Jayhawks in the Pros

Nov. 14, 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. For the third-straight week, cornerback Chris Harris highlights this week’s report with eight tackles and a pass break up in Denver’s 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

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 37-9 loss to the Houston Texans at Raymond James Stadium, but did not record a catch. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 23 catches for 335 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.

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 was healthy, but did not play in the Bengals’ 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium Sunday. 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.

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 did not start, but was a big factor in Denver’s 17-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. Harris recorded eight tackles, had a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in his first trip back to Kansas City. He has played in all nine games for the Broncos this season, making 37 tackles and recording an interception and four pass breakups. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denver 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 played on special teams in Atlanta’s 26-23 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints, but did not record any stats. Meier has played in six games this season, but is still looking for his first NFL reception. He missed the entire 2010 season with an injury after being a fifth-round selection by Atlanta in the 2010 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 was inactive for the seventh-straight week due to injury as the 49ers defeated the New York Giants, 27-20, 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.

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 San Diego’s 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium Thursday night. The Kansas product recorded an unassisted tackle on special teams. In his career, Stuckey has played in eight games and made six tackles. He was a fourth-round draft pick by San Diego in the 2010 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 three tackles and a pass breakup in the Buccaneers’ 37-9 loss to the Houston Texans in Tampa Bay Sunday. In his pro career, Talib has recorded 156 total tackles, defended 42 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 ran for 127 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown in a losing effort as Calgary fell to Edmonton, 33-19, in the first round of the CFL Playoffs. In 18 games this year, Cornish ran for 990 yards on 133 carries from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. He also amassed 381 yards on 27 receptions and had two TD catches this year. In his CFL career, Cornish has recorded 1,997 yards on 270 rushing attempts with 13 touchdowns. He has also racked up 709 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 51 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 suffered a concussion earlier this season and missed the team’s last seven games as well as its playoff game with Calgary. For the season, Henry 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.

Henry’s Profile Page

Brandon Rideau
Wide receiver Brandon Rideau, who played at KU from 2001-04, finished his second season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Rideau missed the final four games of the season due to injury, but ended the year with 43 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns. In his two-year CFL career, he has recorded 69 receptions, 1,004 yards and six scores.

Rideau’s Profile Page