The NFL Preseason is halfway over and we are still waiting for results from some players and raving about others who have played their way onto possible roster spots.
Former D2 football players are in no different a situation, as many of them are still fighting to get on the final 53 for their respective clubs. The second week of preseason action doesn't really tell us much as it is another "meaningless" game in the eyes of fans and some coaches, but the coming weeks will really determine who will hold on and who will fizzle out of the NFL.
Take a look at the best D2 performers from week two and see who has positioned themselves for a big run in the last half of preseason play which has under 10 days left until the final cut down from 90 players to 53.
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Billy Brown, TE — Philadelphia Eagles
A converted wide receiver from Shepherd, Brown had a breakout game in terms of his production as he finished with four catches and 34 yards, including a long of 15 on one catch.
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D2's leading receiver in 2016 struggled in his first game action with ball control, even losing one fumble during the contest. But the former Ram rebounded in a big way to catch eyes of coaching staff possibly looking for depth at the TE slot or even a practice squad player.
Eagle fans are clamoring for the rookie to make it on the final roster for fear he may not make it to their practice squad. Two more solid weeks from the undrafted rookie should cement his place as a camp darling and possibly the fourth tight end on the Phildelphia roster.
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Delanie Walker, TE — Tennessee Titans
What a week it was to be a tight end from a D2 school, as the Central Missouri product showed once again why he will be an important part of the Titans' success in 2017.
Only catching one pass for four yards, Walker made the most of his opportunities with a touchdown on that one catch. This was no ordinary reception either, as the 12-year veteran leapt into the air and came down in the back left corner on a pass from Marcus Mariota for the score.
This @delaniewalker82 touchdown means we are another weekend closer to #NFL kick-off…and we can't wait! #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/p45eJwhj74
— CENTURION360 (@CENTURION360) August 21, 2017
Having the four best seasons of his career once he came to Tennessee from San Francisco in 2013, Walker should put up steady numbers yet again as the safety blanket for Mariota, and possibly receive a Pro Bowl nod for his work.
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Alex Armah, FB — Carolina Panthers
A sixth-round pick out of West Georgia in the 2017 Draft, Armah is fighting his way onto the Panthers' roster as the lone fullback with a standout performance against the Titans in week two.
The collegiate defender and runner only had one touch in the contest, but shone brightest of all the Carolina players with a 20-yard catch and run into the endzone. A simple out-route into the flat zone got Armah open near a linebacker and the speed for the fullback carried him into the pylons.
Alex Armah with a great kick out block for a log gain. Followed by a catch and run for a TD pic.twitter.com/LJbK7OZL6H
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 19, 2017
A fullback is not a sexy position, but it is the second time in as many weeks we have mentioned a standout fullback after CJ Ham had a good game for the Vikings in week one. An old school position not valied by many teams anymore, Armah is proving he deserves a shot to stick and be a key cog for Cam Newton's squad this season.
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Donatello Brown and DaQuan Holmes, DB — Green Bay Packers
A two-for-one special here as two former D2 defensive backs made some plays for the Packers this week when visiting Washington.
Holmes, a rookie from American International, made three tackles and recorded a pass deflection in the game seeing some time after the starters exited. That pass deflection came on a big fourth-and-four situation for Washington that fell incomplete because of Holmes, giving Green Bay the ball with 1:01 left in the game.
Here's another adorable look at .@KAllenWBAY's daughter Bailey at #Packers Training Camp! pic.twitter.com/Xzrkmu7Y4O
— WBAY-TV 2 (@WBAY) August 15, 2017
Brown was not to be outdone, as he also had a pass deflection in the game to go along with two tackles. A fellow undrafted rookie from Valdosta State, this is the second week in a row — like Holmes — that the former Blazer has recorded a pass deflection.
It is unlikely that both of these players make it onto the final roster for Green Bay, but practice squad hopes for both are still very much alive. The Packers secondary was awful last year, so any infusion of talent should be welcomed by management to try and get another Super Bowl title.
