NFL Eyes Former Monmouth Players As Training Camps Begin
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- This week marked the return of many of the National Football League's teams to training camp and with that return many teams have reached out to former Monmouth University players to workout in hopes to fill roster and camp spots.
NFL Veteran Chris Hogan (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) has been signed by the New York Jets, news outlets are reporting, while former Monmouth tight ends Shawn Clark (Potsdam, NY/Cushing Academy) and Jake Powell (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and running back Pete Guerriero (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) all received in-person camp invites. Clark will work out for the Indianapolis Colts while NJ natives Powell and Guerriero will join Hogan and work out for the Jets.
Hogan begins his 10th year in the NFL after spending the last two with the Carolina Panthers. He won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and has over 3,000 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. For the Hawks, Hogan starred on both offense and defense in 2010, scoring three touchdowns and catching a trio of interceptions.
Clark heads to Indianapolis after appearing in 40 games at tight end for the Blue & White. The 6'8" tight end had his finest season last year as a senior, earning First Team All-Big South and All-ECAC honors. He led all Big South tight ends with 18 receptions for 254 yards and four touchdowns.
Powell graduated in 2019 and was signed as an undrafted free agent by both the Saints and then the Giants. He spent time in the XFL before the league was forced to shut down due to COVID-19. The 6'4" tight end was a two-time First Team All-Big South selection and had almost 700 yards and six touchdowns in his three seasons with the Hawks. He appeared in 26 games for the Blue & White, starting 20 of them including every game of Monmouth's 2017 season that ended in the team's first NCAA playoff appearance.
Guerriero, who finished his junior year in 2019 as the nation's leading rusher in the FCS, also garnered an invite from the Jets. The running back amassed 1,995 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns last year, en route to being named consensus First Team All-America. Guerriero was named as FCS Running Back of the Year and finished third in voting for the Walter Payton Award, the highest finish for a Monmouth player ever. He concluded his career with 39 touchdowns in 34 career contests with 20 career 100+ yard games.
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