Jayhawks in the Pros

Aug. 21, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After two full weeks of preseason games, several Jayhawks have made a splash with their NFL teams. Washington wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe and Denver safety Chris Harris highlight this week’s edition of Jayhawks in the Pros. Briscoe recorded his first touchdown of the preseason Saturday against the Chicago Bears, while Harris had three pass break ups in the Broncos’ game against Seattle.

Tim Biere
Tight end Tim Biere is in his first NFL training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Biere has seen action in both of Kansas City’s preseason games, including Saturday against the St. Louis Rams. He has played on special teams and offense and is looking for his first catch. Biere, who played at KU from 2008-11, is trying to make the Chiefs’ roster as an undrafted rookie. He is one of six tight ends in camp with Kansas City. Biere signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the NFL Draft in April.

Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe is in camp with the Washington Redskins after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late July. Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, signed with Washington on July 28. Briscoe has played in both of Washington’s preseason games, including Saturday against the Chicago Bears. The third-year wide out made three catches for 51 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.Last season with Tampa Bay, the former Jayhawk standout recorded 35 catches for 387 yards and six touchdowns. In his two NFL seasons, Briscoe has played in 18 games and tallied 41 catches for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Anthony Collins
Offensive tackle Anthony Collins begins his fifth season in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins has played in both of the Bengals’ preseason games this year, including last Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons. Collins, who played at KU from 2005-07, has played in 39 games in five years with the Bengals, including 18 starts at tackle. Injuries limited Collins to just seven games last season. He was originally selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Chris Harris
Defensive back Chris Harris is in his second camp with the Denver Broncos.Harris has played in both preseason games this year, including Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The former Jayhawk had a big game against the Seahawks, recording two tackles and three pass break ups. Harris, who played at KU from 2007-10, made the team last season as an undrafted free agent and appeared in all 16 games, making four starts. The rookie defensive back made 72 tackles in 2011 and had one interception. Harris signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL Draft.

Steven Johnson
Linebacker Steven Johnson is a rookie in training camp with the Denver Broncos. Johnson has played in both of Denver’s preseason games, including Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. The former Jayhawk tied a team high with four tackles against Seattle after tallying a sack in the Broncos’ first game against the Bears. Johnson, who played at KU from 2008-11, is looking to make the Denver roster as an undrafted free agent. He is one of 13 linebackers on Denver’s current roster. Johnson was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2012 NFL Draft in April.

Kerry Meier
Wide receiver Kerry Meier is in his third training camp with the Atlanta Falcons.Meier started Atlanta’s first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, but suffered a leg injury and did not play on Thursday against Cincinnati. Meier, who played at KU from 2006-09, appeared in 12 games for the Falcons last season, seeing time mostly on special teams. He hopes to crack the regular rotation at wide receiver in 2012, being one of seven receivers who has two years of NFL experience or less on Atlanta’s roster. Meier was originally a fifth-round draft pick by the Falcons in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Moran Norris
Fullback Moran Norris will begin his 12^th NFL season and first back with the Houston Texans. Norris has seen action in both of Houston’s preseason games this year, including Friday against his old team, the San Francisco 49ers. Norris, who played at KU from 1996-2000, returns to Houston after stints with San Francisco (2006-07, 2009-11) and the Detroit Lions (2008). Norris’ first stint with the Texans was from 2002-05. Last season with the 49ers, Norris played in five regular season games, making two starts. In his professional career, he has played in 140 games, rushed for 67 yards on 28 carries and also recorded 38 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Norris was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Mike Rivera
Linebacker Mike Rivera is in his fourth year of vying for a spot on an NFL roster and first year with the New England Patriots. Rivera has played in both preseason games, including last night against the Philadelphia Eagles. He recorded two assisted tackles in New England’s first game against the New Orleans Saints and had a solo stop last night against Philadelphia. Rivera, who played at KU from 2005-08, signed with the Patriots as a free agent during the offseason and is one of 12 linebackers in camp with New England. Most recently, Rivera was with the Miami Dolphins in 2010, spending five weeks on their practice squad. During his professional career, Rivera has spent time with the Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins. He was originally signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft.

Darrell Stuckey
Safety Darrell Stuckey is in his third year with the San Diego Chargers.Stuckey has played in both of San Diego’s preseason games, including Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. He did not record any stats against Dallas, but had two tackles against the Green Bay Packers in the first preseason game. Stuckey, who played at KU from 2006-09, participated in 14 games for the Chargers last season. The Kansas City, Kan. native saw time on special teams for most of the year and made 12 tackles, including nine solo stops. Stuckey was drafted by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Aqib Talib
Cornerback Aqib Talib is in his fifth season in the NFL and fourth as a starting corner for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After missing the first preseason game, Talib started at cornerback against the Tennessee Titans Friday and recorded one tackle and one pass break up.Talib, who played at KU from 2005-07, started 13 games for the Bucs last year and made 34 tackles, broke up 11 passes and recorded two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Talib was fifth in the NFL with six picks in 2010 and has 161 tackles in his four-year career. He was a first-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Jayhawks in the Canadian Football League

Jon Cornish
Tailback Jon Cornish is in his sixth CFL season, all with the Calgary Stampeders. Cornish, who played at KU from 2002-06, has been slowed by an injury this season. After a breakout game in Week 7, Cornish gained 43 yards on 12 carries and added a 28-yard reception in Calgary’s 31-20 loss to Edmonton last Friday. This season, “Kid Canada” has rushed for 412 yards on 82 carries with four touchdowns on the ground. He has also recorded 18 receptions for 151 yards. In his six-year career, Cornish has rushed for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with 68 catches for 468 yards and four receiving touchdowns. He signed with Calgary following the end of his KU career in 2007.

Marcus Henry
Wide receiver Marcus Henry is in his second year in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. Henry, who played at KU from 2004-07, has been on injured reserve and has not appeared in a game for the Eskimos this season. Last year, Henry recorded 33 catches for 384 yards and a touchdown. He signed with Edmonton during the 2011 NFL season after being released by the New York Jets in training camp.