Two former ‘Cats make NFL debuts

Cailin Brophy

Last season’s Walter Payton Award winner Brian Westbrook has already made his mark in his rookie NFL season.

The former Wildcat running back, who broke Jerry Azumah’s record for all-purpose yards last season at all levels of college football, is picking up right where he left off during his last season on the Main Line.

Westbrook, now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, led the team in rushing in their season opener against the Tennessee Titans.

On eight carries, Westbrook amassed 42 yards, including a 12-yard run at the 6:56 mark of the third quarter, to get the Eagles in Titans territory for a first down. Westbrook was not the only former Villanova football player to see action in the NFL’s opening weekend.

Former wide receiver Brian Finneran, who is currently starting for the Atlanta Falcons, had two receptions for 20 yards.

Although both the Eagles and Falcons lost in the opening weekend, both these former Wildcats should be impact players for their respective teams.

The Eagles play again on Monday Night Football when they take on the Steve Spurrier-led Washington Redskins.

The Falcons will be back in action when they take on Chicago at 1 p.m. on Sunday.