Basketball Report: Week 5 Update on Active NFL Players Who Were College Hoopsters
October 2nd, 2012 - 21:40
The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as the NFL Basketball Report. Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is off to a splendid start with the Atlanta Falcons. But Gonzalez doesn't lead his team in pass receptions like fellow ex-college hoopsters Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans).
Luminaries Donovan McNabb (Syracuse), Terrell Owens (Chattanooga) and Jason Taylor (Akron) are gone, but the NFL still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:
| Player | Pos. | NFL Team | College(s) | Summary of 2012 NFL Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Barwin | OLB | Houston Texans | Cincinnati | one forced fumble and six tackles in fourth season but no sacks (after 11 1/2 last year) |
| Demetress Bell | OT | Philadelphia Eagles | Northwestern State | newcomer after signing 5-year deal in off-season following 30 starts with Buffalo Bills the previous three seasons |
| Jordan Cameron | TE | Cleveland Browns | Brigham Young/Southern California | six pass receptions for 60 yards in second campaign |
| Demar Dotson | RT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Southern Mississippi | 6-9 lineman started three of first four games in fourth season |
| London Fletcher | LB | Washington Redskins | Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH | 23 tackles (15 solo/8 assists) plus one fumble recovery and one interception in 15th season |
| Antonio Gates | TE | San Diego Chargers | Kent State | 10 pass receptions for 124 yards (long of 33) in 10th year |
| Tony Gonzalez | TE | Atlanta Falcons | California | 26 pass receptions for 265 yards and three touchdowns in 16th campaign |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | New Orleans Saints | Miami, FL | third-year pro has team highs of 24 pass receptions, 248 yards and three touchdowns |
| Todd Heap | TE | Arizona Cardinals | Arizona State | long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28 yards) in 12th season |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Northern Colorado | team highs of 16 receptions, 304 yards and two touchdowns in eighth campaign |
| Evan Moore | TE | Seattle Seahawks | Stanford | first season in NW for third-stringer after three years with the Cleveland Browns, including four touchdowns in 2011 |
| Julius Peppers | DE | Chicago Bears | North Carolina | eight solo tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11th season |
| Julius Thomas | TE | Denver Broncos | Portland State | second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to last season |
| Kendall Wright | WR | Tennessee Titans | Baylor | rookie has team-high 16 pass receptions (for 148 yards and two touchdowns) |