Jets began training camp on July 24 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
Ryan Plackemeier - Seattle Seahawks
Plackemeier, Wake Forest's all-time leader in yards per punt and total punt yards, enters his third season in the NFL as the Seahawks' starting punter and holder. Seattle began training camp at the team's practice facility in Kirkland, Wash. The Seahawks currently carry two punters on their roster including Plackemeier and Reggie Hodges (Ball State). Plackemeier started all 16 games at punter for Seattle in 2007 and tied for fourth in the NFL with 30 punts inside the 20 and had at least two downed inside the 20 in 12 of 16 games.
Fred Robbins - New York Giants
Robbins, who won his first Super Bowl in 2007, returns to the Giants for his ninth season in the NFL. Robbins started 15 of 16 games at defensive tackle for the Giants in 2007 and started all four postseason games en route to a New York victory in Super Bowl XLII. Robbins enters training camp as a starter and will, more than likely, hold on to that position. The Giants currently list six defensive tackles on their roster including Robbins, Jay Alford (Penn State), Jeremy Clark (Alabama), Barry Cofield (Northwestern), Rodney Leisle (UCLA) and Ogmedi Nwagbuo (Michigan State). The Giants began training camp on July 25 at the University of Albany in Albany, N.Y.
John Tereshinski - San Diego Chargers
Tereshinski enters his first season in the NFL after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chargers on April 28, 2008. Tereshinski will battle fellow tight ends Wade Betschart (Wyoming) Scott Chandler (Iowa), Brandon Manumaleuna (Arizona) and Antonio Gates (Kent State) for a spot on the 53-man roster. San Diego began training camp on July 25 at Chargers Park in San Diego, Calif.
Jeremy Thompson - Green Bay Packers
Thompson, the highest drafted Demon Deacon in the 2008 NFL Draft, enters his first training camp as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Thompson was taken by the Packers with the third pick in round four, 102nd overall. The Packers began training camp on July 28 at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay, Wis. Thompson, listed at defensive end on the Packers roster, will be vying for a spot on the 53-man roster against Jason Hunter (Appalachian State), Michael Montgomery (Texas A&M), Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (San Diego State), Aaron Kampman (Iowa) and Cullen Jenkins (Central Michigan).
Jyles Tucker - San Diego Chargers
Tucker, who surprised the league as an undrafted rookie in 2007, enters his second season and second training camp with San Diego. The Chargers are expecting Tucker to be an impact player in his second year as the team's website writes, "Over the years, the Chargers have had their share of triumph in finding undrafted free agents who have come in and contributed to the team's success. As Jyles Tucker enters his second professional season, he appears to be the next in a long line that includes Kassim Osgood, Antonio Gates, Kris Dielman, Jacques Cesaire and Stephen Cooper." The Chargers began camp on July 25 at Chargers Park in San Diego, Calif. Vying for one of the Chargers' spot at linebacker along with Tucker will be Antwan Applewhite (San Diego State), Brandon Siler (Florida), Derek Smith (Arizona State), Matt Wilhelm (Ohio State), Cooper Stephen (Maine), Anthony Waters (Clemson), Carlos Polk (Nebraska), Tim Dobbins (Iowa State), Marques Harris (Southern Utah State), Shaun Phillips (Purdue), Shawne Merriman (Maryland), Eric Bakhtiari (San Diego) and Terna Nande (Miami of Ohio).
Steve Vallos - Seattle Seahawks
Vallos enters his second season in the NFL and his second season with Seattle. Vallos, who spent the 2007 season on the Seahawks' practice squad, is currently listed as the team's fourth-string right guard behind Rob Sims (Ohio State), Chris Gray (Auburn) and Ray Willis (Florida State). The Seahawks began training camp on July 24 at the team's practice facility in Kirkland, Wash.
Joe Zelenka - Jacksonville Jaguars
Zelenka, one of the top long snappers in the NFL, enters his 10th season in the league and his eighth season with the Jaguars. Zelenka is the only long snapper currently listed on the Jaguars' roster. Jacksonville began training camp on July 26 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
