Training Camp is fast approaching and with each iteration comes a new group of underdogs vying to make the Eagles final roster. Some were undrafted, some have battled real adversity over the last few years, and others have just struggled to find a permanent home in the NFL. But every year, we find ourselves rooting for them. Here are five underdogs who have a real shot of finding a fairytale ending this offseason.
Boston Scott
The Louisiana Tech product was one of the Spring’s big standouts and as a result, Scott’s first full offseason with the Eagles is looking set to be an exciting one.
Mentioned in the same breath as Darren Sproles due to his size and skill set, the 5’6, 203 lbs running back averaged 4.8 yards per carry last preseason for the Saints, scoring a touchdown and amassing 121 yards on 25 carries, seeing time at both return spots as well.
Doug Pederson echoed that in May, comparing him to Sproles and often having him field punts during practice.
“We have a player [RB] Boston Scott, who’s been on our roster since the end of last season or halfway through [last season].” Pederson said during OTA’s. “He’s a guy that can kind of fill a Darren Sproles [role]. He’s in that same body type and same quickness. We’re working him in a couple of different situations as a runner, as a punt returner, and just kind of getting a feel for him because he wasn’t a guy we initially brought onto our team early.”
Scott has seen a significant amount of time as a punt returner throughout the spring and with a wide-open running back competition over those final two or three spots, having a ‘niche’ could well be the difference come late August. If Scott can provide a special teams spark, as he did against the Texans in week 14, then that will surely that will only bode well. If you partner that with his very unique skill-set that would almost mirror what the team is losing in Sproles, who is to say he won’t be the wildcard that sneaks onto the roster?
Joe Ostman
It’s an important offseason for the former UDFA, and he knows it. Ostman, who was one of the Eagles most valuable scout-team assets last year, faces an uphill battle to climb onto the 53-man roster, but if he can do so, his ceiling will rise dramatically due to the lack of overall depth at the position. Emulating Khalil Mack and J.J Watt, along with many of the elite pass-rushers faced last season, Ostman has garnered strong praise from Roseman and Schwartz since arriving in Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent, and will now have to prove he’s worthy of the hype.
This won’t be our first glimpse of Ostman, however. The former Central Michigan pass-rusher had a great preseason for the Eagles last year after going undrafted, rallying to amass 9 tackles. At 6’3, 259 lbs, Ostman tallied 45.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks during his collegiate career and his development on the practice squad has left the coaching staff purring. Will that be enough to secure him a spot on the final 53?
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