Timmy Gleason ‘28
Staff Writer
At the conclusion of the most recent Carolina Panthers game versus the New Orleans Saints, rookie Jalen Coker placed within the top twelve of the NFL rookie receiving yards leaderboard. This is even despite registering two separate games with only one target, which occurred on the very first week against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) and in a blowout loss versus the resurgent Washington Commanders (7-2). Coker’s impressive numbers, 14 catches, 222 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown on a dismal Panther’s offense is definitely a statline that should be noted. This is the same passing offense that averages only almost 177 yards through the air per game, and a mere 1,589 yards in total, which is in bottom ten among all NFL teams. Furthermore, with the trade involving a now Baltimore Raven, Diontae Johnson, the receiving corps is wide-open for either Bryce Young, or even Andy Dalton, to throw the pigskin to some fresh faces.
Jalen Coker, a College of the Holy Cross alumni upon graduating in 2023, had to go through the hard-nose approach to playing in his first NFL game. Coker signed with the Carolina Panthers in early May of 2024, but also was selected in the UFL, otherwise known as the United Football League, draft just a month later by the Memphis Showboats. After being waived, the Crusader alum was waived but then re-signed to the practice squad in a positive turn of events in late August. September would breed an official NFL roster spot.
Coker’s influence in Carolina’s offense is significant, but also brings in the question; what other Holy Cross alumni have had an impact in their first year in the big leagues?
Among eighty drafted players and several notable undrafted free agents becoming professional, there are several names that stick out and demand recognition for their contributions in their inaugural year. First, we need to turn the clock back to 1939 as Bill Osmanski ran rampant. Osmanski, a fullback for the Chicago Bears, totaled a league leading 699 yards on the ground, 7 rushing touchdowns, on a league-high 69.9 yards per game. These stats would grant him All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, which are selective awards and typically given to those highly accomplished in their respective position. Osmanski would follow his rookie campaign with two more pro bowl campaigns in a seven-year career. Another addition is New Orleans Saints’ running back Gill Fenerty. Fenerty, a 205 pound freight train of a running back amassed 355 rushing yards and 2 scores on the ground in the 1990 season. Due to his impressive showing, Fenerty earned majority of the workload for the 1991 Saints’, starting twelve out of a possible sixteen games and increasing his rushing total by more than one hundred yards. Other notable players include Eddie Britt, Doug Cosbie, Bob Dee, and especially current Detroit Lions’ receiver, Kalif Raymond, who has served an underrated role for the now super-bowl contenders.
With more repetitions in the tank and available due to personnel changes, it will be interesting to see how the rest of Coker’s season will unfold. In the meantime, I will be picking him up on the waiver-wire to stash for the long term to cash in my chips when he eventually hits the jackpot.
Featured image courtesy of The New York Times
Web Edited by Zexuan Qu ’28
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