Colorado State University Athletics
#NextLevelRams: NFL Update Week 14
12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Grant Larson
Athletics Communications
Colorado State is represented by eight former Rams on current NFL rosters, and one player, Garrett Grayson, on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
Rashard Higgins and Cory James were drafted by the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders, respectively, and DeAndre Elliott signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. All three rookies exceled in both training camp and the preseason, earning spots on their team’s active 53-man rosters. CSU has had multiple NFL Draft picks in each of the past three seasons, including two players drafted in the first three rounds in both 2014 and 2015.
In his third year, Shaquil Barrett has become a mainstay of the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos’ defense thanks to a tremendous sophomore campaign in which he recorded 50 tackles, 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Weston Richburg of the New York Giants has established himself as one of the league’s best centers, being named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro Honorable Mention, as well as grading out as the 89th-best player in the entire league according to PFF. Crockett Gillmore’s signature gritty and hard-nosed playstyle has transitioned seamlessly to the NFL, as he started all 10 games he played in last season, recording 33 receptions with four touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens. Gillmore also graded out as Pro Football Focus’ second-best tight end. After spending two seasons on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, Kapri Bibbs beat out veteran running backs Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson in the preseason to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Second-year offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo started three games at left tackle for the Denver Broncos last year, before being shut down for the season with a shoulder injury, but has returned and started three games at right tackle.
Quarterback Garrett Grayson, a third-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2015, was waived and subsequently signed to the Saints’ practice squad during the preseason.
Below is a look at what the #NextLevelRams did during Week 14 of the NFL season:
#NextLevelRams overall record: 58-45-1
Weston Richburg (New York Giants; 9-4) - center
Richburg and the Giants beat the NFC-leading Dallas Cowboys 10-7 on Sunday Night Football. It was just the Cowboys’ second loss of the season, the first of which also came against the Giants in the season opener. Richburg anchored an offensive line that helped block the way for 260 total yards, and following the game, Pro Football Focus named him as the Giants’ top-graded offensive player with a game score of 74.8.
Top-graded @Giants on offense
C Weston Richburg 74.8
T Marshall Newhouse 74.3
WR Odell Beckham Jr. 71
T Ereck Flowers 70.9#DALvsNYG pic.twitter.com/fiJOT6a3Nx— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 12, 2016
DeAndre Elliott (Seattle Seahawks; 8-4-1) - cornerback
Elliott did not record any stats in Seattle’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, but served as a Seahawks captain for the game, participating in the pregame coin toss.
Thomas Rawls, DeAndre Elliott join the regular captains for coin toss. Seattle wins toss and defers choice.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 11, 2016
Cory James (Oakland Raiders; 10-3) - inside linebacker
The rookie linebacker recorded two tackles in Oakland’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a loss which snapped the Raiders’ six-game win streak.
Shaquil Barrett (Denver Broncos; 8-5) - outside linebacker
Barrett recorded one tackle in Denver’s 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Rashard Higgins (Cleveland Browns; 0-13) - wide receiver
Higgins played, but did not record any stats in Cleveland’s loss to the Bengals.
Crockett Gillmore (Baltimore Ravens; 7-6) - tight end
Gillmore missed his sixth straight game with a thigh injury. He has not been placed on season-ending injured reserve, which means he is eligible to return to action whenever he is healthy.
Ty Sambrailo (Denver Broncos; 8-5) - offensive lineman
Sambrailo played as a backup offensive lineman in Denver’s loss.
Kapri Bibbs (Denver Broncos; 8-5) - running back
Did not play; Injured Reserve
Garrett Grayson (New Orleans Saints) - quarterback
Did not play; spent week on practice squad
