Jayhawks in the Pros #4
Sept. 19, 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 second-year receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who had a career-high four catches for 42 yards in Tampa Bay’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.
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 career-highs with four catches for 42 yards in the Bucs’ 24-20 come-from-behind win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Briscoe’s day included a 19-yard catch in the fourth quarter, which set up a touchdown one play later. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 12 catches for 149 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 did not play in Cincinnati’s 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium. 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 season with the Denver Broncos. Harris played primarily on special teams in Denver’s 24-22 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday and recorded a pair of tackles. Harris has played in both games for the Broncos this season. 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 played in his second professional game in Atlanta’s 35-31 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Meier played, but did not record any statistics. The KU product 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 made his first start of the season at fullback in the 49ers’ 27-24 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park. He did not record any stats, however. Norris has played in 137 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 played and recorded a tackle on special teams in the Chargers’ 35-21 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. In his career, Stuckey has played in three games and made three tackles. 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 started, but had a relatively quiet day with a pair of tackles, in the Buccaneers’ 24-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. In his career, Talib has played in 43 games, making 30 starts at cornerback. He has recorded 133 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 16 yards rushing on three carries and also had a 62-yard reception in Calgary’s 32-19 loss to the BC Lions Saturday. In 11 games this year, Cornish has 252 yards on 40 carries from scrimmage as well as 13 catches for 246 yards and a pair of scores. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,259 yards on 177 rushing attempts with five touchdowns. He has also racked up 574 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 37 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 did not record any statistics in Edmonton’s 38-25 win over Hamilton on Friday, Sept. 16. This season, Henry has 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 four catches for 56 yards, including a 44-yard reception in Toronto’s 30-20 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday in Regina. Rideau was named the league’s offensive player of the week on Aug. 16, and has 32 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns for the season. In his two-year career, Rideau has recorded 56 receptions, 883 yards and four scores.
