D-3 Players in the Pros

PA_wesleyfan · September 01, 2008, 12:57:17 PM

Here is the up to date practice squads list

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/01/practice-squads-as-of-september-1/

reality check · September 01, 2008, 11:24:56 PM

It's not the pros but I just heard while watching the Tennessee/UCLA game that new Tennessee OC Dave Clawson is a Williams graduate who played football and basketball for them in his day.

K-Mack · September 01, 2008, 11:26:05 PM

I'm a gratuitous re-poster, but also this seems like a handy place for this well put-together roundup off D3football.com's front page. Use it as your FAQ/reference guide:

Garcon makes Colts roster
The list of Division III football players in the NFL has had a bit of turnover in the past couple of years. No longer are R-Kal Truluck and Clint Kriewaldt two of the main standard-bearers for D-III and there are definitely some new faces.

Chief among them is Mount Union's Pierre Garcon. The second Division III player drafted in April, the sixth-round pick is the only rookie who has made an active roster heading into the NFL regular season. Garcon caught seven passes for 74 yards with the Indianapolis Colts this preseason and averaged 28.6 yards on kickoff returns, including a 51-yarder.

Menlo's Nate Jackson made the Denver Broncos roster for another season after missing most of last year with a groin injury. The two-time first-team D3football.com All-American made one start for Denver at tight end last year and also caught a touchdown pass. He's quickly becoming one of the Division III veterans of the NFL, in his sixth season.

The longest-tenured? No, it's not John Carroll's London Fletcher, in his 11th season in the NFL and his second with the Washington Redskins. It's Houston Texans punter Matt Turk, in his 14th season out of UW-Whitewater.

Coe running back Fred Jackson remains on the Buffalo Bills' roster. The 2002 second-team D3football.com All-American had 58 carries for 300 yards as a 26-year-old rookie in 2007.

Wheaton's Andy Studebaker was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles. The team signed its sixth-round pick to the practice squad. Wesley defensive lineman Bryan Robinson was cut by the Cardinals. Jerheme Urban made the team, however, after catching 22 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Mississippi College wide receiver Jake Allen was cut by the Packers but signed to their practice squad after a fine preseason. Salisbury cornerback Byron Westbrook and St. Olaf receiver Horace Gant were among the Redskins' final cuts, but both were signed to the practice squad.

The Kansas City Chiefs cut Whitworth tight end Michael Allan. He was the team's seventh-round pick in 2007 and spent most of last season on the practice squad.

Ohio Northern's Jason Trusnik is on the New York Jets' physically unable to perform list.

The Tennessee Titans cut Jerrell Freeman, the D3football.com defensive player of the year. Derek Stanley, a seventh-round draft pick by the Rams in 2007, was among the team's final cuts. Todd Lowber, the former Ramapo high jumper, was among the final cuts by the Dallas Cowboys. He was attempting to make the team as a wide receiver.

Ryan Hoag, who was Mr. Irrelevant in 2003 but has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game, was among the final cuts of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

K-Mack · September 01, 2008, 11:27:16 PM

Quote from: reality check on September 01, 2008, 11:24:56 PM
It's not the pros but I just heard while watching the Tennessee/UCLA game that new Tennessee OC Dave Clawson is a Williams graduate who played football and basketball for them in his day.

Sooner or later, I'm going to start a board for this. For now, the ATN thread is the (il)logical home for famous D3 alums.

I have a new one too: Ravens owner Steve Biscotti = Salisbury.

Ron Boerger · September 21, 2008, 11:55:32 PM

Been a frustrating season so far for the Cards' Jerheme Urban, who has seen very little PT and had only one (incomplete) pass thrown his way today. He did complete a 18-yd pass on a trick play today; think that's his first NFL pass completion.

Steve Breaston has apparently won the #3 WR position, leading to the decrease in action for Jerheme.

Mr. Ypsi · September 22, 2008, 12:09:29 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on September 21, 2008, 11:55:32 PM
Been a frustrating season so far for the Cards' Jerheme Urban, who has seen very little PT and had only one (incomplete) pass thrown his way today. He did complete a 18-yd pass on a trick play today; think that's his first NFL pass completion.

Steve Breaston has apparently won the #3 WR position, leading to the decrease in action for Jerheme.

Man, this situation really puts me in a quandary. I'm a diehard d3 guy, but also a Michigan guy! 'Stevie' was one of my all-time favorite players, especially early on. As a freshman, he may have been the most electric player in the country (more as a kick returner than a receiver - by about his fifth game, teams would punt out of bounds or do short kickoffs rather than risk a TD return), but he just never seemed to develop to his potential. As a freshman, he seemed an inevitable first-round pick; now he's barely hanging on to a career.

Ron Boerger · September 22, 2008, 12:16:42 AM

I just wish Urban could land with a team that regularly runs 3 or 4 WRs. The Cards' basic package is a 2 WR set and with Boldin and Fitzgerald everyone else is fighting for crumbs.

Ron Boerger · September 29, 2008, 12:27:45 AM

Urban had his first catches of the year today - but the Cards were totally blown out. Jerheme had five catches for 50 yds and scored from 16 yards out for his fourth NFL touchdown.

reality check · October 13, 2008, 05:04:15 PM

Pierre Garcon logged his first NFL minutes yesterday for the Colts tallying a KR for 23 yards and two special teams tackles.

OU#25 · October 13, 2008, 05:31:43 PM

Pierre has been playing for several weeks.

reality check · October 16, 2008, 01:57:47 PM

My bad, this week was his first as a KR/PR though.

reality check · November 02, 2008, 01:39:04 PM

Derek Stanley just caught his first NFL pass for the St. Louis Rams. He was signed off the practice squad 3 weeks ago and makes his first career catch one to remember. He snatched it out of the defender's hands and seperated for an 80 yard bomb touchdown.

Another DIII guy makes an impact!

Ron Boerger · November 02, 2008, 04:20:35 PM

That's the way you want to break into the NFL!

Jerheme Urban had a 56-yd TD catch at the end of the first half against the Rams today. The stat sheet says it was tipped, hopefully I'll catch it on one of the highlight shows later.

reality check · November 02, 2008, 07:46:18 PM

Ron

Right place at the right time for Jerheme. Warner left the ball way underthrown and it wasn't tipped so much as it was dropped by the DB and it fell right into Jerheme's hands. Great reaction on his part and a TD is a TD!

Two D-III players get TD's in the same game. Wonder if that's a first.

K-Mack · November 02, 2008, 07:58:57 PM

Quote from: reality check on November 02, 2008, 01:39:04 PM
Derek Stanley just caught his first NFL pass for the St. Louis Rams. He was signed off the practice squad 3 weeks ago and makes his first career catch one to remember. He snatched it out of the defender's hands and seperated for an 80 yard bomb touchdown.

Another DIII guy makes an impact!

Somebody beat me to it!