JOURNAL SPORTS
Having one of the country’s oldest bowl games contested in Shreveport every December provides a college football showcase for the local community – and also a stage for some future NFL players.
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl was highly represented as eight bowl alumni were selected in the seven-round draft – including five players in the first three rounds.
The first Independence Bowl participant came off the board in Thursday’s first round, as former Houston wide receiver Matthew Golden was selected No. 23 overall by the Green Bay Packers. Golden, who caught two passes for 17 yards in the 2022 Independence Bowl before finishing his college career at Texas, was the first former I-Bowl player selected in the first round since Gregory Rousseau in 2021.
On Friday, four bowl alumni got the call. Former Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Trey Amos was selected in the second round with the 61st overall pick by the Washington Commanders. Amos started for the Ragin’ Cajuns in the 2022 Independence Bowl before transferring to Alabama and then to Ole Miss. He was followed by three former I-Bowl players in the third round – cornerback Nohl Williams, defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell and offensive lineman Caleb Rogers.
The draft concluded on Saturday with three Independence Bowl alumni being selected in rounds 4-7. Safety Craig Woodson was selected in the fourth round; defensive back Mac McWilliams was selected in the fifth round; and running back Tahj Brooks was selected in the sixth round.
The list of Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl alumni selected in the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Matthew Golden (Houston, 2022 – finished college career at Texas) – 1st round (23rd overall) by the Packers
- Trey Amos (UL Lafayette, 2022 – finished career at Ole Miss) – 2nd round (61st overall) by the Commanders
- Nohl Williams (Cal, 2023) – 3rd round (85th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs
- Jamaree Caldwell (Houston, 2022 – finished career at Oregon) – 3rd round (86th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers
- Caleb Rogers (Texas Tech, 2023) – 3rd round (98th overall) by the Las Vegas Raiders
- Craig Woodson (Cal, 2023) – 4th round (106th overall) by the New England Patriots
- Mac McWilliams (UAB, 2021 – finished career at UCF) – 5th round (145th overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles
- Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech, 2023) – 6th round (193rd overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals
As of Monday, five other Independence Bowl alumni have signed as undrafted free agents with NFL teams – defensive lineman Xavier Carlton (Cal, 2023) with the Chicago Bears, linebacker K.C. Ossai (UL Lafayette, 2022) with the Houston Texans, Ragin’ Cajuns offensive lineman AJ Gillie with Seattle, wide receiver Tru Edwards (Louisiana Tech, 2024) with the Los Angeles Rams and edge Tyler Batty (BYU, 2021) with the Minnesota Vikings.
Five more I-Bowl alumni have received minicamp invites from NFL organizations – offensive lineman Lucas Scott (Army, 2024) with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants, offensive lineman Cam’Ron Johnson (Houston, 2022) with the Cleveland Browns, long snapper Austin Riggs (BYU, 2021) with the Vikings, wide receiver Jimmy Holiday (Louisiana Tech, 2024) with the Giants and Lou Groza Award winning-kicker Kenneth Almendares (UL Lafayette, 2022) with the San Francisco 49ers.