With the draft coming up this week, time to start a new thread for 2018 Rockets in the pros. In addition to the NFL, CFL and various IFLs, this year is reported to see the start of the new AAF (Alliance of American Football) with a draft coming later this year. Also, the XFL seems to be in the process of reforming, with an estimated start date in 2020. Time will tell if either of those leagues have any success whatsoever.

Here's the list of players to watch for, as I know of today:

On NFL Rosters:

Travaris Cadet - Buffalo
Barry Church - Jacksonville
Jayrone Elliott - New Orleans
David Fluellen - Tennessee
John Greco - New York Giants
Treyvon Hester - Oakland
Kareem Hunt - Kansas City
Brett Kern - Tennessee
Greg Mancz - Houston
Rolan Milligan - Detroit
Storm Norton - Minnesota
Michael Roberts - Detroit

Free Agents: Zac Kerin, Bernard Reedy, Alonzo Russell

Potential Draftees/Free Agent Signings:
Ola Adeniyi
Trevon Mathis
Elijah Nkansah
Terry Swanson
Brant Weiss
Logan Woodside


CFL:
Ross Madison - Montreal
Jermaine Robinson - Montreal
Kenny Stafford - Edmonton
Junior Sylvestre - Hamilton

Free Agents: Nick Moore


Arena Leagues (hard to get definitive rosters, but here's what I have found):
Keenen Gibbs - Wichita Force (CIF)
Ayoub Hamidah - Duke City Gladiators (CIF) ?unconfirmed
Phil Lewis - Nebraska Danger (IFL)
Cheatham (Eddie) Norrils - Massachusetts Pirates (NAL)
Derrick Summers - Cleveland Gladiators (AFL)
Kenny Veal - Cleveland Gladiators (AFL)
Chris Wallace - Florida Tarpons (AAL) (2018 will reportedly be his 18th season)

Here's the story about Wallace signing for his 18th indoor football league season.

http://www.floridatarpons.com/news/tarpo...llace-for-

Story about Montreal signing Jermaine Robinson a couple weeks ago. Prior to that, he had been playing indoor ball for the Sioux Falls Storm.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2018/04...rs-roster/

Here's a facebook video of him returning an INT for a TD in a recent Sioux Falls game.

https://www.facebook.com/IFLIndoorFootba...024845516/

Story about Travaris Cadet coming back from a terrible ankle injury last season.

http://buffalonews.com/2018/03/08/bills-...le-injury/

Ross Madison also mentioned in Montreal article!!!! Another Rocket still in CFL

(04-22-2018 11:08 AM)IamN2daRockets! Wrote:  Ross Madison also mentioned in Montreal article!!!! Another Rocket still in CFL

Crap, I missed that. Thanks, yep one more.

Very nice story from the Free Press on Woodside:

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/l...528640002/

According to the article, Mel Kiper has listed Woodside as a "steal" in the 5th round.

It would be great if Toledo had the "steal of the draft" two years in a row.

Of all of these the one that made my jaw hit the table was Chris Wallace. Guy must come out of the tunnel with a walker. Sounds like hes still playing at a high level in that league.

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(04-22-2018 12:22 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  It would be great if Toledo had the "steal of the draft" two years in a row.

I think Hunt was only seen as a steal after he had chance to play, Woodside could be a steal in 5th rd but may be years before he plays and can then be viewed as a steal. Possible he is moving up on some teams radar and draft board, but on prospect lists still listed as late draft/RFA. I hope he gets a chance with the right team and fit, but in terms of success only time will tell.

(04-23-2018 11:48 AM)emanoh Wrote:  Of all of these the one that made my jaw hit the table was Chris Wallace. Gut must come out of the tunnel with a walker. Sounds like hes still playing at a high level in that league.

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I kept looking for a link to his picture, thinking he must have gotten really fat and his gut needed extra help to get on the field. Then I realized it was a typo.

(04-23-2018 07:51 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(04-23-2018 11:48 AM)emanoh Wrote:  Of all of these the one that made my jaw hit the table was Chris Wallace. Gut must come out of the tunnel with a walker. Sounds like hes still playing at a high level in that league.

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I kept looking for a link to his picture, thinking he must have gotten really fat and his gut needed extra help to get on the field. Then I realized it was a typo.

Ha! Yes typo.

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Kentucky QB couldn't win job at his hometown high school. Now the NFL might take him.

http://www.kentucky.com/sports/nfl/artic...91569.html

Meet NFL Draft hopeful Elijah Nkansah, First Team All-MAC OT from Toledo

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2018/4/24/172...ive-tackle

90 minute podcast interview with Kenny Stafford

http://eskempirepod.libsyn.com/episode-1...y-stafford

Swanson reportedly getting a $21K signing bonus with the Texans, which is larger than typical, indicating they may be high on him.

https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/...make-team/

Reported on twitter Woodside will wear number 5 with Cinci.

(05-02-2018 06:01 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Swanson reportedly getting a $21K signing bonus with the Texans, which is larger than typical, indicating they may be high on him.

https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/...make-team/

That's really good news.

(05-02-2018 09:01 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  

(05-02-2018 06:01 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Swanson reportedly getting a $21K signing bonus with the Texans, which is larger than typical, indicating they may be high on him.

https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2018/05/...make-team/

That's really good news.

Signing "bonus?" So there's other pay? 21k doesn't rise to NFL pocket change, so I'd imagine it's on top of other pay?

Did Norton's travels ever find a destinatin?

Free agents in camp get paid a weekly rate which isn't nearly what you'd expect but enough to cover their temporary living expenses. Even practice squad players are paid the equivalent of an average person's salary. You got to make an active roster to make good money. There was a week a few years ago when an ex-MAC qb (either an NIU or CMU guy) got picked up for a week as an emergency backup and due to his time in the league got like $25,000 for the week sitting on the bench. Still, most of the marginal free agent, practice squad guys are only making enough to pay bills. Most team give $3000-10,000 as a signing bonus to secure UFAs who they think have a shot at competing for a roster slot. Swanson's $21,000 is more than usual so that suggests a few teams were definitely interested in having him in camp and the Texans needed to give him a little more to get him there.