Nebraska Football: Samori Toure, JoJo Domann make NFL rosters
The day is officially here where NFL teams are cutting down their official rosters to 53. As part of the cuts that have already been announced, a couple of former Nebraska football players managed to stick, while a few others might not be on the main roster, but they will still get a chance to show they belong in the league.
Right at the top of the list is seventh-round pick for the Green Bay Packers, Samori Toure. Husker fans know that Toure’s journey was an interesting one, considering that he started his career with FCS level Montana.
It wasn’t until 2021 that he transferred to Nebraska and apparently put himself on some draft boards. While his one season with the Cornhuskers wasn’t a particularly good one for the team as a whole, Toure showed that he was a veteran presence for the wide receiver corps. He led the team with 46 receptions for 898 yards and 5 touchdowns. All of those numbers were put up in nine games due to injuries and he finished the year with a PFF 80.9 grade.
Once he joined the Packers this preseason, he showed what he was capable of by leading the NFL squad in catches and yards, including six catches for 83 yards in his preseason finale.
As for JoJo Domann his entry to the NFL was as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. While he only appeared in one game, it appears the former Nebraska football player showed enough in that game and in practice that he was told he’s sticking with the Colts’ 53 man roster.
While Toure was a newcomer to the Huskers in 2021, Domann played his 5th season (thanks to the COVID waiver year) and had his best performance of his career. Domann tallied 72 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 INT and 2 FF.
His road to the NFL is easy to see when you look at his progression in PFF grades. In 2018 he posted a 57.8 overall defense-grade and just 37.3 and 39.0 run defense and tackling. Compare those to 2021 where he posted an 87.3 defensive grade with 83.1 and 74.2 run defense and tackling grades. Player development isn’t often that obvious and that hard work paid off.
One Nebraska football rookie who is a shoo-in to make the roster when he’s able is Cam Taylor-Britt. The Cincinnati Bengals second-round pick has been injured for most of the preseason and he was recently placed on the IR. He’ll be eligible to return and play in Week 4 of the regular season.
Nebraska football players who didn’t make the cut
While Domann and Toure got their good news this week, there were other Huskers who are going to have to fight their way onto the roster over the course of the season.
Tight end Austin Allen had a decent showing towards the end of the preseason but he was cut this week. The good news is that the New York Giants are expected to add him to their practice roster should he clear waivers.
Ben Stille is in a similar situation with the Miami Dolphins. He was also cut on Tuesday but is expected to rejoin the team that signed him as an undrafted free agent on the practice squad.
Former Nebraska football running back Devine Ozigbo’s career is up in the air right now. He joined the Broncos late in the preseason but was cut earlier this week. There is a chance he could make the practice squad, however he’s not the shoo-in for that spot that Stille and Austin appear to be.