Football Foursome Earns NFL Free Agent Deals
May 1, 2017 | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Four former Tulane football standouts joined sixth-round draftee Tanzel Smart in pursuit of playing careers in the National Football League with Lazedrick Thompson and Josh Rounds signing undrafted free agent deals and Nico Marley and Chris Taylor receiving a rookie mini-camp invitation on the heels of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The foursome are going to separate teams – Thompson with the Arizona Cardinals and Rounds with the Chicago Bears with Marley getting his invite from the Washington Redskins and Taylor getting his invite from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Marley capped off his Green Wave career by becoming the school's all-time tackles for loss leader with 50.5, surpassing Kenan Blackmon's 50.0 tackles for loss from 1999-2002. The two-time, first-team all-conference pick recorded 14.0 tackles for loss this season and led the team in total tackles with 88. The Weston, Fla., native was in on 3.0 sacks, grabbed an interception, forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles to go along with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Marley started in 48 of his 49 career games and closed his time in the Olive and Blue with 37 consecutive starts.
Thompson was a four-year letterwinner who played in 39 career games with six starts at running back. He recorded 263 carries for 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns to go along with four career receptions for 35 yard, playing in all 12 games. As a senior, Thompson totaled 87 carries for 506 yards and seven touchdowns. He closed his time wearing the Olive and Blue with a career-best three touchdowns at UConn on Nov. 26.
Rounds, also a four-year letterwinner, played in 47 career games at running back and compiled 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns on 226 rushes. He also credited with 40 receptions for 288 yards and 29 kickoff returns for 516 yards. Seeing action in all 12 games his senior season, Rounds rushed the ball 125 times for 758 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with six catches for 84 yards. He posted a career day at Tulsa on Oct. 22, achieving a career-best 166 yards on 15 carries, including a career-long, 84-yard run, and one touchdown.
Taylor started 42 of his 48 career games. He his career with 39 consecutive starts. As a senior, Taylor started all 12 games at left guard after playing most of his time at Tulane at right guard. He anchored an offensive line that helped the Wave average 4.6 yards per rush attempt and 12.5 yards per pass completion. Tulane rushed for more than 200 yards seven times in 2016 and has rushed for 100 yards or more in 15 straight games entering the 2017 season. In early January,,Taylor participated in the 2017 College Gridiron Showcase & Symposium in Bedford, Texas.
The foursome are going to separate teams – Thompson with the Arizona Cardinals and Rounds with the Chicago Bears with Marley getting his invite from the Washington Redskins and Taylor getting his invite from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Marley capped off his Green Wave career by becoming the school's all-time tackles for loss leader with 50.5, surpassing Kenan Blackmon's 50.0 tackles for loss from 1999-2002. The two-time, first-team all-conference pick recorded 14.0 tackles for loss this season and led the team in total tackles with 88. The Weston, Fla., native was in on 3.0 sacks, grabbed an interception, forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles to go along with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Marley started in 48 of his 49 career games and closed his time in the Olive and Blue with 37 consecutive starts.
Thompson was a four-year letterwinner who played in 39 career games with six starts at running back. He recorded 263 carries for 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns to go along with four career receptions for 35 yard, playing in all 12 games. As a senior, Thompson totaled 87 carries for 506 yards and seven touchdowns. He closed his time wearing the Olive and Blue with a career-best three touchdowns at UConn on Nov. 26.
Rounds, also a four-year letterwinner, played in 47 career games at running back and compiled 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns on 226 rushes. He also credited with 40 receptions for 288 yards and 29 kickoff returns for 516 yards. Seeing action in all 12 games his senior season, Rounds rushed the ball 125 times for 758 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with six catches for 84 yards. He posted a career day at Tulsa on Oct. 22, achieving a career-best 166 yards on 15 carries, including a career-long, 84-yard run, and one touchdown.
Taylor started 42 of his 48 career games. He his career with 39 consecutive starts. As a senior, Taylor started all 12 games at left guard after playing most of his time at Tulane at right guard. He anchored an offensive line that helped the Wave average 4.6 yards per rush attempt and 12.5 yards per pass completion. Tulane rushed for more than 200 yards seven times in 2016 and has rushed for 100 yards or more in 15 straight games entering the 2017 season. In early January,,Taylor participated in the 2017 College Gridiron Showcase & Symposium in Bedford, Texas.
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