NFL Preseason Opens with Four Former Hancock Stars on NFL Rosters

As the 2018 NFL preseason kicks off this week, four former Allan Hancock College football teams are on NFL rosters. Three of the four former Bulldogs were in action on Thursday. The fourth, rookie Malik Williams suited up for the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

Brice Price, a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, tied for the team lead with five tackles in the Cowboys' 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Thursday evening. The 6'3", 303 pound tackle missed most of the 2017 season due to an injury, but still recorded eight total tackles in five games as a rookie. Price played for Hancock in 2012 before transferring to University of Texas at San Antonio.

Fourth-year running back Cameron Artis-Payne carried the ball five times during the Carolina Panthers' 28-23 win over Buffalo on Thursday. Artis-Payne's longest run of the day was a six-yard gain. He finished at plus-one yard on the day. Artis-Payne has racked up 422 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns over three seasons with the Panthers. Artis-Payne was an All-American running back for the Bulldogs in 2011-12 before transferring to Auburn.

Josh Thornton, a rookie cornerback with the Houston Texans, defended two passes during the Texans' 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Thornton, who played at Hancock in 2012-13 before transferring to Southern Utah University, prevented a game-tying touchdown in the final 20 seconds. He batted away a pass intended for Chiefs receiver Alex Ellis in the back of the endzone to seal the win (see image below). Thornton signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent last August. He signed with Houston's practice squad in the middle of last season.

Williams, a rookie with the Atlanta Falcons, finished with 38 total yards in Atlanta's 17-0 preseason loss to the New York Jets Friday. Williams, who signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft, led the Falcons with 19 rushing yards on six carries. His longest run of the day was a nine-yard gain. He also caught three passes for 19 yards. Williams was an all-state kick returner for Hancock in 2015 before he transferred to Louisville.

During the second week of the preseason, the Falcons will host Kansas City next Friday, August 17. Dallas will host Cincinnati, the Texans battle the 49ers and Dallas hosts Cincinnati on Saturday, August 18.