As we count down from 50 days until the New Orleans Saints begin their regular season in Atlanta, on September 7th, we're getting to know a little bit about those players who have signed on to bring home another Lombardi trophy.
Today, we take a brief look at the recently retired rookie Steve Hull, and offensive tackle Manase Foketi!
So, with no more ado:
19 DAYS UNTIL ATLANTA!!!
#19 WR Steve Hull (Rookie, Retired)
Steve Hull was picked up by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft, and announced his retirement from football this past Sunday. Hull sustained a shoulder injury which almost ended his football career during his junior year of college. As he recovered, he switched positions from safety to wide receiver, which he played during his senior season at Illinois.
After dealing with a number of injuries since joining the Saints, Hull was waived and placed on injured reserve on August 6th, and then tweeted out his decision to retire from the NFL less than two weeks later.
#69 T Manase Foketi (1st Year)
Pronunciation: Muh-NAH-SEE FOE-kettie
Manase Foketi was picked up by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M after the 2013 NFL Draft. He appeared in one preseason game for the Broncos, and was then waived by Denver at the end of training camp, and spent part of last season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. This May, the Saints picked him up in May, when the team was filling out the 90-man roster.
Foketi played for two years at Mt. San Antonio Junior College (Walnut, Calif.) in 2008 and 2009, then went to play at Kansas State for another two years. However, he missed the 2011 season with an achilles injury, and received a medical redshirt from the NCAA. After graduating from Kansas State, he then went on to play a season for West Texas A&M in 2012, before declaring for the draft.
As a senior, Manase started all 15 games for the Buffs, blocking for Saints RB Khiry Robinson, and was named a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Offensive Lineman of the Year award. As a junior, he started all 13 games as part of a line that helped the Wildcats record 200 rushing yards per game, which ranked second in the Big 12. Although he has done alright in the preseason, the Saints would likely have to suffer some devastating injuries for Foketi to even be considered for this year's final roster.
Contract:
2 yr(s) / $930,000. Average $465,000 per year through 2015.