Jayhawks in the Pros
Oct. 11, 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.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe collected a pair of catches for 18 yards in the Buccaneers’ 48-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 14 catches for 167 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 missed his fourth-straight game Sunday, Cincinnati’s 30-23 win over Jacksonville, with a leg injury. 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 in Denver’s 29-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, but did not record any stats. Harris has played in all five games for the Broncos this season, making eight tackles, including six solo stops. 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 Atlanta’s 25-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, but did not record any stats. He is still looking for his first NFL reception. The KU product has played in three games this season after missing the entire 2010 season with an injury. 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 missed his third-straight game with a calf injury as San Francisco dominated Tampa Bay, 48-3 Sunday. In his career, 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 in the Chargers’ 29-24 victory over the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium Sunday, but did not record any stats. In his career, Stuckey has played in five games and made four tackles. 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 recorded one pass breakup and no tackles in Tampa Bay’s 48-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In his pro career, he has recorded 141 total tackles, defended 40 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 scored his first rushing touchdown of the season and gained 49 yards on nine carries in Calgary’s 33-31 loss to the BC Lions Sunday. In 14 games this year, Cornish has 534 yards on 71 carries from scrimmage and as well as 20 catches for 331 yards and a pair of scores. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,541 yards on 208 rushing attempts with eight touchdowns. He has also racked up 627 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 41 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 suffered a concussion earlier this season and has missed the last three games. For the season, Henry has recorded 33 receptions for 384 yards and a touchdown. He was with the New York Jets in training camp the last 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 three catches for 22 yards in Toronto’s 29-19 loss to the Montreal Alouettes Monday. Rideau was named the league’s offensive player of the week on Aug. 16, and has 36 catches for 467 yards and three touchdowns for the season. In his two-year CFL career, Rideau has recorded 60 receptions, 900 yards and four scores.
