BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three former Southwestern Athletic Conference football student-athletes put time in on the gridiron Sunday afternoon in their respective NFL regular season openers. League rookie and Alabama State standout Isaiah Crowell earned his first professional touchdown, Grambling State’s Jason Hatcher recorded his first sack as a Washington Redskin, and Terron Armstead from Arkansas-Pine Bluff helped the New Orleans Saints outrun the Atlanta Falcons.
Crowell, a running back with the Cleveland Browns, grinded out both the team’s rushing touchdowns. He went 32 yards on five carries to finish third on the team. His longest run of the day was 16 yards, but the Browns fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-27 on a 33 yard field goal as time expired.
Hatcher is entering his ninth season in the league and first season with Washington. The defensive end recorded the Redskin’s lone sack and finished tied for second with five total tackles. But the Texans defense held the Redskins off the board in the second half to earn the 17-6 win.
Armstead returned to his spot at left tackle securing the edge for the Saints. He and the offensive line moved the pile and provided enough room for the New Orleans backs to earn a game-high 131 yards in fewer carries than the Falcons. Unfortunately, they would also fall to a last minute field goal, 37-34.
This week Larry Donnell (Grambling State) and the New York Giants open their season on Monday Night Football. On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks and Tavaris Jackson (Alabama State) take on the San Diego Chargers, the Redskins are home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Giants host the Arizona Cardinals, and the Browns host the Saints.
