All the NFL offseason workouts, film study sessions, organized team activities, and pre-season games have concluded, which means it is time to start the 2023 regular season Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Lions face the Chiefs. Insert the NFL theme song in your head here. The National Football League cut down day, where they have to get to the 53-man final rosters, took place last week, which also includes the 16-player practice squad roster decisions, which have been made as well.
The following is a list of local athletes who all prepped in the area, at one time, or another,, and made the cut, which includes Linfield Christian alumni Lorenzo Burns, Great Oak alumni Demetric Felton Jr., Heritage alumni Sione Takitaki, Paloma Valley alumni Matt Orzech (former Super Bowl champion with the Rams), and a trio of alumni from Vista Murrieta in Curtis Bolton, Caleb Johnson, and Khalil Shakir.
As expected, Takitaki (Cleveland Browns linebacker) and Orzech (Green Bay Packers long snapper), retained spots on their 53- man rosters. Also making the 53-man roster of their teams are Curtis Bolton linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders, and Khalil Shakir wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills.
Curtis Bolton, after graduating from Vista Murrieta in 2013, accepted a scholarship to play at Oklahoma University. Following a stellar senior season at OU, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention choice by league coaches and a second-team midseason All-American by AP, Bolton signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Bolton’s road to the opening game 53-man active rosters is a story of hard work and perseverance. He has been plagued with injuries that prevented him from realizing his potential.
He has been placed on five different teams practice squads over the last few years before landing a spot on this season’s roster. Bolton played in ten games with the Raiders during the 2022 season and secured a roster spot based on two impressive preseason performances. Bolton was the third highest-graded linebacker in the NFL through two weeks of the preseason, grading in over 80 in the games.
Second year Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir again made the 53-man roster. Shakir looks to follow-up on the success of his rookie season where he had 10 receptions, 161 yards receiving, and one receiving touchdown. Shakir’s college highlights include being a two-time First Team All-Mountain West selection while at Boise State. Khalil Shakir may start the season on injured reserve due to a rib injury suffered in the second preseason game, but his time there should be short lived.
Great Oak’s Demetric Felton Jr., drafted in the sixth round out of UCLA (2021), and in his third season in the NFL, failed to make the Cleveland Browns roster at running back. Following an All-Rookie Team in year one, Felton had an unimpressive second season and a subpar preseason, which led to him being cut. Felton was immediately picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals and was placed on the practice squad for the time being.
Linfield Christian’s Lorenzo Burns is officially in his first NFL season out of Arizona. Burns initially was signed by Arizona as an undrafted free agent in 2021 where he was on the Jaguars practice squad. Prior to making The Cleveland Browns practice squad Burns had success in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions retaining back-to-back season championships.
Finally, Caleb Johnson, a Vista Murrieta alumnus, made his way onto the New York Jets practice squad as an undrafted free agent. Johnson’s college career started at UCLA and ended with the Miami Hurricanes. At the NFL combine, Johnson displayed very good straight-line speed with a 4.4 in the 40m dash and an impressive bench press of 25 reps at 225 pounds. NFL scouts have said that Johnson has good instincts and intelligence.
Action Captures Media Group contributed greatly to this article. Follow them on Instagram at @ActionCapturesMedia.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
