Fourteen Former SLC Gridiron Greats on NFL Rosters
With the start of the National Football League this weekend, a total of 14 former Southland Conference football players appear on league rosters.
McNeese State has five former Cowboys suiting it up on Sundays, including kick return specialist B.J. Sams in Kansas City, fullback Luke Lawton in Oakland, cornerback Kevin Smith in Detroit and Bryan Smith in Philadelphia. Darrick Brown is on Oakland’s practice squad.
Northwestern State, Nicholls State and Sam Houston State each have two former players on NFL rosters. Offensive lineman Demetrius Bell and cornerback Terrence McGee, who both played at Northwestern State, find themselves as teammates in Buffalo. Former Nicholls State safety Kareem Moore is on the roster in Washington, while offensive lineman Jacob Bender appears on the practice squad for the New England Patriots. Josh McCown, who was the 2001 SLC Player of the Year at Sam Houston State, plays for the Carolina Panthers and fellow Bearkat Keith Davis is a safety with the Dallas Cowboys.
Also on NFL rosters to open the 2008 season are Jacob Ford, a defensive end from Central Arkansas who is now with the Tennessee Titans, Fred Evans, a defensive tackle from Texas State, who is now with the Minnesota Vikings, and Felton Huggins, a wide receiver from Southeastern Louisiana, who was signed to the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills.
McGee and Davis are in their sixth year in the league, while four former SLC stars are in their rookie seasons, including Bell, Brown, Bryan Smith and Moore.
AFC
Buffalo Bills
Demetrius Bell, 6-5, 307, OL, Rookie, Northwestern State, 2005-07
Terrence McGee, 5-9, 198, CB, 6th Season, Northwestern State, 1999-2002
Felton Huggins*, 6-4, 190, WR, Southeastern Louisiana, 2003-05
Kansas City Chiefs
B.J. Sams, 5-10, 185, KR, 5th Season, McNeese State, 2000-03
New England Patriots
Jacob Bender*, 6-6, 315, OL, 2nd Season, Nicholls State, 2003-06
Oakland Raiders
Luke Lawton, 6-0, 240, FB, 3rd Season, McNeese State, 2000-03
Darrick Brown*, 6-4, 200, DB, Rookie, McNeese State, 2004-07
Tennessee Titans
Jacob Ford, 6-4, 256, DE, 2nd Season, Central Arkansas, 2005-06
NFC
Carolina Panthers
Josh McCown, 6-5, 215, QB, 7th Season, Sam Houston State, 2001
Dallas Cowboys
Keith Davis, 5-11, 207, Safety, 6th Season, Sam Houston State, 1998-2001
Detroit Lions
Kevin Smith, 5-11, 191, CB, 5th Season, McNeese State, 2000-03
Minnesota Vikings
Fred Evans, 6-4, 305, DT, 3rd Season, Texas State, 2004-05
Philadelphia Eagles
Bryan Smith, 6-2, 245, DE, Rookie, McNeese State, 2005-07
Washington Redskins
Kareem Moore, 5-11, 213, Safety, Rookie, Nicholls State, 2006-07
* Indicates practice squad