ELON, N.C. -- As NFL rosters were cut to 53 players, two former Elon stars were awaiting their fates.  Former Phoenix offensive lineman Rodney Austin and linebacker Joshua Jones each have found homes on the practice squads of the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively.  Both had signed undrafted free agent deals prior to preseason camp.

Austin's senior season was limited to just three games due to an injury, but he was a preseason All-America pick as well as a preseason first-team All-Southern Conference selection prior to the 2011 season.  Following his junior season Austin was named a first-team all-league member by the coaches and was a third-team All-America choice by Phil Steele.  In his four seasons in the maroon and gold Austin appeared in 30 games, making 18 starts.

Jones was a fourth-team member of the Phil Steele FCS All-America team following a 2011 season in which he led the team with 112 tackles.  His 17.0 tackles for a loss tied for the most in the SoCon a year ago, while his 4.0 sacks led the maroon and gold.  Jones recorded 11 or more tackles in seven games this season, including each of his last five outings.  The all-league standout earned one league defensive player of the week award and was selected as the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Month for November in 2011.  In Elon's victory at Furman, Jones sealed the win when he returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.  He finished his career as Elon’s fifth-leading tackler in program history with 343.

Each NFL team can establish an eight-player practice squad by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 46-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during each of any accrued seasons. A player can not be on the practice squad for more than three seasons.