A look at each of the Arizona Cardinals UDFA signings

 

After selecting five offensive players in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals focused on the defensive side of the undrafted free agents pool.

Out of the six players the Cardinals signed, five play defense. They come from schools big and small, ranging from Wisconsin to Yale to Sioux Falls.

They also a wide receiver that broke Antonio Brown’s touchdown record.

We highlight each undrafted free agent signed by the Cardinals following the draft, according to reports compiled by NFL.com.

Dennis Gardeck, LB, University of Sioux Falls

As a graduate transfer from West Virginia State, Dennis Gardeck was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award – the Small College Defensive Player of the Year. He was also nominated for the D-II Player of the Year award in 2017.

Gardeck had 345 tackles, 57.5 tackles for loss, 32 sacks and forced nine fumbles during his college career. He also had an interception.

Over the 2015 and 2016 seasons, he had 213 tackles.

At South Dakota State University Pro Day, Gardeck benched 31 reps and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. He had a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, according to DraftScout.

Alec James, DE, Wisconsin

Alec James broke out during his final two years at Wisconsin, starting 23 games over his junior and senior season, including all 14 at defensive end as a senior.

After being an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2016, James was named Second-team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten.

He had 52 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2017, both career highs.

Last year, Wisconsin’s defense ranked in the top-3 in the nation in several categories, including yards per game, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. James had five tackles and a sack in the Orange Bowl.

At Wisconsin’s Pro Day, James benched 26 reps and was just under 10 feet at the broad jump.

Deatrick Nichols, CB, South Florida

Deatrick Nichols, who played corner and nickel at USF, was named to the 2015 All-American Athletic Conference first team and was on the second team in 2016 and 2017.

Last year, his 56 tackles was third-most on the team. He also had four tackles for loss and three interceptions. His 12 pass breakups were the most on the team.

Over the last three seasons, Nichols started all 38 games.

Nichols posted a 40-yard dash of 4.44 seconds and a vertical jump of 37 inches at Pro Day.

Matt Oplinger, LB, Yale

Matt Oplinger was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 after leading the conference with 11.5 sacks and recording 42 tackles. He has played inside and as a rush linebacker.

That’s not all – Oplinger also caught a two-point conversion pass to help defeat Penn.

Oplinger’s 21.5 sacks are the third-most in the history of Yale.

At Pro Day, Oplinger had 25 bench reps, a vertical of 32 inches and jumped 10-foot-5 in the broad jump, according to Draft Analyst.

Ezekiel Turner, DB, Washington

Ezekial Turner was the No. 4 junior college safety prospect in 2015, according to the Baltimore Sun.

He only started three games during his senior season, but the 6-foot-2 defensive back finished fifth on the team with 55 tackles and had an interception and two pass breakups.

Turner was also active on special teams, being named the UW coaches’ special teams player of the week against Washington State.

At Pro Day, Turner ran a 4.65 40-yard dash, had 19 bench press reps and had a vertical jump of 30.5 feet.

Corey Willis, WR, Central Michigan

In November, Corey Willis passed Antonio Brown as the all-time leader in touchdowns in Central Michigan history.

He caught 23 in his career.

In 2016, when he played in all 13 games, Willis led the team in receptions (71), yards (1,087) and touchdowns (9). That year, he was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Second Team.

Willis only played in nine games in 2017, but he had 45 receptions for 669 yards and nine touchdowns.

At Pro Day, Willis displayed his 4.55-second 40-yard dash and 33-inch vertical jump.

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