Jayhawks in the Pros (Week 3)

Sept. 26, 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 cornerback Aqib Talib, who had a season-best six tackles against the Atlanta Falcons.

Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe played in Tampa Bay’s 16-13 triumph over the Atlanta Falcons, but did not record any statistics. 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.

Briscoe’s Profile Page

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 13-8 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Cincinnati. 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.

Collins’ Profile Page

Chris Harris
Defensive back Chris Harris, who played at KU from 2007-10, is in his first season with the Denver Broncos. Harris recorded a pair of tackles on special teams in the Broncos’ 17-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Harris has played in all three games for the Broncos this season. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Broncos this year prior to training camp.

Harris’ Profile Page

Kerry Meier
Wide receiver Kerry Meier, who played at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the Atlanta Falcons. Meier was inactive for Atlanta’s 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is still looking for his first NFL reception. 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.

Meier’s Profile Page

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 his first game of the season Sunday, and first since the 2008 season, with a leg injury. 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.

Norris’ Profile Page

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 the Chargers’ 20-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in San Diego Sunday, however he did not record any stats. In his career, Stuckey has played in four games and made three tackles. He was a fourth-round draft pick by San Diego in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Stuckey’s Profile Page

Aqib Talib
Cornerback Aqib Talib, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib started and recorded a season-high six tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, in Tampa Bay’s 16-13 win over Atlanta. In his pro career, he has recorded 139 total tackles, defended 37 passes and tallied 16 interceptions. He was a first-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Talib’s Profile Page

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 rushed for 84 yards on nine carries and also had 38 yards receiving on two catches in Calgary’s 55-38 loss to Hamilton. In 12 games this year, Cornish has 336 yards on 49 carries from scrimmage as well as 17 catches for 284 yards and a pair of scores. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,343 yards on 186 rushing attempts with five touchdowns. He has also racked up 612 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 39 career catches.

Cornish’s Profile Page

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 had three catches for 38 yards, including a 20-yard reception in Edmonton’s 34-20 loss to Montreal. This season, Henry has 33 catches for 384 yards and a touchdown in 11 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.

Henry’s Profile Page

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 five yards in Toronto’s win over Winnipeg. Rideau was named the league’s offensive player of the week on Aug. 16, and has 33 catches for 445 yards and three touchdowns for the season. In his two-year CFL career, Rideau has recorded 57 receptions, 888 yards and four scores.

Rideau’s Profile Page