[Note by JasonB, 09/01/08 10:49 AM EDT ] The full practice squad has been announced.
LB Andy Studebaker, FB Jed Collins, CB Kyle Arrington, DT Mike Marquardt, WR Willie Reid, OT Chris Patrick, CB Trae Williams and WR Shaheer McBride
Patrick has bounced around the league to 5 teams since 2007. Reid was a star punt returner at Florida state and was a 3rd round pick of the Steelers in 2006.
The word is that both LB Andy Studebaker and FB Jed Collins have been added to the Eagles practice squad. I'm very happy to see Studebaker stay with the organization, I was very encouraged by what I saw of him in preseason and I'm really looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the next year. Collins would obviously be here to provide insurance for Tony Hunt should he not prove to be the FB the Eagles hope he can be.
[Note by JasonB, 09/01/08 1:06 AM EDT ] Studebaker is confirmed via
It's been confirmed that the Eagles signed CB Trae Williams, who was a 5th round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars this year. Williams comes from the University of Southern Florida, the same school that brought us JR Reed. Here is a quick scouting report on Williams.
Overshadowed by teammate Mike Jenkins, Trae Williams has quietly gone about his business, but if you ask opposing offensive coordinators, they will tell you that it was Williams who they worried about the most. Part of what many experts called the best cornerback tandem in college, Williams and Jenkins were largely responsible for USF's defensive success for the last three years.
With bookend cornerbacks, South Florida ranked 16th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2005 (109.38 rating), improving to 11th in the country in 2006 (104.26) and eighth in the NCAA ranks in 2007 (105.27). The two defensive backs would start a combined total of 85 games during their time with the Bulls.
Williams proved to be one of the premier coverage defenders in the history of the university and Big East Conference. He ranks second in South Florida annals with 16 interceptions and holds the school all-time record with 219 yards and four touchdowns returns. The school did not join the Big East until 2005, but in three seasons, his 15 interceptions (one in 2004 while USF was in Conference USA) rank third in league history.