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Mountaineers in the Pros Update
September 11, 2015 11:47 AM | Football
There are 20 former West Virginia University Mountaineer football players that are either on the 53-man roster or practice squad of 13 National Football League (NFL) teams, as the professional season kicks off this weekend. Below are details of all the Mountaineers competing in the NFL and Candian Football League (CFL).
Mario Alford
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
WR | 5-9 | 180
Greenville, Ga.
Twitter: @mario_alford
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
WR | 5-9 | 180
Greenville, Ga.
Twitter: @mario_alford
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Alford joins former Mountaineers Will Clarke and Adam Jones on the Cincinnati roster. The 5-foot-9 wide receiver was drafted in the seventh round by the Bengals this spring. In the preseason, Alford recorded three receptions for 39 yards. The Bengals open the season at Oakland on Sunday.
Twitter: @Tayaustin01
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Seattle – 1 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Seattle – 1 p.m. ET
Austin begins his third season with the Rams on Saturday. Last season, Austin snatched 40 catches for 418 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. During three preseason games played, Austin recorded three receptions for 84 yards. The Rams open the season against the defending NFC Champion Seattle on Sunday afternoon.
Twitter: @iamSB3
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Seattle – 1 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Seattle – 1 p.m. ET
Bailey also begins his third season with the Rams and former WVU teammate Tavon Austin. Last season, the Miami native snatched 17 receptions for 226 yards in 16 games. This preseason, Bailey snagged five catches for 58 yards. The Rams open the season against the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.
Barclay missed the entire 2014 season due to tearing his ACL on August 5, 2014. Barclay started 18 games for the Packers in 2012 and 2013 and has appeared in 30 games overall. Green Bay opens the season at Chicago on Sunday.
Selvish Capers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
OL | 6-0 | 308
New Orleans, La.
Twitter: @SelvishCapers60
Selvish Capers was placed on the 1-game injured list last week in his final week with Edmonton. Capers was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Wednesday. The lineman recorded two tackles and caught one pass for the Eskimos in 2014. He remains on the 1-game injured list with Winnipeg.
Will Clarke
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
DE | 6-6 | 291
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Twitter: @W_Clarke98
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
OL | 6-0 | 308
New Orleans, La.
Twitter: @SelvishCapers60
Selvish Capers was placed on the 1-game injured list last week in his final week with Edmonton. Capers was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Wednesday. The lineman recorded two tackles and caught one pass for the Eskimos in 2014. He remains on the 1-game injured list with Winnipeg.
Will Clarke
Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
DE | 6-6 | 291
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Twitter: @W_Clarke98
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Clarke starts his second season in Cincinnati after being a third-round pick a year ago. Clarke logged three tackles and a fumble recovery in seven games during his rookie season. The Bengals open the 2015 campaign at Oakland on Sunday.
Twitter: @T_Garvin28
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 20 – vs. San Francisco – 1:00 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 20 – vs. San Francisco – 1:00 p.m. ET
Garvin embarks on his third season with the Steelers in 2015. The linebacker resigned with Pittsburgh in January after playing in all 16 games a year ago. Garvin has collected 27 tackles during his first two seasons. During the preseason, he ranked second on the Steelers defense with 23 tackles. The Steelers fell 28-21 to New England on Thursday evening. Pittsburgh opens the home slate against San Francisco on Sunday, Sept. 20.
Mark Glowinski
Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
G | 6-4 | 310
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Twitter: @MarkGlowinski73
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at St. Louis – 1 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
G | 6-4 | 310
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Twitter: @MarkGlowinski73
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at St. Louis – 1 p.m. ET
Glowinski was one of Seattle’s two fourth-round draft picks in the 2015 NFL Draft. He joins former Mountaineer Bruce Irvin on the Seahawks roster. The Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania native is listed as the second-string right guard behind J.R. Sweezy. Seattle opens the season at St. Louis this Sunday.
Twitter: @WillJohnson_6
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 20 – vs. San Francisco – 1:00 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 20 – vs. San Francisco – 1:00 p.m. ET
Johnson enters his fourth season with Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-2 full back started five games and played 16 for Pittsburgh in 2014. He opened up the 2015 season with four carries for seven yards and one touchdown at New England on Thursday. Johnson’s one-yard TD cut the Steelers’ deficit to 21-11 in the third quarter. Pittsburgh opens the home season against San Francisco on September 20.
Twitter: @REALPACMAN24
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Oakland – 4:25 p.m. ET
Jones starts his ninth season in the NFL and his sixth with Cincinnati. In 2014, Jones turned in a record-setting year as the Bengals kick returner. He averaged a club-record 31.3 yards per kick return and became the first Cincinnati player to win the NFL kickoff return title. His punt return average of 12.0 yards per run was second in the NFL. Jones went on to garner All-Pro accolades from the Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers Association. Cincinnati opens the season at Oakland on Sunday.
Bruce Irvin
Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
LB | 6-3 -|260
Atlanta, Ga.
Twitter: @BIrvin_WVU11
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at St. Louis – 1 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
LB | 6-3 -|260
Atlanta, Ga.
Twitter: @BIrvin_WVU11
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at St. Louis – 1 p.m. ET
Irvin started 13 of 15 games for the NFC Champions last season. He record 6.5 sacks and a career-high two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns. The Seahawks open the 2015 season at St. Louis this Sunday.
Twitter: @PatMcAfeeShow
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Buffalo – 1 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Buffalo – 1 p.m. ET
McAfee returns for his seventh season in Indianapolis. The Colts punter averaged 46.7 yards per punt last season and had a career-best 30 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Indianapolis kicks off the season this Sunday in Buffalo.
Twitter: @RyanGMundy
After having a breakout season in his first year in Chicago, Munday was placed on the injured reserve list last month after sustaining a hip injury. Munday had a career-best 103 tackles and four interceptions in 2014 for the Bears.
After having a breakout season in his first year in Chicago, Munday was placed on the injured reserve list last month after sustaining a hip injury. Munday had a career-best 103 tackles and four interceptions in 2014 for the Bears.
Twitter: @Gods_Exertion98
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. New Orleans – 4:05 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. New Orleans – 4:05 p.m. ET
Shaq Riddick begins his rookie campaign after being selected in the fifth round (158th overall) by Arizona in this year’s draft. He is the first WVU player to be selected by the Cardinals in 20 years.
Charles Sims
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
RB | 6-0 | 211
Houston, Texas
Twitter: @csims34
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Tennessee – 4:25 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)
RB | 6-0 | 211
Houston, Texas
Twitter: @csims34
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Tennessee – 4:25 p.m. ET
Sims, a third round selection by Tampa Bay in 2014, made eight appearances and rushed for 185 yards on 66 attempts last season. In the preseason, Sims carried the ball 13 times for 16 yards. Tampa Bay opens the season against Tennessee on Sunday.
Dreamius Smith
San Diego Chargers (NFL)
RB | 5-11 | 225
Wichita, Kan.
Twitter: @dreamius2
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Detroit – 4:05 p.m.
San Diego Chargers (NFL)
RB | 5-11 | 225
Wichita, Kan.
Twitter: @dreamius2
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Detroit – 4:05 p.m.
Smith was named to the practice squad for the Chargers. He signed a rookie free agent contract on May 12. San Diego opens the season against Detroit on Sunday.
Twitter: @GenoSmith7
Geno Smith returns for his third season with the Jets. Last year, he completed 219 passes for 2,525 yards and 13 touchdowns. Smith suffered a broken jaw and will not play on Sunday.
Twitter: @QS_On_A_Mission
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Tampa Bay – 4:25 p.m. ET
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Tampa Bay – 4:25 p.m. ET
Quinton Spain made the Titans’ 53-man roster after signing as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2015. Spain and the Titans open the 2015 season at Tampa Bay this Sunday.
Twitter: @kytandy
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – vs. Tennessee – 4:25 p.m. ET
Tandy opens his fourth season with Tampa Bay on Sunday. The safety logged 15 games and recorded an interception in 2014. He led the Buccaneers with two interceptions and was fourth on the squad with 12 tackles during the preseason. Tampa Bay hosts Tennessee in its season-opener.
Twitter: @TheRealJT3
Next Game: Sunday, Sept. 13 – at Dallas – 8:30 p.m. ET
Thomas makes his debut with the New York Giants this weekend after signing a free agent contract in March. The five-year veteran linebacker played in Jacksonville the past two seasons. He had 84 tackles and two interceptions in 10 starts and 16 games played for the Jaguars a year ago. The Giants open the season at Dallas on Sunday evening.
Twitter: @mrkevinwhite
White was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2015 NFL Draft. White signed his contract in May, but suffered a setback in August. The Bears announced that White will start the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to a surgery needed to repair a stress fracture in his shin.
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Jordan Scruggs | Nov. 1
Saturday, November 01
