Squirewell
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Squirewell.jpgSquirewell

Wilks
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Wilks.jpgWilks

McDonnell
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_McDonnell.jpgMcDonnell

NEWBERRY — Three Newberry College football players have been invited to NFL clubs’ rookie tryouts this weekend, according to various reports.

Linebacker Taylor McDonnell and offensive lineman Hayden Wilks will try out with the New York Jets and Alstevis Squirewell will try out with the Green Bay Packers as a fullback.

McDonnell (Bluffton) is an ECAC All-Star, first team D2CCA all-Super Region II honoree, second team Don Hansen’s Football Gazette all-Super Region II honoree and a two-time first team all-South Atlantic Conference honoree.

He twice earned AstroTurf SAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and ranked second in the league with 58 solo tackles, fifth in the league with four sacks and led the conference with three fumble recoveries in the regular season.

He had nine solo tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks — with one for a safety — in the Wolves’ playoff-clinching win at Wingate.

Wilks (Chesterfield) was a third team Don Hansen’s Football Gazette all-Super Region II honoree after being named second team all-South Atlantic Conference as a senior. Wilks graded out at 92% with 57 knockdowns, not allowing a sack all year.

Squirewell (Great Falls) was an ECAC All-Star, first team D2CCA all-Super Region II honoree, third team Don Hansen’s Football Gazette all-Super Region II honoree and a two-time first team all-South Atlantic Conference honoree. He notched 50 tackles in the regular season with 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

He also earned AstroTurf SAC Player of the Week honors for his one-handed pick six interception to seal the win over Tusculum. That performance also earned him a nomination for the SBNation Piesman Trophy – the award for linemen making non-lineman plays. He will be trying out for the Packers as a fullback, a position he played at Great Falls in high school.

These three players join four active Newberry alumni in the NFL: Ron Parker (DB, Kansas City Chiefs), Edmond Robinson (LB, Minnesota Vikings), Brandon Bostick (TE, New York Jets practice squad) and Corey Washington (WR, Detroit Lions practice squad).

This release was provided by Newberry College.