On Tuesday morning when countless pink slips were handed out to players across the NFL, edge rusher Thomas Incoom lost his appetite.
As an undrafted rookie, Incoom's odds of making Denver's 53-man roster were low. His nerves were at an all-time high, so much so that he skipped breakfast and practiced on an empty stomach.
Incoom did everything he could to make an NFL roster. He said it was up to the man upstairs to answer his prayers. If that was indeed the case, consider his prayers were answered. Incoom was named to the active roster, joining an outside linebacker room that features Randy Gregory, Frank Clark, Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper.
"It's surreal," he said after Thursday's practice. "I just kept playing and hoping for a shot. When I got the opportunity, I was so happy."
Like many undrafted free agents, Incoom's journey wasn't easy. As a two-star recruit out of Stone Mountain High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, Incoom didn't have a Division I offer, so he elected to play for Valdosta State, a Division II powerhouse.
Incoom, who was born and raised in Ghana before moving to the United States at 12, excelled at Valdosta. He totaled 39 tackles, 13 sacks and four forced fumbles in two seasons before the program's season was shut down in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, Incoom transferred to Central Michigan, where he improved his football IQ and strengthened his professional odds.
Incoom, who played two seasons for the Chippewas, was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference in 2022 after he recorded 56 tackles (18 ½ for loss), 11 ½ sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. His sack total was tied for third-best in the nation.
"You have a job to do, and you do it to the best of your ability," he said. "Everything is gonna take care of itself."
The 6-foot-2, 265-pound edge rusher went into April's draft projected to be selected in the sixth or seventh rounds. His name never got called. Incoom, however, managed to find a home in Denver. Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey said the team thought Incoom was a draftable player and had a vision for his role.
Incoom wanted to come to Denver because of the franchise's history with undrafted free agents. The Broncos have had at least one undrafted rookie free agent make the roster in 19 of the last 20 seasons.
Denver kept four such rookies (Incoom, running back Jaleel McLaughlin, tight end Nate Adkins and offensive tackle Alex Palczewski) on the 53-man roster this time around, marking the first time since at least 1997 that it has done so.
"I think he's got a lot of upside as a complete player," Mougey said. "He's another guy who came in and did everything we thought he could do and more."
When Incoom's nerves had settled after securing a roster spot, he immediately went to get breakfast. However, his appetite for success is currently unsatisfied.
"We still have some more work to do," Incoom said. "I'm here to win. This is just the first step."
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