Inside The Star
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Dallas Cowboys plan to sign UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey Jr.
He was in for a workout last week, and before playing for the UFL this season was with the Browns from 2019-2021.
He led the league in tackles and led all linebackers in tackles for loss, passes defended, and forced fumbles en route to earning All-UFL honors.
No details have been released as to how long or how much he will be signing for, but I would assume it will not be that much. We know how this team likes to do bussiness.
All-UFL LB Willie Harvey Jr. plans to sign with the #Cowboys, per source. https://t.co/ThlGN243kh
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 18, 2024
While Harvey has made a name for himself in spring football leagues in recent years, he also was in the NFL a few years ago as I noted above.
Could this be what he needed to relight that fire he needs to be a solid NFL player?
The Cleveland Browns signed Harvey as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and he was up and down between the active roster and the practice squad.
He only appeared in two regular-season games for the Browns in 2019 and two more in 2021, but was only able to muster two total tackles.
After the Browns waived Harvey for a final time in August 2022, the Battlehawks selected him in the 2022 XFL draft, and he revived his career from there.
All-UFL linebacker Willie Harvey plans to sign soon with the Cowboys, a person familiar with the situation said. He led the UFL with 76 tackles in 2024, including a second-best nine tackles for loss. The Dallas-area resident played for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) June 18, 2024
I will give the front office credit, when it comes to finding gems in the UFL, they have hit a home run with Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin. So until this fails, I will trust them.
Turpin came from the USFL, but you know what I mean.
in Aubrey's rookie year in the NFL last season, he made 36 of his 38 field goal attempts and was a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro.
Although Harvey did not have great success in his first stint in the NFL, sometimes it takes gaining confidence like he just led the UFL with 76 tackles in 2024, including a second-best nine tackles for loss.
We have no idea how this is going to play out, but with how underwhelming this offseason has been, at least they went out and got someone who played well recently.
Adding Harvey to the Cowboys linebacker room will help them, he adds depth for Mike Zimmer.
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