Bowling Green Professional Athletes

The NFL's roster-cut deadline delivered a tough verdict for Bowling Green alumnus Connor Bazelak: the quarterback is out in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers released Bazelak as part of a wave of 20 cuts made to comply with the league's mandatory 53-man roster limit, according to Yahoo Sports. Bazelak was among a pair of quarterbacks shown the door, with Jake Browning also let go in the same roster trim. The moves signal that Tampa Bay was satisfied with its QB room without either player — a competitive reality for a position group with little margin for depth roster spots.

Bazelak, who played his college ball at Bowling Green before bouncing through the NFL's pre-season ecosystem, now faces the familiar post-cut crossroads: a potential practice squad landing spot, a pickup call from another team, or an offseason back to square one. At this stage of roster-building season, opportunities can surface quickly — but they're not guaranteed.

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The Rest of the Falcon Flock

Bazelak's departure was the most newsworthy development for Bowling Green alumni this week, but the Falcons' broader NFL contingent remains active across the league heading into the 2026 regular season. Karl Brooks is on the Packers' defensive line, Harold Fannin Jr. holds a tight end spot with the Browns, and OJ Hiliare is with the Falcons at wide receiver. Scott Miller is with the Steelers, Quintin Morris is on the Jaguars' roster at tight end, and Jordan Oladokun is with the Chargers in the secondary.

Whether any of those players face late roster pressure of their own remains to be seen as teams finalize their practice squads and make the last pre-Week 1 adjustments. But for now, the BGSU alumni picture around the league is largely intact — with Bazelak the notable exception.

For a program the size of Bowling Green, having seven alumni on NFL rosters entering the final cut period is a meaningful benchmark. Losing one to the cut wire stings, but the depth of representation league-wide tells a broader story about the program's pipeline to the pros.

Bowling Green Alumni NFL Roundup | Aug. 23–29, 2026

Connor Bazelak's NFL journey has hit another wall. The Buccaneers released the Bowling Green product as part of their early roster cuts after he fell behind rookie Jalon Daniels on the Tampa Bay depth chart. Bazelak, who had been competing for a backup spot, couldn't hold off the younger signal-caller and now heads into the preseason as a free agent.

It's a tough break for the former Falcon who has been on the roster bubble throughout his pro career. Bazelak showed enough promise in Bowling Green's system to earn an NFL look, but converting college production into a sustained roster spot at the quarterback position is among the league's steepest climbs — and Daniels, the rookie, apparently made that case convincingly enough for Tampa Bay's coaching staff.

Around the League

Bazelak isn't the only Bowling Green name worth tracking at the roster cutdown wire. The Falcons' OJ Hiliare (WR) and the Packers' Karl Brooks (DT) are both fighting for spots in what figures to be a competitive final-cuts process. Brooks, a disruptive interior presence, has been a rotational piece in Green Bay's defensive line room and could carve out a role if the Packers value his depth. Hiliare, a former Falcon known for his route-running precision, faces a numbers game at a deep WR position in Atlanta.

On the tight end side, Harold Fannin Jr. (Browns) and Quintin Morris (Jaguars) represent Bowling Green's most intriguing alumni storylines heading into the regular season. Fannin, a dynamic receiving TE, is worth watching as Cleveland evaluates its offensive pieces. Morris, meanwhile, has been a quiet but reliable presence in Jacksonville's offense — the kind of move-the-chains tight end that wins coaches' trust over time.

At corner, Jordan Oladokun continues his developmental arc with the Chargers, while Scott Miller gives Bowling Green a veteran presence in Pittsburgh's receiving corps.

The Bottom Line

Bazelak's release is the headline, but the breadth of Bowling Green talent across NFL rosters this August is genuinely notable for a mid-major program. Seven alumni in camps across the league speaks to the Falcons' ability to develop pro-caliber players — even if the margins for guys like Bazelak are razor-thin. He'll likely draw interest as a practice squad candidate if a team needs a developmental arm with legitimate college pedigree.

Watch for more moves as rosters trim to 53. Bowling Green's NFL contingent is still very much in play.