(Photo: Seth Seebaugh and Bryce Mitchell/Wake Forest )
While football is back at Halas Hall, this will be the first time the media gets to see players on the field. It's rookie minicamp which gives us a chance to look at this draft class for the first time. But it's also an opportunity for a player to make a name for themselves.
Over the past few years, we have seen Tyson Bagent and Jahdae Walker, among others, make a name for themselves. Both had good rookie minicamps and used that momentum to go into OTA's and training camp. They eventually won spots on the 53-man roster to start the season. So who will it be this year?
There are some intriguing names to watch this year. A few players I'm watching are defensive tackle Jayden Loving, guard Caden Barnett, kicker Gabriel Plascencia, running back Christian Vaughn, and safety Skyler Thomas, among others. This is a perfect chance for any of those players or others on the roster to make a good first impression and at least make the 90-man roster.
With the Bears not having a clear option at RB3, there are a few guys who could make a name for themselves. As for kicker, Plascenia is a lefty kicker who could be valuable at least in OTA's. Then there's the defensive side of the ball, which still has the most holes to fill. A player like Thomas could earn some reps on special teams and fill a fourth safety spot for that defense.
The trenches will also be something to monitor.