NFL Basketball Report: Week 9 Update on Active Players Who Were College Hoopsters
November 1st, 2012 - 7:47
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. The hoop headliner recently was wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who had a 95-yard pass reception and run for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints.
Elsewhere, veteran tight end, Tony Gonzalez, who excelled in the 1997 NCAA playoffs with California, is having a splendid season with the unbeaten Atlanta Falcons. Gonzalez led his team in pass receptions much of the campaign comparable to Jackson and fellow ex-college hoopster Kendall Wright (Tennessee Titans).
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 Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Barwin | OLB | Houston Texans | Cincinnati | 16 tackles (14 solo/2 assists) in fourth season but only one sack (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 | 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 65 tackles (38 solo/27 assists) plus one fumble recovery, one sack and one interception in 15th season |
| Antonio Gates | TE | San Diego Chargers | Kent State | 21 pass receptions for 238 yards (long of 33) and two touchdowns in 10th year |
| Tony Gonzalez | TE | Atlanta Falcons | California | team-high 46 pass receptions for 459 yards (long of 25) and four touchdowns in 16th campaign |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | New Orleans Saints | Miami, FL | third-year pro has 30 pass receptions for 315 yards (long of 24) and four touchdowns |
| Todd Heap | TE | Arizona Cardinals | Arizona State | long-time Baltimore Raven has eight receptions for 94 yards (long of 28) in 12th season |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Northern Colorado | team highs of 29 receptions, 626 yards (long of 95) and five 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 | 14 tackles (10 solo/four assists) and team-high 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 40 pass receptions (for 351 yards and three touchdowns/long of 35 yards) |