Basketball Report: Week 6 Update on Active NFL Players Who Were College Hoopsters

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 having a splendid season with the Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez leads his team in pass receptions like fellow ex-college hoopsters 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 eight 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 eight pass receptions for 86 yards in second campaign
Demar Dotson RT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Southern Mississippi 6-9 lineman started four of first fiver games in fourth season
London Fletcher LB Washington Redskins Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH team-high 43 tackles (23 solo/20 assists) plus one fumble recovery and one interception in 15th season
Antonio Gates TE San Diego Chargers Kent State 13 pass receptions for 143 yards (long of 33) in 10th year
Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons California team-high 39 pass receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns in 16th campaign
Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints Miami, FL third-year pro has 25 pass receptions for 252 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 10 tackles (eight solo/two assists) 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 33 pass receptions (for 285 yards and two touchdowns/long of 35 yards)