Jayhawks in the Pros #13
Nov. 13, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Through 10 weeks of the National Football League season, six Jayhawks remain active on NFL rosters with several of them making an impact for their teams. In addition, two Jayhawks are playing in the Canadian Football League. This week’s edition of Jayhawks in the Pros is highlighted by Chris Harris’ big defensive day against the Carolina Panthers and Jon Cornish leading the Calgary Stampeders to the Western Conference Finals of the CFL.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe is in his third season in the NFL and first with the Washington Redskins. Briscoe and the Redskins had a bye week Sunday and will return to action against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 18. Briscoe has played in six games this season for Washington, making two catches for the 22 yards. He signed with the Redskins after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late July. In his two-plus NFL seasons, Briscoe has played in 20 games and tallied 42 catches for 488 yards and seven touchdowns. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Anthony Collins
Offensive tackle Anthony Collins is in his fifth season in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins was active, but did not play, in the Bengals’ 31-13 win over the New York Giants at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday. Collins has not played in any of the Bengals’ games this season, missing the first one with an injury and has dressed, but not seen action, in the last eight. He has played in 39 games in his NFL career and made 18 starts at offensive tackle. Collins was originally a fourth-round selection by Cincinnati in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Chris Harris
Cornerback Chris Harris is in his second season with the Denver Broncos.Harris made his fifth start of the season in the Broncos’ 36-14 rout of the Carolina Panthers Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. The second-year cornerback made a team-high seven tackles, including two TFLs, a sack and a quarterback hurry to lead Denver’s defense. Harris has played in 24 games in his NFL career, making nine starts. He has recorded 110 tackles, broken up 10 passes, recorded 2.5 sacks and made three interceptions. He signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL Draft.
Steven Johnson
Linebacker Steven Johnson is in his first season with the Denver Broncos after making the team as an undrafted free agent. Johnson played in Denver’s 36-14 win over Carolina, but did not record any stats. He has played in four of Denver’s nine games this season, making a special teams tackle last week against Cincinnati. Johnson was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent following the 2012 NFL Draft in April.
Darrell Stuckey
Safety Darrell Stuckey is in his third season with San Diego, and first serving as the Chargers’ special teams captain. Stuckey played in his ninth game of the season, a 34-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, but did not record any stats. In nine games this season, Stuckey has eight tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In his career, Stuckey has played in 24 games and made 21 tackles. He was drafted by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Fans can vote Stuckey onto the AFC’s Pro Bowl team using online voting here.
Aqib Talib
Cornerback Aqib Talib is in his fifth season in the NFL. Talib spent his first week in camp with the New England Patriots after being traded for a pair of draft picks on Nov. 1. Talib finished serving his four-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy and will be eligible to play in New England’s game against the Indianapolis Colts this weekend. This season, he started in four games for the Bucs and made 21 tackles with seven pass breakups and an interception. In his career, the former KU All-American has made 182 tackles, recorded 53 pass breakups and collected 18 interceptions. He was a first-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Jayhawks in the Canadian Football League
Jon Cornish
Tailback Jon Cornish is in his sixth CFL season, all with the Calgary Stampeders. Cornish and the Stampeders opened the playoffs with a 36-30 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders Sunday. The league’s leading rusher gained 109 yards on 18 carries to lead the Stampeders into the Western Conference finals, where they will meet the BC Lions next Sunday. During the regular season, Cornish rushed for a league-best 1,457 yards, which broke a 56-year old record for most rushing yards in the CFL by a Canadian native. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns and also caught 39 passes for 356 yards and two receiving touchdowns. In his six-year career in the league, Cornish has rushed for 3,327 yards and 23 touchdowns to go along with 88 grabs for 1,051 yards and six scores through the air. He signed a free agent contract with the Calgary Stampeders following the end of his KU career in 2007.
On Tuesday, Cornish was named Canadian Player of the Week by the league office. It marked the eighth time this season that the former Jayhawk has garnered the award.
With the outstanding season that Cornish has had, he has been nominated for the league’s Most Outstanding Player Award. Fans can read more about Cornish’s dream season here.
Marcus Henry
Wide receiver Marcus Henry is in his second year in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. Henry and the Eskimos were eliminated from the CFL playoffs on Sunday, falling to the Toronto Argonauts, 42-26. In the playoff loss, Henry collected two receptions for 24 yards. In eight regular-season games, the former Jayhawk recorded 28 catches for 382 yards and one touchdown. In his CFL career, Henry has 61 receptions for 793 yards and two scores. He signed with Edmonton during the 2011 NFL season after being released by the Carolina Panthers in training camp.
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