Jayhawks in the Pros (Week 7)
Oct. 24, 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 Dezmon Briscoe, who caught his first touchdown of the season Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe made a career-best six catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears at Wimbley Stadium in London. Over the past two weeks, Briscoe has eight receptions for 122 yards. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 22 catches for 289 yards and two touchdowns. 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 and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals had their bye week. Collins is hoping to get healthy after missing the team’s last five games. He has dressed for just two this season. 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 saw extensive time on defense Sunday, defending two passes and making a tackle on special teams in Denver’s 18-15 overtime win over the Miami Dolphins. Harris has played in all six games for the Broncos this season, making nine tackles and recording two pass breakups. 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 23-16 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but did not record any stats. He has played in five games this season, but is still looking for his first NFL reception. The KU product missed 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 and the rest of the 49ers had their bye week in week seven. Norris is looking to get healthy after missing San Francisco’s last four games with an injury. In his career, Norris has played in 137 regular season games 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’ 27-21 loss to the New York Jets Sunday, but did not record any stats. In his career, Stuckey has played in six 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 made four tackles and defended one pass in Tampa Bay’s 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears in a game played in London Sunday. In his pro career, he has recorded 147 total tackles, defended 41 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 rushed for 92 yards on 13 carries, including a touchdown run, in Calgary’s 25-13 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday. He also added a 21-yard catch in the second quarter. In 15 games this year, Cornish has 754 yards on 95 carries from scrimmage and as well as 23 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,761 yards on 232 rushing attempts with nine touchdowns. He has also racked up 679 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 44 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 five 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 scored his fifth touchdown of the season and had six catches for 88 yards in Toronto’s 31-24 win over the Edmonton Eskimos Saturday. Rideau was named the league’s offensive player of the week on Aug. 16, after tallying six catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Hamilton. Rideau has 43 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns for the season. In his two-year CFL career, he has recorded 69 receptions, 1,004 yards and six scores.
