NFL Basketball Report: Week 11 Update on Active Players Who Were College Hoopsters
November 14th, 2012 - 20:55
The NFL Injury Report comes out in mid-week although it isn't nearly as important to genuine hoop fans as this NFL Basketball Report. The recent ex-hoopster headliners are tight ends Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons) and Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints). They each had two touchdown passes when opposing each other last Sunday as Atlanta fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is the first tight end with 100 touchdowns. Aspiring to secure his first NFL playoff victory, he has led the Falcons in pass receptions much of the campaign comparable to fellow ex-college hoopsters Vincent Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans). Jackson paces the NFL in yards per catch (21.4).
Regal receiver Terrell Owens (1995 NCAA playoffs with Chattanooga) didn't have a chance to test the patience of replacement officials early this season because he is no longer on an NFL roster. But the league still boasts the following versatile players who previously were college hoopsters:
| Player | Pos. | NFL Team | College(s) | Summary of 2012 NFL Regular Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Barwin | OLB | Houston Texans | Cincinnati | 26 tackles (23 solo/3 assists) in fourth season but only two sacks (after 11 1/2 last year) |
| Demetress Bell | LOT | 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 | second-stringer has 12 pass receptions for 140 yards (long of 23) in second campaign |
| Demar Dotson | RT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Southern Mississippi | 6-9 lineman is a starter in fourth season |
| London Fletcher | ILB | Washington Redskins | Saint Francis, PA/John Carroll, OH | team-high 72 tackles (43 solo/29 assists) plus one fumble recovery, one sack and one interception in 15th season |
| Antonio Gates | TE | San Diego Chargers | Kent State | 28 pass receptions for 338 yards (long of 33) and team-high four touchdown catches in 10th year |
| Tony Gonzalez | TE | Atlanta Falcons | California | team-high 61 pass receptions for 617 yards (long of 25) and team-high six touchdowns in 16th campaign |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | New Orleans Saints | Miami, FL | third-year pro has 45 pass receptions for 533 yards (long of 46) and team-high seven touchdowns |
| Todd Heap | TE | Arizona Cardinals | Arizona State | long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28) in 12th season amid questions about why he hasn't returned from a knee injury |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Northern Colorado | team highs of 36 receptions, 769 yards (long of 95) and six 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 | RDE | Chicago Bears | North Carolina | six-time Pro Bowler has 18 tackles (14 solo/four assists) and team-high six sacks in 11th season (ranks fourth among active players with 105.5 sacks) |
| Julius Thomas | TE | Denver Broncos | Portland State | second-year backup hopes to get a start similar to rookie debut game last season |
| Kendall Wright | WR | Tennessee Titans | Baylor | rookie has team-high 43 pass receptions (for 390 yards and team-high four touchdowns/long of 35 yards) |