FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 10, 2022) – A trio of former Northern Arizona Lumberjacks earned varying professional opportunities over the past two weeks.
Carson Taylor and
Matthew Kempton, members of the Lumberjacks this past fall, signed as undrafted free agents following the completion of the 2022 NFL Draft while quarterback Case Cookus took over as the starter for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL following his drafting into the league in February.
Taylor initially accepted an invite to the Carolina Panthers Rookie Mini Camp set for May 13 to 15 on May 1 and accepted another invitation from the Chicago Bears a day later. With Bears Rookie Mini Camp held May 6 to 8, Taylor did not make it to Carolina's camp as the Bears added him to their 90-man roster following on Monday.
Taylor finished the 2021 season with 6.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in eight games played. Finishing his Lumberjack career with 47 games played, fourth-most in school history, Taylor totaled 19.0 sacks and 36.0 tackles for loss. The totals rank as the third-most since 2000 and the third-most all-time respectively.
Kempton accepted an invitation to his home state Arizona Cardinals' Rookie Mini Camp on May 2, beginning on May 13 through May 15. Kempton played in all 11 games during this past fall, catching 29 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown. The score, coming from 7 yards out against Idaho on Oct. 30, 2021, was his first since Sept. 29, 2018.
After missing all but one game during the 2019 season, Kempton returned to play all 16 games across the final two seasons of his Northern Arizona career. Delayed from returning to the field after the 2020 season moved to the spring, Kempton went nearly 550 days between games before playing in the Spring 2021 opener on Feb. 27, 2021.
Lastly, Cookus made his first professional start on May 6 for the Stars as they defeated the Michigan Panthers 26-25. Originally signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft, Cookus spent time on the rosters of the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders during 2021 before joining the Edmonton Elks for the remainder of the 2021 CFL season.
Drafted in the 12th round of the inaugural USFL Draft on Feb. 22, Cookus served as the Stars backup for the first two games of the season. Entering in the second half of Week 3 against the New Jersey Generals, Cookus completed 13-of-20 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. Starting for the first time since Nov. 23, 2019, the final game of his Northern Arizona career, Cookus led the Stars to their second win of the season by throwing for 190 yards on 22-of-30 passes with two touchdowns and one interception.
Cookus and the Stars will face the Birmingham Stallions, the lone remaining undefeated team in the league, on Sunday, May 15 at 9 a.m. and the Tampa Bay Bandits on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. Both games will be available on NBC.
