With the recruiting season for College Football in full swing, the early signing period upon us and all eyes on the 1st Wednesday in February, I thought it would be good to resurface Wayne Cavadi’s Blog post regarding D2 Athletes in the NFL & Balladeer’s Blog from July of 2016!
Do you know how many DII Football players are on NFL rosters for 2017?
Answer – 90!
Ever heard of Malcom Butler – Patriots, or Tyreek Hill – Chiefs? Yes, DII College players!
How about Danny Woodhead – Ravens. Danny Woodhead has overcome injuries to become one of the best receiving backs in football.
Jahri Evans of the Green Bay Packers is a six-time Pro Bowler and at one point, the fourth-rounder was the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL. Evans joins Butler as two Super Bowl winners from the DII ranks.
Here’s a look at some more DII football by the numbers:
2017 Roster breakdown:
90 — Total DII football players in the NFL, including practice squad rosters.
6 — The number DII players on the Carolina Panthers roster, most in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets all roster five players.
5 — The most players from one school represented, with Grand Valley State and California (PA) leading the way. West Alabama and Missouri Western State are behind with four.
3 — The number of DII tight ends the Tennessee Titans have on its roster.
2 — Total number of NFL teams without a DII football player on their roster: Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans.
Position Breakdown:
0 — There are no DII quarterbacks on current NFL rosters.
18 — Total DII defensive backs on NFL rosters, the most of any one position.
15 — The number of DII wide receivers in the NFL, the most of any offensive position.
9 — DII tight ends making an NFL squad, which is five more than running backs.
| PLAYER | POSITION | DII SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | ||
| John Brown | WR | Pittsburg State |
| Brittan Golden | WR | West Texas A&M |
| Jared Veldheer | T | Hillsdale |
| Atlanta Falcons | ||
| C.J. Goodwin | CB | California (PA) |
| Ryan Schraeder | T | Valdosta State |
| Baltimore Ravens | ||
| Brandon Carr | CB | Grand Valley State |
| Ryan Jensen | G/C | Colorado State-Pueblo |
| Matthew Juson | OLB | Grand Valley State |
| Brandon Williams | DT | Missouri Southern State |
| Danny Woodhead | RB | Chadron |
| Buffalo Bills | ||
| Andre Holmes | WR | Hillsdale |
| Deon Lacey | LB | West Alabama |
| Kharl Lee | TE | Bowie State |
| Cedric Thorton | DT | Southern Arkansas |
| Carolina Panthers | ||
| Alex Armah | FB | West Georgia |
| Charles Johnson | WR | Grand Valley State |
| L.J. McCray | S | Catawba |
| Zach Moore | DE | Concordia-St. Paul |
| Scott Simonson | TE | Assumption |
| Amini Silatolu | T | Midwestern State |
| Chicago Bears | ||
| Adam Shaheen | TE | Ashland |
| Eric Kush | WR | California (PA) |
| Jordan Morgan | OL | Kutztown |
| Cleveland Browns | ||
| Mike Jordan | DB | Missouri Western State |
| Jamie Meder | DL | Ashland |
| Dallas Cowboys | ||
| Jeff Heath | S | Saginaw Valley State |
| Chris Jones | P | Carson-Newman |
| Nate Theaker | G | Wayne State |
| Denver Broncos | ||
| Allen Barbre | G | Missouri Southern State |
| Detroit Lions | ||
| Armonty Bryant | DE | East Central |
| Dez Stewart | WR | Ohio Dominican |
| Green Bay Packers | ||
| Jahri Evans | G | Bloomsburg |
| Jeff Janis | WR | Saginaw Valley State |
| David Talley | LB | Grand Valley State |
| Donatello Brown | CB | Valdosta State |
| Indianapolis Colts | ||
| Pierre Desir | CB | Lindenwood |
| Denzelle Good | T/G | Mars Hill |
| Kenny Moore II | CB | Valdosta State |
| Grover Stewart | DT | Albany State |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | ||
| Keelan Cole | WR | Kentucky Wesleyan |
| Chris Ivory | RB | Tiffin |
| Matt Overton | LS | Western Washington |
| Chris Reed | OL | Minnesota State |
| Kansas City Chiefs | ||
| Tyreek Hill | WR | West Alabama |
| Ron Parker | DB | Newberry |
| Los Angeles Chargers | ||
| Austin Ekeler | RB | Western State |
| Sean McGrath | TE | Henderson State |
| Jeff Richards | DB | Emporia State |
| Tyrell Williams | WR | Western Oregon |
| Whitney Richardson | DE | Lane |
| Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Marqui Christian | DB | Midwestern State |
| Morgan Fox | DE | Colorado State-Pueblo |
| Matt Longacre | DE | Northwest Missouri State |
| Ethan Westbrooks | DL | West Texas A&M |
| Greg Zuerlein | K | Missouri Western |
| Miami Dolphins | ||
| William Hayes | DE | Winston-Salem State |
| Minnesota Vikings | ||
| C.J. Ham | FB | Augustana |
| Adam Thielan | WR | Minnesota State |
| New England Patriots | ||
| Malcolm Butler | DB | West Alabama |
| New Orleans Saints | ||
| Bryan Braman | LB | West Texas A&M |
| New York Giants | ||
| Janoris Jenkins | DB | North Alabama |
| New York Jets | ||
| Dylan Donahue | LB | West Georgia |
| Rontez Miles | S | California (PA) |
| Mike Pennel | DL | Colorado State-Pueblo |
| Edmond Robinson | LB | Newberry |
| Will Tye | TE | Stony Brook |
| Oakland Raiders | ||
| Tyrell Adams | LB | West Georgia |
| Erik Harris | S | California (PA) |
| Marquette King | P | Fort Valley State |
| Seth Roberts | WR | West Alabama |
| Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Tre Sullivan | S | Shepherd |
| Billy Brown | TE | Shepherd |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| Matt Feiler | OT | Bloomsburg |
| Terrell Watson | RB | Azusa Pacific |
| Dudhaun Phillips | CB | Tarleton State |
| Marcus Tucker | WR | Northern Michigan |
| San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Brandon Fusco | OL | Slippery Rock |
| Seattle Seahawks | ||
| David Bass | DE | Missouri Western State |
| Dewey McDonald | LB | California (PA) |
| Michael Wilhoite | LB | Washburn |
| David Moore | WR | East Central |
| Tampa Bay Bucs | ||
| Brent Grimes | CB | Shippensburg |
| Leonard Wester | T | Missouri Western |
| Freddie Martino | WR | North Greenville |
| Tennessee Titans | ||
| Phillip Supernaw | TE | Ouachita Baptist |
| Delanie Walker | TE | Central Missorui |
| Victor Ochi | LB | Stony Brook |
| Jerome Cunningham | TE | Southern Connecticut |
| Washington Redskins | ||
| Junior Galette | LB | Stillman |
| Kevin Bowen | T | East Central |
School – UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS 
School – FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS 
School – UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES 
School – GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS 
School – FLORIDA TECH PANTHERS 
School – UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA TIGERS 
School – MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS 
School – UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT EAU CLAIRE BLUGOLDS 
School – UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS (sic) 
School – PRINCETON UNIVERSITY TIGERS 
School – UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA GRIZZLIES 
School – UNIVERSITY OF MAINE BLACK BEARS
School – HARVARD UNIVERSITY CRIMSON