Twelve Cardinal football players earn NFL opportunities

Bobby Okereke was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Twelve Cardinal football players earned opportunities in the National Football League (NFL) over the weekend. Five Cardinal were drafted during the three-day NFL Draft , while five more signed as undrafted free agents following the draft and two received rookie mini-camp invites.

JJ ARCEGA WHITESIDE was selected in the second round with the 57th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a wide receiver from Inman, South Carolina.

BOBBY OKEREKE was selected in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts. He is an inside linebacker from Santa Ana, California.

BRYCE LOVE was selected in the fourth round by the Washington Redskins. The former Heismann Trophy runner-up is a running back from Wake Forest, North Carolina.

JAKE BAILEY was selected in the fifth round by the New England Patriots. He is a punter from Solana Beach, California.

KADEN SMITH was selected in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers. A tight end from Flower Mound, Texas, Smith is the sixth Cardinal tight end drafted since 2012.

In addition to the five Cardinal draftees, seven others earned opportunities after the draft. Cornerback ALIJAH HOLDER signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, while offensive tackle A. T. HALL signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans. Outside linebacker JOEY ALFIERI signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, as did offensive guard NATE HERBIG. Wide receiver TRENTON IRWIN was picked up by the Miami Dolphins on a free agent deal, as well.

Two Cardinal earned rookie mini-camp invites: offensive guard BRANDON FANAIKA with the 49ers and center JESSE BURKETT with the 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Read more on the Stanford Athletics website.