The University at Buffalo football team doesn’t register on the national radar. Over the years, the Bulls have spent far more weeks in ESPN’s Bottom 10 than any Top 25 poll. Yet, former members of the UB roster are stepping up in a major way right now for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
Cornerbacks Ja’Marcus Ingram and Cam Lewis have both made standout plays for a Bills defense that entered the year with serious question marks amid key offseason departures and high-impact injuries. Linebacker Joe Andreessen may soon join the list as the group of notable defensive absences continues to grow.
General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott deserve credit for building the UB-to-OP (Orchard Park) pipeline. It’s a tree that should continue bear fruit in the years ahead as new coach Pete Lembo works to turn the MAC program around.
Buffalo Bills Getting a Spark From Former UB Bulls
Ja’Marcus Ingram
Ingram joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing his senior campaign at UB. The 27-year-old Texas native made a minimal impact across his first two seasons. He’s finally seeing more consistent defensive snaps, and he’s certainly making the most of the opportunity.
The corner posted two tackles and a pass defended in Buffalo’s season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals. He followed that up with two interceptions, including a pick-six, as the Bills rolled past the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
Ingram to the house. 😤
📺 #BUFvsMIA: @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/DxG541K8w8
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2024
His highlight-reel plays haven’t been a fluke, either. His Pro Football Focus coverage grades rank among the NFL’s best through two weeks:
A very early look at CB separation prevented and grade on ball pic.twitter.com/m3JtRjhAy7
— Jrfortgang (@throwthedamball) September 18, 2024
Ingram isn’t a full-time player because the Bills have Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford, a top-tier CB duo, patrolling the boundary. He’s leapfrogged Kaiir Elam as the No. 3 option, however, and that’ll allow him to feature in dime packages.
Cam Lewis
Lewis, who hails from Detroit, is in his ninth year in Buffalo. He spent four years with the Bulls and is now in his fifth season with the Bills. His versatility—playing boundary corner, slot corner, safety and special teams—has made him a crucial depth piece for McDermott and Co.
Sometimes he went the entire season without being elevated into a marquee role. It took less than a quarter this year. Taron Johnson, one of the league’s best nickel corners, suffered a forearm injury early in the Cardinals game. Lewis filled the massive void without missing a beat.
The veteran defensive back was particularly impressive against the Dolphins’ elite playmaker speed last Thursday, making quick reads to negate potentially big plays.
Cam Lewis sniffs out this play for no gain. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/LlmJ0onoCh
— BillsDigest (@billsdigest_) September 18, 2024
In today’s NFL, there are just as many weapons working out of the slot as there are on the boundary, but nickel CBs are still often overlooked. Losing Johnson had the potential to cause a massive headache for the Bills defense. Lewis has made sure that wasn’t the case.
He’ll face another tough test in the form of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk in Week 3, though.
Joe Andreessen
Andreessen was one of the NFL’s best stories of training camp. The linebacker was born in the Buffalo suburb of Depew and attended nearby Lancaster High School. He left the area to attend Bryant University before returning to Buffalo to play his senior season with the Bulls. His standout preseason allowed “Buffalo Joe” to earn a spot on the Bills’ 53-man roster.
Former Bull and current @BuffaloBills linebacker Joe Andreessen had some big news for the team yesterday!#UBhornsUP🤘 | #BullMarket📈 pic.twitter.com/xcSo3VVTqT
— UB Football (@UBFootball) August 24, 2024
Although he’s been inactive for the first two games of the regular season, that may change on Monday night against the Jags. Terrel Bernard will miss the contest with a pectoral injury. He joins fellow starting linebacker Matt Milano on the sideline.
Dorian Williams and Baylon Spector are slated to start against Jacksonville. Spector struggled in relief of Bernard against the Dolphins, though. It could open the door for Andreessen to see at least some defensive snaps in addition to working on special teams if he’s active.
“Buffalo Joe” perfectly encapsulates the new-look Bills defense: less prestige and less accolades but the same attack-the-ball mindset that McDermott has preached since he arrived in Western New York.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: Democrat and Chronicle
