The 2018 The Spring League season was the second overall in league history, which was played in Round Rock, Texas.
| 2018 The Spring League season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | The Spring League |
| Sport | American football |
| Duration | April 7 – 12 |
| Number of games | 2 per team |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| TV partner(s) | B/R Live |
| Season champions | West |
| Season MVP | Bryan Scott[1] |
On December 7, 2017, The Spring League announced it would play its second season in Austin, Texas beginning in late March 2018. The league was also to have a football-specific tech forum and a joint internship program with the University of Texas’ Center for Sports Leadership & Innovation.[2] Turner Sports announced in mid-January 2018, while the league games would be on its new streaming service B/R Live, the league was also finalizing a deal to practice and play games at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas.[3] On March 3, the league did not execute on the contract to play the 2018 season at the Circuit of the Americas and instead announced events to take place at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock.[4]
Players
editThe league had try-outs in various cities in October and November 2017 and February 2018.[5]
On February 14, the league announced the signing of Heisman Trophy winner and former Cleveland Browns first round pick Johnny Manziel to the league playing on the South team. Games to be played on April 7 and 14.[6] Other former NFL commitments to the league were former Cleveland Browns first round pick Kellen Winslow Jr. and former Baltimore Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro.[7]
Coaches
editThe following coaches were part of the 2018 season:
- Bart Andrus (West)
- Steve Fairchild (North)
- Donnie Henderson (East)
- Terry Shea (South)
Robert Gordon was the Wide receivers coach.[8]
Games
edit| Date | Team | score | opponent | score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 7 | North | 13 | West | 30 | [10][better source needed] |
| South | 7 | East | 11 | [11][better source needed] | |
| April 12 | South | 17 | West | 34 | [12] |
| North | 27 | East | 10 |
Standings
edit| Spring League 2018 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | PF | PA | ||||
| West[13] | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 64 | 30 | ||||
| North[14] | 1 | 1 | .500 | 40 | 40 | ||||
| East[15] | 1 | 1 | .500 | 21 | 34 | ||||
| South[16] | 0 | 2 | .000 | 24 | 45 | ||||
Signees to professional leagues
editThe following players signed with NFL, CFL or AAF teams following their involvement with The Spring League in 2018:
- Roman Braglio, a defensive lineman, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 6.[17]
- Defensive lineman Harold Brantley signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on May 18.[18] Brantley was released following the preseason, and has yet to accept a practice roster spot with Ottawa.
- Running back Brandon Burks signed with the Toronto Argonauts on April 16.[19] Burks was the first professional Spring League signing of 2018.[20]
- Tight end Paul Butler received an invite to the Oakland Raiders rookie minicamp, and was promptly signed by the team on May 7.[21][22]
- David Cobb, a running back, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 4.[23]
- Defensive lineman Breion Creer signed with the BC Lions on May 7.[24]
- Offensive lineman Quinterrius Eatmon was signed by the Carolina Panthers on May 14.[25][26]
- Defensive back Tyson Graham signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 17.[27][28]
- Marcus Henry, a center, was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on May 9, having been invited to participate in rookie minicamp with the team following The Spring League.[29]
- Offensive lineman Cameron Hunt was signed by the Oakland Raiders on May 17.[30][31]
- Defensive lineman/linebacker Kani Kema-Kaleiwahea signed with the BC Lions on April 17.[32][33]
- Johnny Manziel, a quarterback, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 19.[34]
- Defensive back Raysean Pringle signed with the Detroit Lions on April 18.[35][36]
- Linebacker/Safety Keith Reineke was signed by the Calgary Stampeders on April 23.[37]
- Tight End Beau Sandland signed with the Arizona Cardinals on April 17, reuniting him with Steve Wilks, his former coach from his stint with the Carolina Panthers.[38][39]
- Karter Schult, a defensive end, signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 14, after participating in the Panthers minicamp.[40][41]
- Taylor Symmank, a punter, was signed by the New York Giants on June 5.[42][43]
- Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro was signed by the Hamilton Ti-Cats on May 28, but released on June 6.
- Defensive back Dwayne Thomas was signed by the Hamilton Ti-Cats on May 18, but released on June 11 following the CFL preseason.[44]
- Defensive lineman/linebacker Lynden Trail signed with the Hamilton Ti-Cats on May 5.[45]
- Zach Mettenberger (West team quarterback) was signed by the Alliance of American Football's Memphis team by July 30, 2018.[46] Mettenberger was one of an estimated 40 players from The Spring League to have signed with the AAF.[47]
Spring League Showcases
editFollowing the April games another "Summer Showcase" was announced for July 2018.[48][49][better source needed]
The Spring League announced a "Fall Showcase" for Miami, Florida to take place November 6–9, 2018, which the league intends to prepare players for the AAF and XFL, which play winter/spring seasons.[50]
References
edit- ^ Al-Khateeb, Zac (May 4, 2021). "Bryan Scott, 'Aaron Rodgers of Division III,' ready to prove himself worthy of NFL". The Sproting News. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Lyttle, Kevin (December 7, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: NFL Spring League heads to Austin for 2018". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Media Group. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Lyttle, Kevin (January 18, 2018). "Turner Sports will live-stream pro football venture in Austin". Austin American-Statesman. My Statesman. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Livengood, Paul (March 3, 2018). "Circuit of the Americas punts Spring League". KVUE.
- ^ Florio, Mike (August 20, 2017). "Spring League to conduct tryouts in multiple cities this fall". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ Nathan, Alec (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel to Join the Spring League Scouting Event Amid NFL Comeback". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ Durkee, Travis (February 14, 2018). "Johnny Manziel commits to The Spring League showcase". Sporting News. Omnisport. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ @TheSpringLeague (November 16, 2018). "A very belated and a huge congratulations to #TheSpringLeague wide receivers coach, Robert Gordon, on his induction…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Bleacher Report Live". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "Game 1. #TheSpringLeague". Facebook.
- ^ "Game 2. #TheSpringLeague". Facebook.
- ^ Middlehurst-Schwartz, Michael (April 12, 2018). "Johnny Manziel runs for two TDs in second Spring League game". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "2018 WEST Roster". Facebook.
- ^ "2018 NORTH Roster". Facebook.
- ^ "2018 EAST Roster". Facebook.
- ^ "2018 SOUTH Roster". Facebook.
- ^ "TSL DL Roman Braglio signs with Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL!". May 6, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018.
- ^ "TSL DL Harold Brantley signs with Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL!". May 24, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
- ^ "Argos add running back Brandon Burks". April 16, 2018.
- ^ "TSL RB Brandon Burks signs with Toronto Argonauts!". April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^ "TSL TE Paul Butler invited to the Oakland Raiders mini-camp!". April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.
- ^ "Raiders' Paul Butler: Signs contract with Oakland". CBSSports.com. May 8, 2018.
- ^ "Riders add former NFL RB David Cobb | 3DownNation". June 4, 2018.
- ^ "TSL DL Breion Creer signs with BC Lions of the CFL!". May 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018.
- ^ Henson, Max. "Panthers sign four tryouts, waive Zack Sanchez". Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "TSL OL Quinterrius Eatmon signs with Carolina Panthers!". May 17, 2018. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018.
- ^ Williams, Charean (April 17, 2018). "Falcons sign Tyson Graham, Justin Zimmer". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Congrats to DB Tyson Graham, the 2nd NFL signing from The Spring League's 2018 season!". Archived from the original on April 19, 2018.
- ^ Southern, Dave (May 8, 2018). "Boise St. football player signs with Seahawks; other ex-Broncos get their NFL shots this week". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "Raiders Sign Guard Cameron Hunt". Raiders. Raider Nation. May 17, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "TSL OL Cameron Hunt signs with Oakland Raiders!". May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
- ^ Tsai, Stephen (April 17, 2018). "University of Hawaii alumnus Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea signs with CFL's BC Lions". Staradvertiser.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Congrats to LB Kani Kema-Kaleiwahea, the 2nd CFL signing from The Spring League's 2018 season!". April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^ Boren, Cindy (May 19, 2018). "Johnny Manziel is returning to football, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats". Washington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
- ^ Reisman, Jeremy (April 18, 2018). "Detroit Lions sign cornerback Raysean Pringle". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Congrats to DB Raysean Pringle, the 3rd NFL signing from The Spring League's 2018 season!". Archived from the original on April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Congrats to S Keith Reineke, the 3rd CFL signing from The Spring League's 2018 season!". April 23, 2018. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018.
- ^ Urban, Darren (April 16, 2018). "Beau Sandland Latest Tight End Addition". Azcardinals.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Congrats to TE Beau Sandland, the 1st NFL Signing from The Spring League's 2018 season!". April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018.
- ^ Bair, Cole (May 7, 2018). "Karter Schult attempting to land another NFL opportunity". The Gazette.
- ^ Rodrigue, Jourdan (May 14, 2018). "Panthers sign 4 tryout players, including a familiar name".
- ^ Eisen, Michael (June 5, 2018). "Giants sign punter Taylor Symmank". www.giants.com.
- ^ "TSL P Taylor Symmank Signs with New York Giants!". June 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
- ^ "TSL DB Dwayne Thomas signs with Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL!". May 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
- ^ "TSL DL/LB Lynden Trail signs with Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL!". May 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018.
- ^ Munz, Jason (August 1, 2018). "Alliance of American Football announces Memphis team has signed 28 players". The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ^ "Over 40 TSL Alum Sign with the AAF, as Another Exit Opportunity Arises". October 2, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020.
- ^ "2018 Showcase Roster pt1". Facebook.
- ^ "2018 Showcase Roster pt2". Facebook.
- ^ "The Spring League Expands Showcase Model Amid Record Demand". August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018.