Latest news with #SaintsPlayerofDay
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Josh Ball is the Saints Player of Day 79
Countdown to Kickoff: Josh Ball is the Saints Player of Day 79 Saints Player of the Day Josh Ball looks to resurrect career at a crowded tackle position. There are 79 days remaining before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season with a home showdown against the Arizona Cardinals. It'll be their 59th NFL season, but first under new head coach Kellen Moore after a 5-12 record last year. Offensive lineman Josh Ball currently wears number 79 for New Orleans. A late-season pickup in 2024, Ball is our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Josh Ball (27) Josh Ball (27) Hometown: Stafford, Va. Stafford, Va. Position: Offensive tackle Offensive tackle Height, weight: 6-foot-8, 304 pounds 6-foot-8, 304 pounds College: Marshall Thundering Herd Marshall Thundering Herd Relative Athletic Score: 7.80 7.80 Drafted: Round 4, 138th overall in 2021 (Dallas Cowboys) Round 4, 138th overall in 2021 (Dallas Cowboys) NFL experience: 2 years 2 years 2025 salary cap hit: $960,000 An all-state and four-star recruit at Stafford High School in Virginia, Ball started his collegiate career at Florida State. He'd earn a starting job at left tackle for the Seminoles midway through his 2017 freshman campaign. Expected to be the starter at right tackle in 2018, Ball was instead suspended for the year by Florida State for off-field issues. He'd transfer to Butler Community College for that year, then transferred to Marshall in 2019. That season, he'd earn the starting left tackle role by the end of the year. Ball earned 1st Team All-Conference USA honors with the Thundering Herd in 2020, starting all eight contests of an abbreviated season because of Covid. The Dallas Cowboys selected Ball in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, an ankle injury forced him to miss all of his rookie season. Upon his return in 2022, Ball appeared sparingly as a reserve at both left and right tackle through 13 games. A hip injury caused Ball to miss the entire 2023 campaign. He was released by the Cowboys at the end of training camp last year, but was brought back to the practice squad. Ball did not appear in any regular season contests last season. The Saints signed him to their active roster off the Dallas practice squad late in the year. Ball will try to resurrect his career by earning a swing tackle spot with New Orleans this summer. To do it, he'll have to beat out fellow reserves Landon Young, Josiah Ezirim, and rookie Easton Kilty behind projected starters Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks Jr.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80 Saints Player of the Day Moliki Matavao faces heavy competition for a roster spot. Today leaves 80 days before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season. New Orleans will start their year, 59th in franchise history, at home against the Arizona Cardinals. After a 5-12 finish last season, it will also be their first year under new head coach Kellen Moore. Rookie tight end Moliki Matavao will be sporting number 80 for the Saints through training camp. If he makes the team and keeps the number into the regular season, Matavao would become the 33rd Saint to don the jersey. Here's a look at his background as our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Moliki Matavao (22) Moliki Matavao (22) Hometown: Henderson, Nev. Henderson, Nev. Position: Tight end Tight end Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds 6-foot-6, 260 pounds College: UCLA Bruins UCLA Bruins Relative Athletic Score: 6.59 6.59 Drafted: Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) NFL experience: Rookie Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $865,418 A graduate of Liberty High School in Nevada, Matavao began his collegiate career as a four-star recruit at the University of Oregon. Over two seasons with the Ducks, Matavao caught passes 19 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the 2022 campaign, Matavao would transfer to UCLA. In his first season with the Bruins, Matavao put up similar numbers with 14 receptions and 2 scores, but an explosive 283 yards and over 20 yards per catch. Last season was Matavao's most productive, pulling in 41 passes for 506 yards to lead the Bruins in both categories. New Orleans selected Matavao with their first of two choices in Round 7 of this spring's draft. He is the first tight end drafted by the Saints since Adam Trautman in 2020 and only the third tight end drafted by New Orleans since 2010. Since 2003, the Saints have only drafted Jimmy Graham, Alize Mack, Trautman, and Matavao at the position. Matavao faces stiff competition for a roster spot. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, currently rehabbing a knee injury, have the top two spots essentially secured. Dallin Holker, Jack Stoll, Michael Jacobson, Treyton Welch, and Matavao will compete for probably one spot on the active roster and possible practice squad slots. While he has excellent size, Matavao is a better blocker than receiver. This will likely be the key to earning a job with the Saints in 2025.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Treyton Welch is the Saints Player of Day 82
Countdown to Kickoff: Treyton Welch is the Saints Player of Day 82 Welch looks to beat the odds and grab a roster spot with the Saints this offseason We are inching closer to the 2025 NFL regular season, with now 82 days away from the New Orleans Saints opening game against the Arizona Cardinals. It will officially be the first game on the sidelines for new coach Kellen Moore, as the Saints expect improvement from their 5-12 mark in 2024. Tight end Treyton Welch currently wears number 82 for the Saints. After a stint on their practice squad in 2024, Welch is fighting for a spot on this year's active roster. Our Saints Player of the Day now gets a closer look at his background and career. From Buffalo High School in Minnesota, Welch wandered west collegiately to the University of Wyoming. He played sparingly in his first two years, catching only 5 passes in 13 game appearances. In 2021, Welch saw more action and had 19 receptions for 163 yards and 2 scores for the Cowboys. Welch had 308 receiving yards in both 2022 (22 catches) and 2023 (31 catches) while scoring a combined 7 touchdowns. He was second among Wyoming players in receiving yards in 2022 and second on the team in receptions during the 2023 campaign. Not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Welch was signed by the Cleveland Browns. In three preseason games, Welch caught 7 passes for 53 yards. Cleveland released him at the end of the preseason. New Orleans would promptly sign him to their practice squad. Welch remained on the Saints practice squad all season and has yet to see any regular season action. Treyton Welch has a lot of competition to make the roster for New Orleans this summer. The Saints return starter Juwan Johnson, along with Foster Moreau and the versatile Taysom Hill. Dallin Holker also returns after spending his 2024 rookie campaign on the practice squad. Additionally, the Saints also used a seventh round draft choice on UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao and signed Jack Stoll in free agency. Welch was at his best as a move tight end at Wyoming, most effective as a receiver in motion or from the slot. He has solid hands and decent open field agility to turn some heads as a receiver. If Welch can improve his blocking and his routes as an in-line tight end, he just might surprise when roster decisions are made.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Moochie Dixon is the Saints Player of Day 84
Countdown to Kickoff: Moochie Dixon is the Saints Player of Day 84 Dixon may be the next undrafted find by New Orleans at wide receiver Today marks 84 days before the 2025 season opener for the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans will take on the Arizona Cardinals to start their 59th NFL season, first under new head coach Kellen Moore. Wearing number 84 for the Saints currently is Moochie Dixon, an undrafted rookie receiver. Dixon could become the 20th player to wear No. 84 for the Saints in the regular season. He's also trying to become the latest undrafted find by New Orleans at this position, as we take a closer look at our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Kelvontay "Moochie" Dixon (23) Kelvontay "Moochie" Dixon (23) Hometown: Carthage, Texas Carthage, Texas Position: Wide receiver Wide receiver Height, weight: 6-foot, 189 pounds 6-foot, 189 pounds College: SMU Mustangs SMU Mustangs Relative Athletic Score: 6.43 6.43 Drafted: Undrafted, 2025 (New Orleans Saints) Undrafted, 2025 (New Orleans Saints) NFL experience: Rookie Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $843,333 At Carthage High School in Texas, Moochie Dixon was the MVP of his district and an honorable mention all-state selection. He'd keep his talents close to home by committing to the University of Texas. As a freshman and sophomore with the Longhorns, Dixon was a lightly used reserve that caught 12 passes for 176 yards. However, one went for a 73-yard touchdown in the Alamo Bowl. At the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, Dixon transferred to Southern Methodist University. In 2022, his first year at SMU, Dixon had 26 receptions for 377 yards and 3 scores. He followed that up with 25 catches for a career-best 441 yards with 4 touchdowns the next year. As a senior, Dixon caught 21 balls for 386 yards for the Mustangs. He had only one score, but it was an 87-yard touchdown against Stanford. Over his three years with SMU, Dixon averaged nearly 17 yards per reception. The Saints signed Dixon after he was not selected in the draft this spring. A thinly built receiver, there is some question how effective Dixon will be in heavy traffic or against physical NFL defensive backs. However, he displayed excellent speed and big-play ability throughout his college career. At pre-draft workouts, Dixon turned in an impressive 40 time of 4.38 seconds. Moochie Dixon has his hands full to make the New Orleans roster. The Saints already have three explosive playmakers in Rashid Shaheed, Chris Olave, and Brandin Cooks along with up-and-coming second-year wideout Bub Means and veteran Donovan Peoples-Jones. Dixon will also have competition from fellow undrafted playmaker Chris Tyree. This is not to rule him out. The Saints have struck gold with undrafted wideouts several times. With a strong camp and preseason, Dixon could possibly add his name to that list.
