Jayhawks in the Pros #3
Sept. 14, 2011
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 highlighted by fourth-year pro Aqib Talib, who recorded his second career touchdown off an interception in Tampa Bay’s game with the Detroit Lions.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe recorded two catches for 14 yards in the Bucs’ 27-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. 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.
Anthony Collins
Offensive lineman Anthony Collins, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins played offensive tackle in Cincinnati’s 27-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Brown Stadium Sunday. He helped the Bengals rush for 139 yards, including 121 by tailback Cedric Benson. In his NFL career, Collins has played in 33 games, making 16 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 training camp with the Denver Broncos. Harris made his regular season debut on Monday night in the Broncos’ 23-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Harris played primarily on the punt coverage and punt return teams, but did not record any stats. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Broncos 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 made his regular season NFL debut on Sunday in the Atlanta Falcons’ 30-12 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Meier played, but did not record any statistics. Meier missed the entire 2010 season after getting injured in the preseason. He was a fifth-round selection by Atlanta in the 2009 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 opened his 11th season in San Francisco’s 33-17 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks. He played fullback, but did not record any stats. Norris has played in 136 regular season games in his career 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 recorded a pair of special teams tackles and saw plays on defense in the Chargers’ 24-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings in San Diego. This marked the second game of Stuckey’s career, after appearing in just one regular season contest last season. He was a fourth-round draft pick by San Diego in the 2009 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 scored Tampa Bay’s first touchdown of the season on a 28-yard interception return in the first quarter. He also tallied four tackles and broke up two passes in Tampa Bay’s 27-20 loss to the Detroit Lions. In his career, Talib has recorded 131 total tackles, defended 37 passes and tallied 16 interceptions. He was a first-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Jayhawks in the CFL
Jon Cornish
Tailback Jon Cornish, who played at KU from 2003-06, is in his fourth season with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. Cornish recorded 44 yards rushing on two carries and also had a pair of catches for 46 yards in Calgary’s 30-20 victory over Edmonton Sunday. In 10 games this year, Cornish has 236 yards on 37 carries from scrimmage as well as 12 catches for 184 yards and a pair of scores. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,243 yards on 174 rushing attempts with five touchdowns. He has also racked up 512 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 36 career catches.
Marcus Henry
Wide receiver Marcus Henry, who played at KU from 2004-07, is in his first season with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Henry grabbed a team-best six passes for 80 yards in the Eskimos 30-20 loss to Calgary Sunday in Edmonton. This season, Henry is 20th in the CFL with 30 catches for 346 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. Henry was with the New York Jets in training camp for three seasons, but never appeared in a regular season game. He was signed by Edmonton as an import free agent prior to the CFL’s regular season.
Brandon Rideau
Wide receiver Brandon Rideau, who played at KU from 2001-04, is in his second season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Rideau recorded one catch for 15 yards in Toronto’s 28-6 loss to the BC Lions Saturday in Vancouver. Rideau was named the league’s offensive player of the week on Aug. 16 this year, and has 28 catches for 384 yards and three touchdowns for the season. In his two-year career, Rideau has recorded 52 receptions, 827 yards and four scores.
