A common thread among the group was that most, if not all, were team captains in college, all except Banks were in college for at least four years and four (Shough, Riley, Matavao and Diggs) gained experience playing with multiple college programs.

“Makeup, it’s really important to us,” Loomis said. “There are things that we look for – are guys team captains, have they been through some adversity and come out the other side of that, are they intelligent football players.”

Stutsman (6 feet 3, 233 pounds) was a two-time All-American at Oklahoma, started 37 of 47 games, produced three straight 100-tackle seasons and finished with 377 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight pass breakups.

“I bring energy. I bring intensity,” he said. “Any time I step on that field, I’m ferocious. I’m just going to bring that effort and leave it all out there.”

Riley (5-11, 194 pounds) was at Middle Tennessee State for three years and Louisville for three. In 55 games with 36 starts, he had 15 interceptions, 40 pass breakups, 159 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Riley can play slot or corner, he said.

“When you play on the inside, the majority of the time you’re affecting the play somehow,” he said. “Even if you’re not making the tackle or making a pass breakup, what you do as the inside corner – it’s basically like a linebacker, safety and corner in one position – so you’ve got an effect on the whole play 90 percent of the time. I can really feel like I’m in the game at that position.”

Neal (5-11, 213 pounds) left Kansas as the all-time leader in rushing yards. In the last two of his four seasons, he totaled 422 carries for 2,546 yds and 32 TDs, and added 49 catches for 471 yds and two TDs.

“I think I’m a patient runner that has great vision and great feel for different run schemes.,” he said. “I’m a make-you-miss guy but I can also use my power as well. I just believe, for myself, that I’m an every-down type of back and I can play all downs and be well in the passing game.”

Motavao (6-5, 260) split his college career between Oregon and UCLA and caught 74 passes for 998 yards and six touchdowns in 50 games.

“This last season I definitely showed my versatility, showed I can help in the pass game,” he said. “Not just only have my hand down, I can be a flex guy – put my hand down but also flex out. It kind of just showed my versatility as a tight end.”

Diggs (6-4, 257 pounds) was at Texas A&M from 2020-23 and Syracuse in 2024, where he started 12 games and totaled 12.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

Loomis said that Shough will compete at quarterback. Derek Carr remains the starter if healthy, but Loomis said the Saints liked the experience Shough brings, as well as the fact that he has overcome adversity.

“It’s the tape, the background, the interviews,” Loomis said. “I think it’s a benefit when a guy’s had a lot of experience and has a little maturity to him at that position.

“You get a player that’s a little older, so in some cases that might be a detriment. But I don’t think it is at quarterback. Every person that evaluated him, every person that talked with him, every person that interviewed him, the coaches that spent time with him really liked him. I feel really good about it.”