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USAToday: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/09/02/nfl-roster-cut-tracker-releases-players/89759240/ SBNation: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/9/2/12769394/nfl-cuts-2016-roster-tracker-53-man-deadline

They start talking about him at the 2:16 mark: http://www.dallascowboys.com/video/2016/08/17/roundtable-camp-mvps-undrafted-rookies?sf33640595=1

IRVING, Texas -- The transaction was announced the day after the Dallas Cowboys' season ended; one of eight "futures" signings and barely registered. On Jan. 4, when Jason Garrett med the media for the final time, there were more important things than the signing of linebacker Derek Akunne. Akunne, a linebacker, joined the Cowboys' practice squad on Dec. 22, another move that went largely unnoticed late in a miserable season. He joined the roster in part because he was in the area and in part because he spent two months on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad before his Oct. 27 release. But he was far from the NFL when he got the call the Cowboys wanted to sign him. He was working as a cashier at Academy Sports & Outdoors in Denton, Texas, not far from where he went to college at the University of North Texas. "I was still working out, staying in shape but I just had a lot of free time and was like, ‘I might as well work, make some money,' while I was out," Akunne said. He would work out at North Texas at different hours, depending on his work schedule, but he experienced the Christmas rush at the sporting goods store. "It was crazy," Akunne said. read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4748823/for-derek-akunne-football-interrupts-real-life

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/8/30/9225131/2015-nfl-roster-cuts-tracker-75-man-deadline As of now, no UNT players have been in the first round of cuts. Hopefully this continues through the 3 PM deadline!

Offensive lineman Cyril Lemon signed with the New Orleans Saints, Derek Akunne went to the Atlanta Falcons and Antonio Johnson landed with the NY Jets. Great careers for all three of them and we all wish them the best at the next level! GMG This post has been promoted to an article

This post has been promoted to an article

Virginia’s Max Valles and Stanford’s Blake Martinez were named Linebacker Performers of the Week by CFPA, while Vigil shared honorable mention honors with Michael Johnson (ULM), Skai Moore (South Carolina), Tra’Mayne Bondurant (Arizona), Marquel Lee (Wake Forest), Derek Akunne (North Texas), Jovan Santos-Knox (Massachusetts), Christian Holmes (Mississippi State) and Zack Ryan (Ball State). Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865616295/USU-football-senior-linebacker-Zach-Vigil-recognized-by-College-Football-Performance-Awards.html?pg=all

Tough, tenacious, relentless – and fast. That's how Head Coach Dan McCarney describes Mean Green football's Derek Akunne when he's on the field. "Some guys run fast, but they don't play the game fast," McCarney says. "Derek Akunne plays one speed -- and that's full speed, all the time." This summer two magazines -- Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's College Football Preview -- listed Akunne as a pre-season all-conference first team linebacker. In 2013, he also made honorable mention all-conference linebacker, and he finished last season tied for second on the team with 90 tackles. Those who know Akunne say in addition to his passion for the game, he also has incredible character and a standout work ethic on and off the field. "He's been a model citizen, model football player, model student," McCarney says. "Any North Texas fan or alumnus would really enjoy having this young man in their home." Mean Green fans can see Akunne's hustle and drive in action when the 2014 UNT football season kicks off next month. The first game of the season is Aug. 30 in Austin against the University of Texas Longhorns. The home opener against SMU is Sept. 6. As Akunne prepares to start his senior year, he's hoping the team can build on the momentum it generated last year during a winning 9-4 season that was capped off with an emotional 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl win. Those nine wins were the most in a single season for the UNT football team since 2003. "We know the past, and we want to keep improving," Akunne says. "We want to just keep improving and make North Texas a constant contender every year. That's the goal." Family support Akunne was born in Dallas to parents who came to the United States from Nigeria for better opportunities and "so that we could have a better life," Akunne says. That heritage shaped him and his siblings -- two of whom are pursuing degrees in the medical field. "My parents are always on us hard to study," Akunne says. "They're always talking about the things they did in Nigeria and how they had to struggle. I think that really pushed us. We didn't want to make it so they came over for no reason. So we all wanted to be successful. That really pushed us and motivated us." Akunne's older sister is in nursing school at Prairie View A&M University near Houston, and his older brother attends pharmacy school at Texas Southern University in Houston. While Akunne hopes to have a shot at the NFL after graduation, he also is preparing for a future career in physical therapy. "I know they're really proud of us," he says. "They're really excited about what we're doing and our futures." It was his older brother, Clinton, who he looks to as a role model, who first turned him on to football after he spent most of his childhood playing soccer. "Usually whatever he liked, I liked too, or tried to do," he says. Aside from his brother's influence, he also enjoyed the physicality of the sport -- it was a nice change of pace from soccer. It was around the ninth grade when he knew he'd fallen for football. "I started realizing that I was actually pretty good," he says. "It started becoming really fun. At a certain point, when the majority of time football's on your mind in some type of way, that's how you know you really love it." He played for North Garland High School before graduating and enrolling at UNT in 2011 as part of McCarney's first recruiting class. Read more: http://northtexan.unt.edu/content/continuing-winning-culture-unt?homepage=1

1). As talented as QB Dajon Williams athletically, is he just not yet ready for prime time. First off -- he's just a redshirt freshman... so after his medical redshirt he will have 4 more years to play. I think sometimes we forget that, and his performance in the Idaho home opener game last season probably didn't help in terms of our expectations. Much like the Fall of 2013, Williams took UNT's first couple of weeks in Spring training by storm. He made great plays, plays that the other guys couldn't make. When it's just football, Williams excels. When it comes to the system and understanding a fairly complex Chico Canales offense, Williams can no longer just react using his instincts and athleticism to make plays. This leads to improvising which can lead to turnovers which we all know Mac utterly despises. read more:

http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1800&CONTENT_ID=228175

Here is what I am reading through the tea leaves in terms of guys UNT is saying should make an impact: Antoinne Jimmerson (RS Frosh at RB) - Heads into the season as the #1 running back to replace all time leading rusher Lance Dunbar. Possesses all around skills and is willing to hit the inside holes with power which has endeared him to the coaching staff. Carlos Harris True Frosh WR/Special Teams - Probably has received the most accolades of all of the true freshman class. Looks like he will be an immediate impact player not only at WR but on special teams. Lack of depth at WR helps his cause. Nick Schrapps - 6-2, 205 true freshman possession receiver that is getting heavy looks due to the lack of depth at the WR position. Chaz Sampson's stock fell and it opened up an opportunity for Schrapps to be the WR in waiting behind Chris Bynes. Derek Akunne soph at linebacker - Solid player who slimmed down and has added speed. Big Hitter. David Busby (true freshman at defensive back) - Guy that could be on the field against LSU. Comes from a high level program at Coppell where he was fairly dominant. LaChris Anyiam junior OL - Has size (6-4, 296) and was one of the higher level lineman recruits Dodge landed out of Allen. It looks like after a couple of years finding himself, the lightbulb has gone on and he is putting himself in the mix. Connor Trussell true frosh OL - A GoMeanGreen.com favorite, Trussell is battling to show he is ready to play now. Impressive start in the mix with the deepest section of the squad. Coleman Feeley (senior OL) - Feeley has been a starter before and will battle rising junior Chris Anyiam for PT. As of today Feeley is the starter. DeVante Davis (True Frosh DB) - One of the few freshman to receive accolades from the coaching staff. Very athletic and should make an immediate impact. Chad Polk (RS Frosh LB) - Beefed up to 230 in the offseason and has a nose for the ball. Marcus Trice (safety transfer from OU - Junior) - Very talented and as an immediate starter should make an immediate impact. Undersized (5-9, 185) but athletic. Will be interesting to see how he performs against the top teams on the schedule like LSU and K-State since he has played that caliber while at OU. Laramie Lee (soph safety) - Should start at safety alongside Marcus Trice. Up to 5-10, 189 and not afraid to lay the lumber. McCarney says we are more physical and talented at the safety position and this player is one of the reasons. Darrell Mason (soph DE) - Still undersized at 6-3, 233 (played at 205 last season) but makes plays and has good speed, quickness. His speed makes him problematic for the corner of the offensive line but his size makes him a liability on power blocking schemes. I expect him to have a breakout year. Lincoln Alexander (soph DT) - proved that he could play at DE last year and has now added size (6-2, 266). Could really emerge as a playmaker that is counted on with the Ryan Boutwell injury. Austin Orr (Medical Redshirt DE/DT) - Freak accident redshirted him last year. Now 6-4, 268 and could provide depth at several d-line positions. Boutwell's injury raises his stock. Feel free to add/delete comment as you see fit. This post has been promoted to an article

Orr also could sense the heightened level of competition on the defensive side of the ball, where UNT is rebuilding after losing several key players following last season. “It was very competitive,” Orr said. “It helped us a lot as a team.” The higher level of competition was good for several players individually. Thompson named tackle LaChris Anyiam as one of the players who has improved the most during fall camp. Anyiam is competing with Coleman Feeley for the starting job at right tackle. Orr singled out his backup Derek Akunne as one of the players who has improved the most. Akunne isn’t expected to bump Orr from UNT’s lineup, but he could challenge for a starting job at outside linebacker. “Derek is really athletic and fast,” Orr said. “He can play any linebacker position.” McCarney named safety David Busby and offensive lineman Connor Trussell as two of the younger players who have stood out. Busby will play this season, while Trussell’s status on the depth chart at one of UNT’s deepest positions is still up in the air. Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20120822-football-mean-green-turns-focus-to-competing-against-lsu.ece

After a somewhat extended hiatus from our post spring series on UNT’s roster, we are back at it today with a look at the Mean Green’s linebackers. When one thinks about it now, linebacker was one of UNT’s deepest positions in 2011. Zach Orr led UNT in tackles with 74, even though he missed the last three games of the season due to injury and was named second team All-Sun Belt. Brad Graham posted 52 tackles, Mike Stojkovic 48, Forlando Johnson 41, Julian Herron 31, Will Wright 31, Jeremy Phillips 21 and Derek Akunne 20. UNT was lucky it had as much depth as it did at linebacker. That depth helped the Mean Green get by in a season it lost Phillips for half the year and Orr for the last three games of the season due to injury. UNT lost Graham, Johnson and Herron to graduation, which is a significant hit to the Mean Green’s rotation at outside linebacker. Herron was one of UNT’s best playmakers. He had four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and 3.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2012/06/post-spring-football-series-part-8-linebackers.html/