While the NFL roster reductions brought unwelcomed news for some former South Florida players trying to stay in the league, the news wasn't all bad.
Offensive lineman Donovan Jennings, who played 53 games at USF from 2018-2023, seems to have solidified his position with the Green Bay Packers.
He grew up in Tampa and played for Gaither High School before signing with the Bulls. He joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and spent the year on the practice squad before making the 53-man roster in 2025.
He appeared in two games for the Packers before being placed on injured reserve with a throat injury suffered in practice. Fully recovered now, he appears to be slotted as the backup right guard.
He saw considerable action in the Packers' exhibition opener against Pittsburgh, logging 45 snaps.
“He played under control,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “I liked the edge that he plays with.”
In other news affecting former USF players, offensive lineman Demontrey Jacobs, who played for the Bulls from 2020-2022, signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad after the team released him from the 53-man roster.
Jacobs played 15 games for the New England Patriots in 2024, including 13 starts, but was released after the season.
He played five games last year for the Cardinals.
Offensive lineman Bayron Matos, who came to USF as a basketball player but added football for his final year, was released earlier by Indianapolis.
And cornerback De`Shawn Rucker, who was a key member of the Bulls defense the last two seasons after transferring from Tennessee, was released earlier this month by the Detroit Lions. Rucker was trying to make the squad as an undrafted free agent but suffered an ankle injury in training camp.
Rucker and the team reached an injury settlement. He has not yet signed with another team.
Jennings joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent
And there is no immediate news about former Bulls wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling landed with another team after Dallas released him on Sunday.
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