“When They Played on Saturday” is a 6 part series in which we take a look at the college careers of all 53 players on the Eagles season opening roster. The 6 segments are broken into collegiate conferences and the respective teams each current Eagle played for. Each week throughout the next 6 weeks a different conference or conferences will be covered. Today, in this 1st installment, we take a look at the ACC and Big 12 Conferences.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech (2002-05) DE
The ACC is the former home of Darryl Tapp, who was a member of the Virginia Tech Hokies from 2002-2005. During his tenure in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech compiled a 39-14 record, including winning an ACC Championship in 2004. Tapp was a force on the defensive line and was named to the All-ACC 1st team in both 2004 and 2005. After college Tapp was invited to the scouting combine and was taken in the 2nd round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Tapp was traded to the Eagles before the beginning of the 2010 season. He has since developed into a reliable backup defensive end.
Michael Vick, Virginia Tech (1999-00) QB
Virginia Tech was once home to arguably the most electrifying college football player to ever play the game. Michael Vick stepped onto the field as a redshirt freshman in 1999 and immediately took the college football world by storm. His whirlwind of a 1st season took him to the brink of a national championship as VA Tech went 11-1 before losing to national champion Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Along the way Vick was featured on the cover of ESPN the Magazine and finished 3rd in the Heisman voting. For his career Vick’s squads were 22-2 in his 2 seasons in Blacksburg. Vick was selected with the 1st overall pick in 2001 by the Atlanta Falcons. He had declared early for the NFL Draft, after his redshirt sophomore season. Vick was signed by the Eagles before the 2009 season and is now going into his 3rd season as the Eagles starting and star quarterback.
Big 12 Conference
Bryce Brown, Tennessee & Kansas State (2009/10-11) RB
Bryce Brown’s collegiate career was much different than the other players on this list. He was never an All-American, or a Heisman finalist, or even the leading rusher on his team. Brown enrolled at the University of Tennessee as a highly sought after 5 star recruit coming out of high school. Initially thought to be heading to the University of Miami, he switched his commitment numerous times before finally deciding on the Volunteers. Brown’s head scratching commitment to Tennessee became clearer in November of 2009, as former Miami football booster Nevin Shapiro, who was linked to Bryce Brown, was indicted on charges of creating a $950 million dollar Ponzi scheme. Shapiro is alleged to have spent millions of dollars on University of Miami football players and recruits, including Brown. Once in Tennessee though, Brown settled in nicely, rushing for 460 yards as a freshman. However during the 1st day of spring football in 2010 Brown requested a transfer. Initially his coach Derek Dooley refused and withheld his transfer, complicating Bryce’s situation even more. Eventually Brown was able to transfer out of the university and found his way to Kansas State. His time there was unsuccessful however, as he found very little playing time and eventually left the program and entered early for the NFL Draft. The Eagles took a flier on Brown when they selected him with a 7th round pick in the 2012 draft. He is currently listed as the number 3 running back on the depth chart, and looks to turn his enormous physical potential into success on the field.
Jeremy Maclin, Missouri (2006-08) WR
Jeremy Maclin was a member of the Missouri Tigers from 2006-2008. Although his collegiate career was short, Maclin will go down as one of the greatest Missouri Tigers of all-time. During his redshirt freshman year, Maclin burst onto the scene as an electric receiver and punt and kickoff returner. He set an NCAA freshman record that season with 2,776 all-purpose yards, helping lead the Tigers to a 12-2 record. For his efforts, Maclin earned 1st team All-America honors in 07. Much hype surrounded Jeremy Maclin heading into his redshirt sophomore year of 2008, and he didn’t disappoint. He again finished the year with 1st team All-American honors, becoming the only player in school history to be named All-American in multiple seasons; and finished the year with 1,260 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving. He declared for the NFL Draft before his junior year and was taken by Philadelphia with the 19th pick in the 1st round of the 2009 draft. Maclin has developed into a dangerous wide receiver for the Eagles, and with DeSean Jackson, they together form a scary 1-2 receiver combination.
David Sims, Iowa State (2009-10) S
David Sims collegiate career was as much known for his mistakes off the field, as for his on the field success. Sims initially enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, but eventually had to transfer to Iowa State due to academic issues. His 1st season of on field action for Iowa State was in 2009, where he garnered Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors, compiling 96 tackles from his safety position. He followed up his successful 09 with another solid season in 2010, recording 88 tackles, and finished his career with 188 tackles and 6 interceptions, in just 2 seasons. Following his final season at Iowa State, Sims was arrested for the use of an illegal credit card. Many thought this hurt his draft stock, as he went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was eventually signed as a rookie free agent, and was traded to the Eagles during the final days of 2012’s preseason roster cuts. He is expected to back up the safety positions and be a key contributor on special teams this season for the Eagles.
Danny Watkins, Butte College & Baylor (2007-08/09-10) G
Danny Watkins collegiate journey to the NFL differed from any other player in the league. Watkins enrolled at Butte College in 2007, to study fire sciences, as he wanted to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter. During his freshman year, the school’s football coach recruited Danny to play on the team; at this time he was 22 years old. He played 2 seasons at Butte before transferring to Baylor University. Watkins became a fixture on Baylor’s offensive line the next 2 seasons. Following his senior year, he was projected to go in either the 1st or 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft. A year prior to this however, Watkins, who is from Canada, was selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2010 Canadian Football League Draft. He turned this down however to continue his collegiate career at Baylor. Now a year removed from being drafted to the CFL he was invited to attend the NFL Draft in New York City. Watkins invited 5 of his friends from his firefighting company back home, to attend the event with him. On the morning of the draft, Watkins and his friends visited a New York City firehouse that had lost several of their members during the September 11th attacks. That evening he was selected by Philadelphia with the 23rd overall pick in the draft. Heading into his 2nd season as an Eagle, Watkins is a fixture on the line at guard, and looks to improve off an impressive rookie season.
