Milford Academy continues to shine, sending four athletes to the NFL in 2017
NEW BERLIN – Three former football standouts from Milford Academy have made their way through the college ranks to now sign with NFL teams – with the fourth being invited for a visit.
“We prepare them to go to the next level. What we show them here helps them get through what they’re doing and what they have to accomplish to get where they want to be,” said Milford Academy head football coach Bill Chaplick. “It is our history, I don’t have to dream about it, or tell the kid maybe you will make it. I can just give them a list of kids that have done it before them.”
That list of Milford Academy Falcons turned NFL players includes the likes of Cameron Artis-Payne, a running back for the Carolina Panthers; Shonn Greene former New York Jets and Tennessee Titans running back; Terrance Knighton, former Denver Broncos and current Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle, and the electric LeSean McCoy, former Philadelphia Eagles and current Buffalo Bills running back.
Notably, McCoy has enjoyed the most success at the pro-level eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the fifth time in his eight year career – first time with the Bills – finishing 2016 with 1,267 yards on 234 carries for 13 rushing touchdowns.
Milford also added a linebacker to their standout players to make it to the pro-level of the NFL – in Tyler Matakevich – who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft.
Now fast forward to the 2017 season of the NFL, and with mini-camps, and rookie camps underway, four new faces may be in the mix for some NFL appearances come the beginning of the 2017 season.
• Paul Magloire Jr., was scooped up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent to play linebacker – after posting two solid years in college, playing for the Arizona Wildcats.
“Magloire has crossed the country to find a football home, and based on his play the past two seasons, Tucson apparently fit the bill. He also looked for a position early in his collegiate career, starting out at Appalachian State as a quarterback (he was the New York Old Spice Player of the Year as a high school senior). He moved to running back for his second season with the Mountaineers in 2013 (2-9 rushing) before moving on to Arizona Western Junior College, where he was an All-American and conference defensive player of the year at safety (101 tackles, six for loss, two interceptions, three blocked kicks). Magloire started out at safety for the Wildcats, but moved to linebacker partway through the 2015 season, starting the final eight games there (72 tackles, four TFL). He polished off his career by leading the team with 81 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks,” reads the overview section of Magloire’s draft profile according to NFL.com.
“Pauly was on the 12-0 team (2012), he played QB (quarterback) and safety, he played great football. Had a great career in Arizona, was one of their top players. He has a real good shot of making the NFL,” said coach Chaplick of his former player. “He is a physical specimen. He is a guy that passes the look test when he walks through the door. He had about five teams looking at him before the draft. I am surprised he didn’t go higher.”
According to NFL.com, Magloire was graded at a 4.9 coming out of college, and weighs in at 227 pounds, standing at a height of 6’1”.
• Levern Jacobs, was swiped up by the Washington Redskins to possibly play wide receiver, as an undrafted free agent.
“Levern was a star for us, he was on the 12-0 team, with Matakevich,” said coach Chaplick.
Jacobs played four years at Maryland – following his completion of his 2011 campaign at Milford Academy. While at Maryland he racked in his best season as sophomore, catching 47 passes for 640 yards and three touchdowns. His junior and senior campaigns proved productive – pulling in 425 yards and three touchdowns, and 439 yards and two touchdowns, respectively.
Jacobs is listed as a wide receiver for the Redskins, weighing 181 pounds, and standing at the height of 5’11”, according to NFL.com.
• Tyrique Jerrett, was picked up by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent, to potentially play defensive tackle.
“Jerrett was an all-city pick from Pittsburgh who enrolled at Milford Academy for the fall semester in 2012 instead of redshirting with the Panthers. He was a top-20 prep school prospect nationally when he started suiting up for the Panthers late in the 2013 season (one tackle in two games). Jarrett earned more playing time as a sophomore (eight stops in eight games as a reserve) and then moved into the starting line-up in 2015 (eight starts in 12 games, 20 tackles, seven for loss, and two sacks). ACC media voted him honorable mention all-conference as a senior nose tackle (30 tackles, 1.5 for loss, sack),” reads the overview section of Jerrett’s draft profile according to NFL.com.
Jerrett, a late-bloomer to playing time while at Pittsburgh from 2013 until 2016, saw 20 total tackles, seven for loss, with two sacks – all during his junior season. Playing 10 games in his senior season, Jerrett managed 31 tackles, with 1.5 going for a loss and one sack on the year.
“He (Jerrett) played great for Pittsburgh. He was a starter for us (Milford Academy) on defense. He then went to Pitt and started real slow, but ended up being a two-year starter for them,” said coach Chaplick. “He has the feet of a linebacker, he is a great athlete for a guy that is like 350 pounds. He is the kind of guy the NFL loves. If he makes it the first couple years, he will play for the next 10 years.”
Jarrett was graded as a 4.92 coming out of college, and is listed at 335 pounds and standing at a height of 6’3”, according to NFL.com.
• The fourth, and possibly most intriguing Milford Academy alum that may make their NFL debut, is Dimitrius Smith – younger brother of the Cleveland Cavaliers J.R. Smith.
As of May 3, 2017 Smith was invited to the Rookie Camp for the Los Angeles Rams.
Smith played for Monmouth University, seeing action three of his four years – save his sophomore season where he missed the entire year due to injury.
During his junior campaign, Smith started all 11 games, was voted team captain, and finished eighth on the team in total tackles with 37. Smith’s senior campaign at Monmouth didn’t disappoint – as he started all 11 games while finishing fifth on the team for tackles with 39 and 6.5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks.
“He was a warrior. It was the year the NBA was on strike (2011-2012) so his brother (J.R. Smith) came to all the games. He would pop in my office, his brother was a fighter and Dimitrius was the runt of the litter. All the brothers are tall and big and Dimitrius is like 6’1”. Dimitrius was the football player but he played basketball also. Now he is like 320 pounds, he called me the other day to tell me he was going to the Rams,” said coach Chaplick.
As of Friday, June 16, there has been no indication as to if the four above Milford Alumni will stick with their respective NFL teams. Make sure to follow each player on Twitter. Paul Magloire Jr. at: @P_MAGLOIRE; Levern Jacobs at: @LevernJacobs; Tyrique Jerrett at: PITTMAN_54; and Dimitrius Smith at: @D_SMITH50.
Meanwhile, Milford Academy is coming off their second undefeated season within the decade – and is already well underway with preparations for the 2017 season.
I am proud of all of them,” said coach Chaplick. This upcoming season, coming off an 11-0 season. It has been one of the best recruiting classes I have had since the 12-0 team (2011). We are looking forward to seeing what these guys can do, and how bad they want to play football.”
“We prepare them to go to the next level. What we show them here helps them get through what they’re doing and what they have to accomplish to get where they want to be,” said Milford Academy head football coach Bill Chaplick. “It is our history, I don’t have to dream about it, or tell the kid maybe you will make it. I can just give them a list of kids that have done it before them.”
That list of Milford Academy Falcons turned NFL players includes the likes of Cameron Artis-Payne, a running back for the Carolina Panthers; Shonn Greene former New York Jets and Tennessee Titans running back; Terrance Knighton, former Denver Broncos and current Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle, and the electric LeSean McCoy, former Philadelphia Eagles and current Buffalo Bills running back.
Notably, McCoy has enjoyed the most success at the pro-level eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the fifth time in his eight year career – first time with the Bills – finishing 2016 with 1,267 yards on 234 carries for 13 rushing touchdowns.
Milford also added a linebacker to their standout players to make it to the pro-level of the NFL – in Tyler Matakevich – who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft.
Now fast forward to the 2017 season of the NFL, and with mini-camps, and rookie camps underway, four new faces may be in the mix for some NFL appearances come the beginning of the 2017 season.
• Paul Magloire Jr., was scooped up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent to play linebacker – after posting two solid years in college, playing for the Arizona Wildcats.
“Magloire has crossed the country to find a football home, and based on his play the past two seasons, Tucson apparently fit the bill. He also looked for a position early in his collegiate career, starting out at Appalachian State as a quarterback (he was the New York Old Spice Player of the Year as a high school senior). He moved to running back for his second season with the Mountaineers in 2013 (2-9 rushing) before moving on to Arizona Western Junior College, where he was an All-American and conference defensive player of the year at safety (101 tackles, six for loss, two interceptions, three blocked kicks). Magloire started out at safety for the Wildcats, but moved to linebacker partway through the 2015 season, starting the final eight games there (72 tackles, four TFL). He polished off his career by leading the team with 81 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks,” reads the overview section of Magloire’s draft profile according to NFL.com.
“Pauly was on the 12-0 team (2012), he played QB (quarterback) and safety, he played great football. Had a great career in Arizona, was one of their top players. He has a real good shot of making the NFL,” said coach Chaplick of his former player. “He is a physical specimen. He is a guy that passes the look test when he walks through the door. He had about five teams looking at him before the draft. I am surprised he didn’t go higher.”
According to NFL.com, Magloire was graded at a 4.9 coming out of college, and weighs in at 227 pounds, standing at a height of 6’1”.
• Levern Jacobs, was swiped up by the Washington Redskins to possibly play wide receiver, as an undrafted free agent.
“Levern was a star for us, he was on the 12-0 team, with Matakevich,” said coach Chaplick.
Jacobs played four years at Maryland – following his completion of his 2011 campaign at Milford Academy. While at Maryland he racked in his best season as sophomore, catching 47 passes for 640 yards and three touchdowns. His junior and senior campaigns proved productive – pulling in 425 yards and three touchdowns, and 439 yards and two touchdowns, respectively.
Jacobs is listed as a wide receiver for the Redskins, weighing 181 pounds, and standing at the height of 5’11”, according to NFL.com.
• Tyrique Jerrett, was picked up by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent, to potentially play defensive tackle.
“Jerrett was an all-city pick from Pittsburgh who enrolled at Milford Academy for the fall semester in 2012 instead of redshirting with the Panthers. He was a top-20 prep school prospect nationally when he started suiting up for the Panthers late in the 2013 season (one tackle in two games). Jarrett earned more playing time as a sophomore (eight stops in eight games as a reserve) and then moved into the starting line-up in 2015 (eight starts in 12 games, 20 tackles, seven for loss, and two sacks). ACC media voted him honorable mention all-conference as a senior nose tackle (30 tackles, 1.5 for loss, sack),” reads the overview section of Jerrett’s draft profile according to NFL.com.
Jerrett, a late-bloomer to playing time while at Pittsburgh from 2013 until 2016, saw 20 total tackles, seven for loss, with two sacks – all during his junior season. Playing 10 games in his senior season, Jerrett managed 31 tackles, with 1.5 going for a loss and one sack on the year.
“He (Jerrett) played great for Pittsburgh. He was a starter for us (Milford Academy) on defense. He then went to Pitt and started real slow, but ended up being a two-year starter for them,” said coach Chaplick. “He has the feet of a linebacker, he is a great athlete for a guy that is like 350 pounds. He is the kind of guy the NFL loves. If he makes it the first couple years, he will play for the next 10 years.”
Jarrett was graded as a 4.92 coming out of college, and is listed at 335 pounds and standing at a height of 6’3”, according to NFL.com.
• The fourth, and possibly most intriguing Milford Academy alum that may make their NFL debut, is Dimitrius Smith – younger brother of the Cleveland Cavaliers J.R. Smith.
As of May 3, 2017 Smith was invited to the Rookie Camp for the Los Angeles Rams.
Smith played for Monmouth University, seeing action three of his four years – save his sophomore season where he missed the entire year due to injury.
During his junior campaign, Smith started all 11 games, was voted team captain, and finished eighth on the team in total tackles with 37. Smith’s senior campaign at Monmouth didn’t disappoint – as he started all 11 games while finishing fifth on the team for tackles with 39 and 6.5 for loss, with 1.5 sacks.
“He was a warrior. It was the year the NBA was on strike (2011-2012) so his brother (J.R. Smith) came to all the games. He would pop in my office, his brother was a fighter and Dimitrius was the runt of the litter. All the brothers are tall and big and Dimitrius is like 6’1”. Dimitrius was the football player but he played basketball also. Now he is like 320 pounds, he called me the other day to tell me he was going to the Rams,” said coach Chaplick.
As of Friday, June 16, there has been no indication as to if the four above Milford Alumni will stick with their respective NFL teams. Make sure to follow each player on Twitter. Paul Magloire Jr. at: @P_MAGLOIRE; Levern Jacobs at: @LevernJacobs; Tyrique Jerrett at: PITTMAN_54; and Dimitrius Smith at: @D_SMITH50.
Meanwhile, Milford Academy is coming off their second undefeated season within the decade – and is already well underway with preparations for the 2017 season.
I am proud of all of them,” said coach Chaplick. This upcoming season, coming off an 11-0 season. It has been one of the best recruiting classes I have had since the 12-0 team (2011). We are looking forward to seeing what these guys can do, and how bad they want to play football.”
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