Peoria native and prep football star lands back in the NFL
PEORIA — Former Peoria High defensive lineman LaCale London is back in the NFL.
The ex-Western Illinois University player signed as a free agent Monday with the Atlanta Falcons.
The 6-foot-5, 316-pound London just finished his first season with the St. Louis BattleHawks in the XFL. He had three sacks and 33 tackles in 10 games, all as a starting defensive end.
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London was an all-conference player and Peoria High Defensive Player of the Year in his final prep season. The Peoria native went on to play for Western Illinois in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He played 23 games in 2018 and 2019 for the Leathernecks and produced 7.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 68 total tackles and 43 solo tackles.
London signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears after the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent that season on the Bears practice squad.
London opened the 2021 season with the Bears on injured reserve, was released with an injury settlement in September, then re-signed by Chicago to its practice squad in November.
The Bears activated him onto the gameday roster for a Dec. 20, 2021 game against Minnesota, and London made his NFL debut when he played one snap.
London signed a reserve/future contract with Chicago in January of 2022 and was later waived.
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Earlier in his career, London played near 280 pounds, and was undersized as an interior defensive lineman. He was a gap occupier who started out playing junior college ball before transferring to Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks played him inside during his first season there, but they moved him out to edge rusher and linebacker as a senior and he blossomed as an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Former Peoria High defensive lineman signs with Atlanta Falcons
