Jayhawks in the Pros (Week 8)
Nov. 1, 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 rookie cornerback Chris Harris, who made his first NFL start and recorded a career-high nine tackles for the Denver Broncos Sunday.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe and the Buccaneers had their bye week this weekend. Over the past two weeks, Briscoe has become a bigger part of Tampa Bay’s offense with eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown. 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 returned to the field for the first time in five weeks in Cincinnati’s 34-12 victory over the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at Qwest Field. Sunday marked Collins’ second game of the season. In his NFL career, Collins has played in 34 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 made his first career start for the Denver Broncos as a nickel back, and led the team with nine tackles, including six solo stops Sunday against the Detroit Lions. After playing exclusively on special teams, Harris has seen his playing time on defense increase each week. Harris has played in all seven games for the Broncos this season, making 18 tackles and recording two pass breakups. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denver 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 and the rest of the Falcons had their bye week this weekend. Meier has played in five games this season, but is still looking for his first NFL reception. He missed the entire 2010 season with an injury. Meier 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 was inactive for the fifth-straight week due to injury as the 49ers downed the Cleveland Browns, 20-10, at Candlestick Park on Sunday. 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 missed Monday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to an injury. 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 and the Buccaneers had their bye week this weekend. In his pro career, Talib 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 scored two touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries in Calgary’s 32-27 win over Montreal Sunday. In 16 games this year, Cornish has 825 yards on 110 carries from scrimmage and as well as 26 catches for 390 yards and five touchdowns. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,832 yards on 247 rushing attempts with 11 touchdowns. He has also racked up 687 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 47 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 team’s last six 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 did not play in Toronto’s 27-22 win over Winnipeg on Friday due to injury. He 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.
