Jayhawks in the Pros #15
Nov. 26, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Through 12 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 reflects on Jon Cornish’s outstanding season, which culminated with a trip to the Grey Cup game and four NFL Jayhawks helping their teams to wins.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe is in his third season in the NFL and first with the Washington Redskins. Briscoe was inactive for Washington’s 38-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. He has played in six games this season for Washington, making two catches for 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 played in his first game this season, helping Cincinnati to a 34-10 win over the Oakland Raiders, Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. It marked Collins’ first appearance in a regular-season game this year after missing the Bengals’ first 10 games. He has played in 40 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 seventh start of the season in the Broncos’ 17-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. The second-year cornerback made two tackles and registered a quarterback hurry in the game. Harris has played in 26 games in his NFL career, making 11 starts. He has recorded 115 tackles, broken up 12 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 17-9 win over Kansas City Sunday, recording a tackle on special teams. He has played in six of Denver’s 11 games this season, making two stops on special teams. 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 11th game of the season, a 16-13 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium. The third-year safety made a solo tackle on special teams, giving him 10 on the season. Along with his 10 stops, Stuckey has a forced fumble and has recovered two fumbles. In his career, Stuckey has played in 26 games and made 23 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: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot
Aqib Talib
Cornerback Aqib Talib is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first with the New England Patriots after being traded by the Tampa Buccaneers in Week Eight. Talib made his first start for the Patriots at safety Thursday night in a 49-19 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Talib recorded two tackles in the New England win. He has played in six games this season (four with Tampa Bay, two with New England) and has recorded 30 tackles with eight pass breakups and two interceptions. In his career, the former KU All-American has made 191 tackles, recorded 54 pass breakups and collected 19 interceptions, including four he has returned for touchdowns. 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 played in his second Grey Cup game Sunday evening, however his Calgary Stampeders fell to the Toronto Argonauts, 35-22, at the Rogers Centre. Cornish rushed for 57 yards on 15 carries and also caught a 16-yard pass.
While it didn’t end the way he wanted, Cornish had a dream season in 2012. The former Jayhawk led the league in rushing during the regular season with 1,457 yards, which broke a 56-year old record for most rushing yards in the CFL by a Canadian native. He has scored 11 rushing touchdowns and also caught 39 passes for 356 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He was named CFL Canadian Player of the Week eight times during the season and crowned the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player for the year.
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.
Marcus Henry
Wide receiver Marcus Henry has completed his second year in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. Henry and the Eskimos were eliminated from the CFL playoffs in the second round on Nov. 11, 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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