2018 fourth-round draft choice and NFL Combine phenomenon Troy Apke, was released by the Commanders Wednesday.
Apke who actually was not overly productive at Penn State turned heads at the 2018 Combine when he ran a 4.34 40. Hall of Famer and former NFL corner back Deion Sanders audibly marveled at the speed of Apke.
What also caused the stock of Apke to suddenly rise was the fact he brought size with his speed, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 198 pounds. Apke then went out and recorded a 41-inch vertical, 4.03 Shuttle, 6.56 3 Cone and 131-inch broad jump.
The then-Redskins brass could not resist, selecting Apke in the fourth round, No. 109 overall. Apke immediately showed promise on special teams because of his athleticism, but injury reduced him to only 2 games and 22 special team snaps his rookie season.
In 2019, Apke shined on special teams in kickoff and punt coverage. Yet he was only able to break into 20 percent of the defensive snaps.
With the Ron Rivera era launching in 2020, Apke became a starter at free safety. But after seven games, the former Nittany Lion lost his starting job and was again reduced to special teams for the remainder of the season and all of 2021.
Released on August 16 during the 2022 preseason, he went unsigned by any other NFL franchise until Washington signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 1.
