Former Texas football LB/DE Malcolm Roach makes Saints roster
Former Texas football linebacker/defensive end Malcolm Roach got the good news this weekend that he was part of the Saints 53-man roster.
The latest round of roster cuts around the NFL were announced over the weekend, and some former players out of the Texas football program received better news than others. One former Longhorn that received really good news this weekend is sizable 6-foot-3 and 297 pound edge rusher/defensive end Malcolm Roach.
This rookie undrafted free agent that signed with the New Orleans Saints following the 2020 NFL Draft managed to make their 53-man roster, in an official team release that dropped on Sep. 5. The Saints had to be happy to snag the underrated Roach as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He was one of the better undrafted free agent signings out there earlier this offseason.
Moreover, in the same official release from the Saints that announced that Roach would make the 53-man roster, we figured out that former Longhorns teammate and second-year wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey would be waived. But Humphrey was picked back up by the Saints as one of 14 additions to the practice squad on Sep. 6.
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Roach was a talented, but inconsistent numbers-speaking, defensive end/edge rushing during his four years playing for Texas. He registered 130 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and three pass deflections, during his four years on the Forty Acres. But there were some injury and consistency issues with his game along the way.
Nonetheless, Roach has the gifted physical tools and get off from the line of scrimmage to make it on Sundays. There was never a doubt as to how his raw talent could translate in a positive sense to the next level.
Roach will be lining up along the Saints defensive line at some point this season alongside fellow former Longhorn defensive lineman Malcom Brown. In general, he’ll be vying for playing time alongside the likes of former Tennessee Volunteer Shy Tuttle, former University of Manitoba product David Onyemata, and Wyoming Cowboy Carl Granderson, among a few others.
The Saints are set to open up their 2020 season on Sep. 13 against former New England Patriots legendary quarterback Tom Brady and the divisional foe Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Texas opens up their season the day before, on Sep. 12 at home against the UTEP Miners.