Jayhawks in the Pros (Week 17)
Jan. 3, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Throughout the course of the season, kuathletics.com will check in with the seven former student-athletes who are playing in the National Football League and three playing in the Canadian Football League. This week’s edition is the final one of the regular season and highlights Dezmon Briscoe’s monster game against the Atlanta Falcons in defeat. KU has four former players who will be involved in the NFL playoffs in Anthony Collins (Cincinnati), Chris Harris (Denver), Kerry Meier (Atlanta) and Moran Norris (San Francisco).
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe started his second career game and was Tampa Bay’s leading receiver in the Buccaneers’ 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday. For the afternoon, he had a career-best eight catches for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Briscoe finished his second season in the NFL with 35 catches for 387 yards and six touchdowns. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 32 catches for 421 yards and five touchdowns. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 and was signed by Tampa Bay following training camp last year.
Video of Briscoe’s first touchdown
Video of Briscoe’s second touchdown
Anthony Collins
Offensive lineman Anthony Collins, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins played in Cincinnati’s 24-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday, but did not start. In his NFL career, Collins has played in 39 games, making 18 starts at offensive tackle. He was originally a fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2008.
Chris Harris
Defensive back Chris Harris, who played at KU from 2007-10, is in his first season with the Denver Broncos. Harris played in Denver’s 7-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Mile High Stadium. The Denver rookie made three tackles and defended a pass as the Broncos backed into the playoffs. Harris played in all 16 regular-season games for the Broncos this season, making 72 tackles, an interception and six pass breakups. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denver this year prior to training camp.
Kerry Meier
Wide receiver Kerry Meier, who played at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the Atlanta Falcons. Meier was not active for the second-straight week as the Falcons defeated Tampa Bay, 45-24, Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Meier played in 12 games this season, but did not record any stats. He missed the entire 2010 season with an injury after being a fifth-round selection by Atlanta in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Moran Norris
Fullback Moran Norris, who played at KU from 1996-2000, is in his 11th NFL season and his third with the San Francisco 49ers. Norris missed the final three games of the regular season and played in a career-low four contests during the season. He did not record any stats in 2011. In his career, Norris has played in 138 regular season games and recorded 198 receiving yards on 57 catches; he has also rushed for 67 yards on 28 carries. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Darrell Stuckey
Safety Darrell Stuckey, who played at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the San Diego Chargers. Stuckey played in San Diego’s 38-26 win over the Oakland Raiders at Network Associates Coliseum on Sunday, helping knock the Raiders out of the playoffs. He did not record any stats in the game, however. During the 2011 season, Stuckey played in 14 games and made 12 tackles on special teams. He was a fourth-round draft pick by San Diego in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Aqib Talib
Cornerback Aqib Talib, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 19 and missed the final two weeks of the regular season. He finished 2011 with 34 tackles, two interceptions – both of which he returned for touchdowns – and 11 passes defended. He was a first-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft.
