#ProDeacs: 53-Man Roster
9/2/2024 2:26:00 PM | Football
The Demon Deacons are well represented on NFL rosters heading into the season with 12 players making opening day rosters.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 2024 NFL season begins on Thursday, September 5, with most of the teams kicking off Sunday, September 18. There are 12 Demon Deacons currently on an active NFL roster preparing to make their mark next weekend.
Second-Year Players Looking to Make a Splash
2023 third-round draft pick Kobie Turner recorded a stellar rookie campaign last season with the Rams.. Turner led all Los Angeles defensive lineman with nine sacks and 57 total tackles. His nine sacks also led all NFL rookies in addition to his 78 sack yards. Seven of his nine sacks came in the final seven games of the season, the fourth-most in the NFL during that span.
Out of all defensive rookies who have played at least 50 percent of their team's snaps, Turner was ranked second with an 83.8 defensive grade from ProFootballFocus (PFF) and first out of rookie defensive lineman.
His contributions have helped the Rams go 7-1 over the final stretch of the season to earn a spot in the postseason after starting the season 3-6.
Going into the season, Turner was named as a team captain.
Turner's former Demon Deacon teammate, A.T. Perry, closed out his rookie season with season-high in receptions (three), yards (53) and touchdowns receptions (two) in the 48-17 week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Additionally, since implemented into the offensive gameplan in week 11, Perry led the Saints with four touchdown receptions, while ranking third on the team with 246 yards on 12 catches for a team-high 20.5 yards per reception over the final eight weeks of the season.
Bates III Primed for Second Year in Atlanta
Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III finished 2023 ranked first on the team in tackles (132), pass deflections (11), interceptions (6), interception return yards (95), defensive touchdowns (1) and forced fumbles (3). His 132 tackles ranked second out of all NFL safeties, while his nine forced turnovers were tied for the league-best with Antoine Winfield and DaRon Bland.
The returning team captain also posted the highest defensive PFF grade of his career at 90.6, which ranked fourth in the NFL and second out of all safeties. It marked the second 90-plus PFF grade of his career in addition to his 2020 campaign (90.1).
Rookie Spotlight
2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson joins the Dallas Cowboys as one of the best cover corners in program history as well as one of the best corners in the ACC throughout this career. In 36 career games played, Carson totaled 29 pass deflections while also having 120 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Carson is in line to earn his first start of his career in week one.
The San Francisco 49ers selected defensive back Malik Mustapha as their fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. In 25 career games played, Mustapha, who served as team captain in 2023, accumulated 10 pass deflections, 175 tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Offensive lineman Michael Jurgens, a three-time captain and two-time All-ACC Honorable Mention, has been selected by the Minnesota Vikings as their 2024 seventh-round pick. A cornerstone for the Deacs, Jurgen started all 34 of his career games at center, logging an impressive 2,541 snaps over three seasons, the highest figure among returning players.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
Link to Week One Schedule
Second-Year Players Looking to Make a Splash
2023 third-round draft pick Kobie Turner recorded a stellar rookie campaign last season with the Rams.. Turner led all Los Angeles defensive lineman with nine sacks and 57 total tackles. His nine sacks also led all NFL rookies in addition to his 78 sack yards. Seven of his nine sacks came in the final seven games of the season, the fourth-most in the NFL during that span.
Out of all defensive rookies who have played at least 50 percent of their team's snaps, Turner was ranked second with an 83.8 defensive grade from ProFootballFocus (PFF) and first out of rookie defensive lineman.
His contributions have helped the Rams go 7-1 over the final stretch of the season to earn a spot in the postseason after starting the season 3-6.
Going into the season, Turner was named as a team captain.
Turner's former Demon Deacon teammate, A.T. Perry, closed out his rookie season with season-high in receptions (three), yards (53) and touchdowns receptions (two) in the 48-17 week 18 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Additionally, since implemented into the offensive gameplan in week 11, Perry led the Saints with four touchdown receptions, while ranking third on the team with 246 yards on 12 catches for a team-high 20.5 yards per reception over the final eight weeks of the season.
Bates III Primed for Second Year in Atlanta
Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III finished 2023 ranked first on the team in tackles (132), pass deflections (11), interceptions (6), interception return yards (95), defensive touchdowns (1) and forced fumbles (3). His 132 tackles ranked second out of all NFL safeties, while his nine forced turnovers were tied for the league-best with Antoine Winfield and DaRon Bland.
The returning team captain also posted the highest defensive PFF grade of his career at 90.6, which ranked fourth in the NFL and second out of all safeties. It marked the second 90-plus PFF grade of his career in addition to his 2020 campaign (90.1).
Rookie Spotlight
2024 fifth-round pick Caelen Carson joins the Dallas Cowboys as one of the best cover corners in program history as well as one of the best corners in the ACC throughout this career. In 36 career games played, Carson totaled 29 pass deflections while also having 120 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Carson is in line to earn his first start of his career in week one.
The San Francisco 49ers selected defensive back Malik Mustapha as their fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. In 25 career games played, Mustapha, who served as team captain in 2023, accumulated 10 pass deflections, 175 tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Offensive lineman Michael Jurgens, a three-time captain and two-time All-ACC Honorable Mention, has been selected by the Minnesota Vikings as their 2024 seventh-round pick. A cornerstone for the Deacs, Jurgen started all 34 of his career games at center, logging an impressive 2,541 snaps over three seasons, the highest figure among returning players.
#ProDeacs Week One Slate (All times eastern)
Link to Week One Schedule
- Greg Dortch (ARI)
- Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills ( Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Sage Surratt (ARI - IR)
- Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills ( Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Jessie Bates III (ATL)
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- John Wolford (CAR - PS)
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints ( Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Blake Whiteheart (CLE - PS)
- Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns ( Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Caelen Carson (DAL)
- Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns ( Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Justin Strnad (DEN)
- Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks ( Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Zach Tom (GB)
- Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles ( Friday, 8:15 p.m., Peacock)
- Ja'Sir Taylor (LAC)
- Los Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers ( Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Kobie Turner (LAR)
- Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions ( Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock)
- Luke Masterson (LV)
- Los Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers ( Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Alex Bachman (LV - PS)
- Los Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers ( Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Michael Jurgens (MIN)
- Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants ( Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Justin Herron (NO - IR)
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints ( Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- AT Perry (NO)
- Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints ( Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. (NYG)
- Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants ( Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Malik Mustapha (SF)
- New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers ( Monday, 8:20 p.m., ESPN, ABC, ESPN +)
Players Mentioned
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