Jayhawks in the Pros #16

Dec. 4, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Through 13 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 completed successful seasons in the Canadian Football League. This week’s edition of Jayhawks in the Pros is highlighted by Chris Harris and Steven Johnson leading the Denver Broncos to their seventh-straight win.

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 17-16 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. 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 was in uniform, but did not play, in Cincinnati’s 20-13 win over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium Sunday. He has played in just one game this season, Week 12 against the Oakland Raiders. In his career, Collins 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 eighth start of the season in the Denver’s 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Sports Authority Field. The second-year cornerback registered six tackles and two pass breakups in the win. Harris has made eight starts and played in 11 games for Denver this season. He has 49 tackles, 2.5 sacks, eight pass breakups and two interceptions in 2012. In his career, Harris has played in 27 games, making 12 starts. He has recorded 121 tackles, broken up 14 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 collected a tackle on special teams in Denver’s 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Sports Authority Field. He has played in seven of Denver’s 12 games this season, making three 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 missed his first game of the season Sunday against Cincinnati, after suffering a hamstring injury in the previous week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. The third-year safety has played in 11 games this year and recorded 10 tackles, forced a fumble and has two fumble recoveries. 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.

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 earned his third start for the Patriots in their 23-16 win over the Miami Dolphins Sunday at Sun Life Stadium. Talib recorded three tackles in the New England win. He has played in seven games this season (four with Tampa Bay, three with New England) and has recorded 33 tackles with eight pass breakups and two interceptions. In his career, the former KU All-American has made 194 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 finished a dream season in the 100th Grey Cup game on Nov. 25 as his Calgary Stampeders fell to the Toronto Argonauts, 35-22, at Rogers Centre. 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 also scored 11 rushing touchdowns and 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 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.

Cover photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

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