Ghost stars of training camps past

Bobhaze

Bobhaze

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Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually be added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
 
Fun list. I remember most.

Of course, these where exactly as you say, they were fun in the preseason but faded quickly.

The Cowboys also discovered some legendary players during some preseason games or perhaps they already knew what was coming.

The preseason introduced us to some unlikely future stars. As a teenager, since 1970, I watched every preseason game or listened to the game on the radio if it wasn't being televised (rare).

I remember Drew Pearson having a very good rookie preseason as well as Everson Walls and Michael Downs.

Romo comes to most minds unless you go back further, like me and some of you.

The most surprising one for me was the year Bill Bates was a rookie during the preseason. He was violent, a fearless warrior. He wasn't fast at all, but when he got there, he brought the wood.

i also remember times when I was sure a player was going to make the team based on his preseason games. A RB would run for good yards and score a TD or two and I would think that guy made it. The next cut he would be gone along with the guy I thought he was competing against. I guess preseason games don't tell us everything.
 
Good list haze, I remember the Houston love, man did he ever not produce anything. My question with all of these players is where they given enough opportunity to be something with us having TOP players at their positions??? There's a lot of players we say "oh they're good, they can be good" well they have to have opportunities also, it would have to be in the worst sense that a starter would have to get hurt for several weeks for them to be called upon and used.
 
Parcells loved Woody Dantzler. Ross Tucker went on to have a pretty long career and now media, Stanback also now has found himself a nice career and Olgletree had some big catches for us plus played a few more seasons in the NFL so making that NFL pension!
 
Victor Butler DE/Rush LB from Oregon St
Kid would tear it up in preseason and was on the team for a few years. Then went on to play for a handful of teams for a few more years.
 
It seems there is always 1 WR who shines in preseason then falls off the face of the earth when the regular season starts.
I will say this, I think Flournoy showed something last spring. He played a preseason game against starters and looked like he could get open. Not a burner, but seemed to run polished routes. He didn't get much of a chance during the season and is never going to be a #2 or #1 WR. But as a 3rd or 4th, I think he could be effective.
 
I remember some DL and LB who made noise in camp and preseason and then were never heard of again. Names escape me but I do remember the hype.

That is why I never take anything that happens with a new player in camp and preseason all that seriously. One can hope but the vast majority never pan out. Just the way things are.

with comp picks there are 250 players drafted; and probably twice that many at least get tryouts each year.

So the odds are, with 1696 roster slots available, pretty slim that more than a fraction of the new players make a roster.

and of that number how many actually produce something worthwhile?
 
I love this stuff. Thank you Bob.
Sometimes, I like to go to pro football reference and look through stats from past seasons. I always notice players that I either do not remember or some well known players that I totally forgot suited up for our team. Here are a few from the 80's. Note: these are regular season guys.....not training camp or pre season guys.

1984...totally forgot that Hall Of Famer Harold Carmichael was with Dallas.

1984.. WR Waddell Smith. Who?

1986.....WR Gordon Banks. Wore # 87. Actually started 5 games that year. Cannot place him. You?

and then....this guy was on the roster from '85 through 88. TE Todd Fowler. Wore # 46. Had 17 career receptions. When I think Dallas TE's I don't think Todd Fowler!
 
Bobhaze said:
Who are the ghost stars of training camps past? Players who were little known long shots to make the team that were praised as “having a great camp”, made some plays in pre-season games, then faded into history in either a year or two.

Here are just a few of the names of training camp heroes of the past whose star burned out quickly:
  • Bo Morgan, RB (1997-98)
  • Jeff Ogden, WR (1999)
  • Woody Dantzler, RB (2002)
  • Ross Tucker, G (2002)
  • Phillip Tanner, RB (2012-14)
  • Terrance Copper, WR (2004)
  • Losaka Polite, RB (2004)
  • Skyler Green, WR (2005)
  • Isiah Stanback, WR 2007)
  • Kevin Ogletree, WR (2009)
  • Lucky Whitehead, WR (2015)
  • Rico Gathers, TE (2016-17)
  • Lance Lenoir, WR (2017)
  • Jaquan Hardy, RB (2021)
  • Dennis Houston, WR (2022)
  • Ryan Flournoy, WR (2024)
All of these guys had “a great camp” and most if not all faded quickly into the roster history books. Whose name will eventually added as one of the “Ghost stars of training camps past” this year? Who did I forget from the past?
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awsome list. Rico was a legend. in fans and in his own mind.
 
plasticman said:
Fun list. I remember most.

Of course, these where exactly as you say, they were fun in the preseason but faded quickly.

The Cowboys also discovered some legendary players during some preseason games or perhaps they already knew what was coming.

The preseason introduced us to some unlikely future stars. As a teenager, since 1970, I watched every preseason game or listened to the game on the radio if it wasn't being televised (rare).

I remember Drew Pearson having a very good rookie preseason as well as Everson Walls and Michael Downs.

Romo comes to most minds unless you go back further, like me and some of you.

The most surprising one for me was the year Bill Bates was a rookie during the preseason. He was violent, a fearless warrior. He wasn't fast at all, but when he got there, he brought the wood.

i also remember times when I was sure a player was going to make the team based on his preseason games. A RB would run for good yards and score a TD or two and I would think that guy made it. The next cut he would be gone along with the guy I thought he was competing against. I guess preseason games don't tell us everything.
Click to expand...
Good stuff PM.

Yeah it is both fun and amazing every training camp how many young, new players get pumped up as special either by the team or local media. Then the player doesn’t even make the team, lol.
Havic said:
Matt Johnson
Click to expand...
LOL! Ah yes, Matt Johnson. Should have had him on the list. Only Rico Gathers has had greater hype. Johnson was a legend based on his athleticism and practices but the minute he stepped on a field in game he got hurt.
 
Jaquan Hardy? I don't remember who that was at all. Not even the name rings any bells. I do remember Darius Jackson,Tyson Thompson, and Reshard Lee though.

Edit: ok from TIffin, I sort of remember him, only thing that stood out to me about him was that he was a slow guy speed wise. But pre-season seems to be a blank for me.
 
MonsterD said:
Jaquan Hardy? I don't remember who that was at all. Not even the name rings any bells. I do remember Darius Jackson,Tyson Thompson, and Reshard Lee though.

Edit: ok from TIffin, I sort of remember him, only thing that stood out to me about him was that he was a slow guy speed wise. But pre-season seems to be a blank for me.
Click to expand...
In 2021, JaQuan Hardy was our leading rusher in TC. Link to his PS stats:
https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/jaquan-hardy-player-stats?category=yardage&seasonType=pre
 
gtb1943 said:
I remember some DL and LB who made noise in camp and preseason and then were never heard of again. Names escape me but I do remember the hype.
Click to expand...
There was some guy in the Garrett era whose name escapes me... an edge rusher type... got a bunch of pressures and sacks and hype in the second half of preseason games and then IIRC didn't even make the team.

Good times.
 
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