Friday night at 9pm was cut down day for the 53 man opening day NFL roster.
Local players released on Friday
Clifton Geathers (Carvers Bay) - Dallas Cowboys
Edmon McClam (Lake City) - Detroit Lions
Brandon Bostick (West Florence) - Green Bay Packers
Marshall McFadden (Lamar) - Pittsburgh Steelers
Junior Hemingway (Conway) - Kansas City Chiefs
Bostick, McFadden and Hemingway were signed to their respective clubs practice squads on Saturday. On Sunday, Clifton Geathers inked with the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Practice squad players have a minimum salary of $5,700 a week.
Former Coastal Carolina All-American quarterback Tyler Thigpen survived cut day with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo decided to keep four QB's on its roster to start the 2012 season. North Myrtle Beach's Ryan Quigley made the Chicago Bears opening day roster. The punter had two strong preseason starts in place of injured punter Adam Podlesh and may make his NFL debut in week one if the Bears starter isn't ready to go.
Eleven WPDE All-Zoners have played in an NFL game. If Cliff Matthews and Ryan Quigley are active in week one, that number will grow to 13. Josh Norman will make his NFL debut for the Panthers in week one, making him the 6th former Coastal Carolina player to play in an NFL game.
Eleven player with local ties are on NFL Opening Day Rosters
Atlanta Falcons - John Abraham (Lamar), Cliff Matthews (Cheraw)
Buffalo Bills - Tyler Thigpen (Coastal Carolina)
Carolina Panthers - Mike Tolbert (Coastal Carolina), Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina)
Chicago Bears - Ryan Quigley (North Myrtle Beach)
Cincinnati Bengals - Robert Geathers, Jr. (Carvers Bay)
Denver Broncos - Robert Ayers (Marlboro County)
Detroit Lions - Justin Durant (Wilson)
Minnesota Vikings - Jerome Simpson (Coastal Carolina)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Lawrence Timmons (Wilson)
Local Players on NFL Practice Squads
Buffalo Bills - Clifton Geathers (Carvers Bay)
Green Bay Packers - Brandon Bostick (West Florence)
Kansas City Chiefs - Junior Hemingway (Conway)
Pittsburgh Steelers - Marshall McFadden (Lamar)
WPDE All Zone Draft Picks History
2007 1st round - #15 - Lawrence Timmons (Wilson HS - Pittsburgh Steelers)
2009 1st Round - #18 - Robert Ayers (Marlboro County HS - Denver Broncos)
2007 2nd Round - #48 - Justin Durant (Wilson HS - Jacksonville Jaguars)
2007 3rd Round - #95 - Anthony Waters (Lake View HS - San Diego Chargers)
2004 4th Round - #117 - Robert Geathers, Jr. (Carvers Bay - Cincinnati Bengals)
2007 4th Round - #123 - Fred Bennett (Manning HS - Houston Texans)
2007 5th Round - #163 - Brandon Frye (Myrtle Beach HS - Houston Texans)
2009 5th Round - #166 - Michael Hamlin (Lamar HS - Dallas Cowboys)
2010 6th Round - #186 - Clifton Geathers (Carvers Bay - Cleveland Browns)
2011 7th Round - #230 - Cifff Matthews (Cheraw - Atlanta Falcons)
2012 7th Round - #238 - Junior Hemingway (Conway - Kansas City Chiefs)
2008 7th Round - #240 - Allen Patrick (Conway - Baltimore Ravens)
Coastal Carolina NFL Draft History
2007 7th round - #217 - Tyler Thigpen (Minnesota Vikings)
2008 2nd round - #46 - Jerome Simpson (Cincinnati Bengals)
2012 5th round - #143 - Josh Norman (Carolina Panthers)
Undrafted WPDE-All Zoners who played in the NFL
Quinton Teal (Marlboro County) - Panthers/Chargers
