NFL rosters filled with talent groomed in Illinois
If you have an interest in how former local high school and area collegiate stars are faring in the NFL, you’ll want to follow the Daily Herald this season.
We will track how the area’s one-time standouts are performing at pro football’s highest level throughout the 2013 campaign — and we’ll detail what they are doing to stay in the league.
The NFL is loaded with exceptionally skilled players who have had to beat out other talented players to earn — and hold — a job. From the 53-player roster to the practice squad to injured reserve, every spot on an NFL club is special.
Look no further than Packers practice-squad QB Scott Tolzien. The Fremd product was waived in August by San Francisco after two seasons on the roster. Now with Green Bay, Tolzien is getting a shot with a club whose only backup QB (Seneca Wallace) is signed for just the rest of this season, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Yes, Tolzien will have to work his way up, but at least he has a chance to do so.
In the weeks to come, we will explore how area players are making it in a tough business. To begin our series, here’s a list of players with Illinois high school or area college connections currently on NFL rosters:
Arizona Cardinals
RB Rashard Mendenhall: Niles West, Illini
Buffalo Bills
DT Corbin Bryant: Morgan Park HS, Northwestern
Carolina Panthers
TE Brandon Williams: Eisenhower HS
Cincinnati Bengals
OLB Jayson Dimanche: SIU
Chicago Bears
CB Sherrick McManis: Peoria Richwoods HS, Northwestern
CB Kelvin Hayden (injured reserve): Hubbard HS, Illini
Cleveland Browns
OG Garrett Gilkey: Aurora Christian HS
Dallas Cowboys
OL Doug Free: Northern Illinois University
QB Tony Romo: Eastern Illinois University
QB Alex Tanney (practice squad): Lexington HS, Monmouth College
Detroit Lions
RB Mikel Leshoure: Champaign Centennial HS, Illini
Green Bay Packers:
OT Bryan Bulaga (injured reserve): Marian Central Catholic HS
QB Scott Tolzien: Fremd HS
LB Nate Palmer: Simeon HS, Illinois State
Houston Texans
TE Owen Daniels: Naperville Central HS
OLB Whitney Mercilus: Illini
DE Tim Jamison: Thornton HS
ILB Joe Mays: Hyde Park HS
OG Cody White: Illinois State
Indianapolis Colts
S Sergio Brown: Proviso East HS
OT Anthony Castonzo: Lake Zurich HS
CB Vontae Davis: Illini
TE Coby Fleener: Joliet Catholic HS
QB Chandler Harnish: Northern Illinois
Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Alan Ball: Illini
TE Clay Harbor: Dwight HS
Kansas City Chiefs
OG Jeff Allen: King HS, Illini
OG Jon Asamoah: Rich East HS, Illini
WR A.J. Jenkins: Illini
TE Tony Moeaki (injured reserve): Wheaton Warrenville South HS
TE Sean McGrath: Carmel HS
Minnesota Vikings
DT Fred Evans: Morgan Park HS
New England Patriots
DE Michael Buchanan: Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Illini
DB Justin Green (practice squad): Illini
OG Hugh Thornton: Illini
S Tavon Wilson: Illini
CB Marquice Cole: Hillcrest HS, NU
TE Michael Hoomanawanui: Bloomington Central Catholic HS, Illini
OL Markus Zusevics (IR): Prospect HS
DE Rob Ninkovich: Lincoln-Way Central
New Orleans Saints
OT Terron Armstead: Cahokia HS
DE Glenn Foster: Mt. Carmel HS, Illini
OLB Martez Wilson: Simeon HS, Illini
RB Pierre Thomas: TF South HS, Illini
New York Giants
OT David Diehl: Brother Rice HS, Illini
Punter Steve Weatherford: Illini
New York Jets
TE Jeff Cumberland: Illini
Oakland Raiders
MLB Nick Roach: Northwestern
OT Tony Pashos: Lockport HS, Illini
WR Andre Holmes (suspension): Conant
Philadelphia Eagles
WR Jason Avant: Carver HS
OT Dennis Kelly: Marian Catholic HS
WR Arrelious Benn (inj. reserve): Illini
Pittsburgh Steelers
LB Alan Baxter (practice squad): Buffalo Grove HS, Northern Illinois
DE Brian Arnfelt (practice squad): Northwestern
San Diego Chargers
LB Larry English: Marmion Academy, NIU
DE Corey Liuget: Illini
San Francisco 49ers
LB Darius Fleming (practice): St. Rita HS
RB Jewel Hampton (practice): SIU
Seattle Seahawks
DE Kenneth Boatwright (injured reserve): Bolingbrook HS, SIU
DE O’Brien Schofield: North Chicago HS
St. Louis Rams
DT Matt Conrath: St. Rita HS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CB Rashaan Melvin: Waukegan HS, NIU
DT Akeem Spence: Illini
Tennessee Titans
OG Al Netter (practice squad): NU
OT Byron Stingily: Romeoville HS
WR Kevin Walter (PUP): Libertyville HS
Washington Redskins
OG Adam Gettis: Lincoln-Way East HS
Sources: Information gathered from NFL team releases and websites, collegiate websites and USA Football.
Ÿ Mike Wilkening has covered the NFL for more than a decade. You can read his work at Pro Football Talk, The Linemakers at Sporting News and NBC New York, among other publications. Follow him on Twitter @mikewilkening. Email him at wilkening.michael@gmail.com.