Former crusader Brendan Webb invited to 49ers’ mini-camp
Former HCC players catch on with NFL teams
The University of South Dakota’s Brendan Webb, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end/rush linebacker, was invited to the San Francisco 49ers rookie mini-camp.
Webb, the son of Kay Harlow-Webb, is a 2018 graduate of Buhler High School. He studied sports management at USD.
The 6-foot-4 260-pound senior graduated from Buhler in 2018. Webb was on the Buhler team that lost to Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege 53-21 in the Kansas Class 4A Division I state championship game.
Webb was an all-state performer and three-time all-AVCTL selection in football.
He also participated in basketball, wrestling and track and field. Webb qualified for state in the triple jump, shot put and 400-meter relay as a senior.
Webb was named to the first team of the Missouri Valley Football Conference all-conference football team.
Webb has had a stellar senior year for the Coyotes in Vermillion, S.D. He has helped anchor the defensive line and leads the Coyotes with 10.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
South Dakota (10-3) defeated Sacramento State 34-24 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs and lost to North Dakota State 45-17 in the quarterfinals.
Ro Torrence signs free agent deal with Seahawks
Former Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon defensive back Roterius “Ro” Torrence, who played NCAA Division I football at Auburn and Arizona State, signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2024 NFL season.
The Seahawks released their UDFA list on Sunday.
In an interview with The Draft Network, Torrence said he attended the Arizona Cardinals’ local pro day workout and met with the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Torrence was Arizona State’s lone representative at the 2024 NFL Combine. He was considered the team’s No. 1 cornerback during the 2023 season.
Torrence, a 6-foot-3, 208-pound cornerback, was a member of the Blue Dragon team that won the spring 2021 NJCAA Division I national championship.
He was not highly recruited out of high school, so he signed with HCC.
“JUCO was tough,” Torrence told The Draft Network. “Everything you’ve heard about JUCO is true (laughs). Going to JUCO, that’s when I really found out about myself.
“That’s when I turned it up a notch from a football perspective. How bad do you want it? You’re going to find out. I had to make positive changes, both physically and mentally.”
Torrence was the 2021 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year and 2021 NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year for the Blue Dragons.
Torrence allowed only one player to catch a pass against him in the regular season. He made 28 total tackles, and broke up six passes. His only interception came in the NJCAA title game.
During the fall 2021 season at Auburn, Torrence played in 10 games and recorded five total tackles — one against Akron, one against South Carolina and three in the Birmingham Bowl against Houston.
Torrence also had a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Houston.
In two seasons at Arizona State, Torrance recorded 73 tackles and 13 pass breakups and had two interceptions.
Torrence is a 2019 graduate of Bessemer City High School, Bessemer, Ala.
He started his high school career as a wide receiver. After he moved to the secondary, Torrence helped his team reach the second round of the Alabama Class 6A state playoffs.
Torrence made 36 tackles and interception four passes on defense. On offense, he caught 23 passes for 599 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Bessemer City High for head coach Darone Fagan.
Tramel Walthour signs UFDA deal with Baltimore Ravens
Following the 2024 NFL Draft, University of Georgia and former Hutchinson Blue Dragons defensive lineman Tramel Walthour signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.
Walthour, a 6-foot-3, 273-pound defensive tackle/defensive end, spent the 2018 season at Hutchinson Community College and arrived at Georgia in 2019. Walthour spent five seasons at the University of Georgia and was the oldest player on the roster.
While he still needs to earn a spot on the roster, the 24-year-old Walthour will join a defense headlined by former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith and a defensive line anchored by Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce. He’ll also work with newly hired defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Walthour was a member of both Georgia national championship teams and was a starter for the second title.
Walthour played in 13 games last season for the Georgia Bulldogs while starting in five of them. He finished his career with 49 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He helped the Bulldogs win back-to-back national titles throughout his career.
Walthour came to Georgia as the No. 54 defensive tackle nationally and was No. 67 overall prospect in Georgia.
Walthour was a 247Sports.com three-star prospect, No. 48 defensive tackle nationally and No. 65 overall prospect in the state. He also was a Rivals.com three-star prospect, No. 37 defensive tackle nationally and No. 51 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.
“Words can’t describe how much of an honor and privilege it has been these past few years to represent the G,” Waltour posted on Dawgnation.com on Jan. 8 when he declared for the NFL Draft. “I am extremely grateful for it all. The bonds made and memories created will stick with me for life.
“First I want to start by saying thank you God for allowing me to be in the position I’m in today. I’m thankful for all the ups and downs. None of this would be possible without him. I want to give thanks to the University of Georgia for giving me an opportunity to live out my dreams. To the coaches and staff members that believed in me and poured countless hours into helping mold me to become a better individual, thank you all.
“To my family, thank y’all for all the unconditional support. I appreciate y’all more than ever. To my teammates, going to battle with y’all. day in and day out has been a blessing. I’ll cherish every moment we spent together, good and bad. I wouldn’t trade any of y’all. for nothing. Love 4L. Lastly, to the most ELITE fans ever, thank you. Thank you, Dawg Nation for the unlimited amount of support. You all have made playing in Sanford Stadium an unforgettable experience. With that being said, I am excited for the next chapter of my life. I am officially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.”
Walthour played alongside future first-round draft picks such as Travon Walker, Jalen Carter and Devonte Wyatt.
Walthour played for Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga., where he was a teammate with Georgia safety Richard LeCounte.
Georgia primarily played Walthour as a defensive end on early downs. Walthour played in 13 games this season for Georgia this season, finishing with 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 sack.
In 10 games during his one season at Hutchinson Community College, Walthour made 16 tackles (9 solos) and had 1 sack for minus 2 yards.
While at HCC, Walthour was ranked No. 40 nationally. He was the No. 4 junior college defensive tackle and the No. 13 JUCO prospect from the state of Georgia.
Walthour was an ESPN.com three-star JUCO prospect, the No. 44 JUCO player overall, the No. 6 JUCO defensive tackle and a member of the ESPN Juco Top 50.
Walthour helped Hutchinson to a 9-3 overall record, capped off by a 35-6 victory over Navarro College in the Salt City Bowl. The Blue Dragons were coached by Rhion Rhoades, who was succeeded by Drew Dallas.
Walthour majored in sports management at Georgia and was the recipient of the David Jacobs Football Scholarship and the Watkins Family Football Scholarship.
Two Georgia Bulldogs went in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, which took place on Thursday. Brock Bowers went No. 13 overall to Las Vegas while Amarius Mims was taken five picks later by Cincinnati with the No. 18 overall pick.
Three more Georgia players heard their names called in round two. Ladd McConkey was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the second pick of the second round. Kamari Lassiter was selected by Tennessee at No. 42 overall. Javon Bullard was also taken in the second round with Green Bay making the call.
Tykee Smith wrapped up day two action for the Bulldogs. Tampa Bay took him in the third round. Sedrick Van Pran was the next Georgia player taken when Buffalo chose him in the fifth round. Zion Logue was selected in the sixth round by Atlanta.
Iton, Matthews sign deals
Two more former Hutchinson Community College defensive linemen signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA) with NFL teams Monday.
Rutgers University’s Isaiah Iton, a 6-foot-3. 277-pound defensive tackle from Houston, Texas (Pearland High School), signed with the Tennessee Titans.
Rodney Matthews, a 6-1, 311-pound defensive tackle, signed with the Green Bay Packers.
Iton did not see action his sophomore year at HCC in 2020 because of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic after transferring from Northern Colorado.
Iton was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and was tabbed a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN. Iton was a member of the ESPN JUCO50 and was ranked as the No. 10 JUCO prospect and No. 2 JUCO defensive tackle according to 247Sports.
In 2023 as a senior, Iton started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the Rutgers Scarlett Knights. He totaled 38 tackles with 1.5 for loss and a sack.
In 2022 as a junior at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Iton played in 10 games on the defensive line for the Rebels.
In 2021 as a sophomore at Ole Miss, Iton saw action in all 13 games with two starts at defensive end. He registered 17 tackles with 1.5 for loss.
In 2019 as a freshman at Northern Colorado, Iton played in all 12 games with three starts at defensive tackle for the Bears football team. He totaled 20 tackles with a sack.
Matthews served as a team captain for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons during the 2019 season. He finished the season with 19 total tackles, including seven solo stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 10 games.
Matthews earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference honors and helped lead the Dragons to a 10-2 record and a victory over Monroe College in the Salt City Bowl.
Matthews was disruptive in his University of Ohio career, finishing with 71 career tackles and 14.5 tackles for losses, including seven in 2022.
According to hustlebelt.com, "At 311 pounds, Matthews brings phenomenal size to an interior defensive line. Mathews could contribute immediately in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme (in the NFL)."
Matthews earned Region 4A Defensive Player of the Year honors at Craigmont High School in Memphis.