5 Former Eastern Michigan Players Make Initial 53-Man NFL Rosters to Open 2024 Season
Thomas Odukoya and Jose Ramirez finally make their team's rosters.
53-Man NFL Roster Locks
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Career stats: 83 games (77 starts), 321 tackles (205 solo), 88 TFL, 52.0 sacks, 124 QB hits, 9 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 18 pass breakups
Even if this list wasn’t in alphabetical (by last name) order, it’d be too hard not to start with this guy right here. Maxx Crosby, one of the best defensive talents in the NFL, is back for his sixth season with the Raiders.
Crosby’s been the NFL’s leader in tackles for loss in each of the last two seasons — 23 in 2023, and 22 in 2022. In this year’s NFL 100 listing, Crosby was named the #10 player in the league. He was the second-place finisher for Defensive Rookie of the Year at 22 when he forwent his final year of eligibility at EMU. Crosby entered the league as the #106 pick to, at the time, Oakland (the team moved to Las Vegas his second season). Crosby was named a Second Team All-Pro in 2021 and 2023, and was in the running for AP Defensive Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons. He finished sixth for the honor in 2022, and fourth last season, albeit no first-place votes in either year.
Said Chris Creighton on Crosby’s podcast over the summer:
“I had no idea that you’d be this good. I mean that’s probably not what I’m supposed to say but I totally believe it now that it’s happening. But selfishly, we beat Pitt in my biggest loss here for our second Power 5 win in Ford Field with a record crowd, defensive player of the MAC and the whole country knows about him and all that, but honestly, too, your story is perfect… Even in the very beginning, you never know how someone’s gonna - who they are and how they’re gonna pan out. And even at the very end I was like ‘Yeah, no one can block him,’ but I probably just didn’t have the experience to know.”
Crosby initially inked a $95 million contract with $53M guaranteed in March 2022, but he recently received a raise in a reworked contract that did not add any years to his contract, which goes through the 2026 season. The donation by Crosby and his wife, Rachel, a former EMU soccer player, helped install an updated football turf field at Rynearson Stadium with Maxx’s name on it, which included the upgraded look of removing the track around its perimeter.
Thomas Odukoya, Tennessee Titans
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 75 offensive snaps, 38 special teams
Finally. After making some impressive plays in the 2023 preseason and still being relegated to the practice squad, Thomas Odukoya was listed on Tennessee’s 2024 season-opening 53-man roster. He may or may not have had to run well over 150 yards on a touchdown-saving special teams tackle just before halftime in the team’s final preseason game.
Ahead of the NFL’s roster cuts deadline, Creighton was asked about his reaction to the play during Monday’s press conference.
“When our guys are being described by media or coaches in interviews and whatnot, it is, it’s the relentless effort and just being awesome teammates that are incredibly talented,” he said. “So yeah, we’re super proud of him.”
Odukoya, a former Deuce honoree at EMU, is a Netherlands-born athlete who took up football overseas, and rose his way up through the junior college ranks before he got to EMU in 2018. Odukoya joined Tennessee via the International Player Pathway Program in 2022. Now, at 27 years old, Odukoya’s finally got himself on the team’s roster.
Jose Ramirez, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 87 defensive snaps, 28 special teams
After practicing with the Tampa Bay Bucs as a sixth-round draft pick (#196) last year, Jose Ramirez made the official roster entering the 2024 season.
Ramirez stood out recently with a three-sack performance against Jacksonville.
In 2022, Ramirez was the first in school history to win the MAC Defensive Player of the Year award.
Sidy Sow, New England Patriots
2023: 13 starts at right guard
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 75 offensive snaps, 3 special teams
Some bad news for Sidy Sow, the team’s starting left guard. He left the preseason finale with an ankle injury. He started last year as a rookie (pick #116), but now the questions surrounding him are whether or not he’ll be able to play in next week’s season opener.
Still, Sow, who played his entire college career at EMU, has made himself into a starter in the league in both of his pro years. At EMU, Sow is second all-time in the record books for career games played (57) and started (55).
Andrew Wylie, Washington Commanders
Career games played: 86 games, 74 starts (2023: 15 starts at RT)
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 18 offensive snaps
A former undrafted rookie in 2017 who finally ended up shining in Super Bowl spotlights with Kansas City is now in the second year of this 3-year, $24M deal with Washington. Pro Football Focus said that he was the most underrated player on his own Commanders team last season.
Cuts
Brian Dooley, Tennessee Titans
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 36 offensive snaps, 3 special teams
The Ironman of EMU football (62 career games played, 60 started at EMU) was released by the Tennessee Titans Tuesday. He played in the first two preseason games, but not the third. Dooley joined the program as an undrafted rookie this year.
During his draft prep, Dooley told The Ypsilanti Eleven that he has big goals of making it in the NFL for 10 years, even if that means he has to start out on a practice squad.
“For right now, I'm right now I'm good with practice squad. That's just kind of my mindset because being an NFL O-lineman, it's hard. There's guys in the league right now who are set on having those guys start,” Dooley said.
A scout asked him if he’d be upset about sitting behind some All-Pro linemen even if that meant not being able to play regularly on Sundays for 3-4 years.
Dooley’s response was simple: Of course I’d be happy with still making a team and learning from the best. I’ll be ready when you need me to be.
“I'd be fine with backing them up and learning from them. Until maybe they think it's their time is done or they get hurt,” Dooley said. “Hopefully, they don't. But let's say they get hurt. But yeah, like I'll go in. But for a couple years, if I'm sitting behind them, learning from them, and still able to help the team out however I can then yeah, I'm totally fine with that… I do want to play in the league for at least 10 years.”
Dylan Drummond, Atlanta Falcons
2024 Preseason stats: 7 targets, 6 catches, 22 yards / 1 rush, 2 yards
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 79 offensive snaps, 10 special teams
Dylan Drummond was a Detroit Lion and NY Giant as a rookie. This season, he was given a shot with the Atlanta Falcons and made it to the final round of cuts before being waived.
Drummond entered the league as an undrafted rookie last season.
Hamze El-Zayat, New York Jets
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: DNP
The Fordham-turned-EMU receiver got another year to try out with the New York Jets. However, injuries kept him from seeing the game field during preseason, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t turn some heads with some catches in camp. El-Zayat was waived from injury reserve and is currently a free agent.
El-Zayat was a first-year undrafted rookie in 2023.
Samson Evans, Miami Dolphins
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: DNP
Samson Evans, EMU’s all-time leader in touchdowns scored (41), received a mini-camp invite with the Miami Dolphins, but things never got any further than that.
Tanner Knue, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2024 Preseason stats: 7 targets, 6 catches, 22 yards / 1 rush, 2 yards
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 67 offensive snaps, 14 special teams
Knue, with a nice-looking TD grab during the preseason, will wind up on a practice squad after being waived Tuesday by the Bucs. The former EMU walk-on who didn’t play football until late in high school, joined Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie in April.
Pat O’Connor, Detroit Lions
Career stats: 68 games played, 24 tackles (14 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, 1 safety
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: 74 defensive snaps, 8 special teams
Pat O’Connor, once a seventh-round draft pick by Detroit in 2017 (pick #250), returned to Detroit after he was released from Tampa Bay before the preseason.
Chad Ryland, New England Patriots
2023 stats: 16/25 field goals (64%), 24/25 PAT (96%)
Since he officially finished his college career at Maryland, Chad Ryland is a claimed EMU player. Ryland’s been the kicker that helped take down Illinois and Purude, and was drafted by New England last year with the #112 overall pick.
Ryland was New England’s kicker last year, but was waived by the team Tuesday, losing the job to Joey Slye.
Mathew Sexton, Miami Dolphins
2024 preseason snap count, per PFF: DNP
Mathew Sexton has been given small audition after small audtion with various NFL teams. The latest, over the winter, would be Miami. However, the Dolphins let Sexton go before the preseason began. He is now in the UFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.
Ryland was cut actually. Lost the job to Joey Slye.