Looking Back At Recent NFL Falcons
With the NFL 2023 Draft over and done with and Karl Brooks off to Green Bay, I wanted to look back at some recent NFL players who once wore the Orange and Brown. I will be taking a look at anyone who played in the NFL since 2010. (Note that for years in the NFL, I am counting seasons they appeared in a game, not just the practice squad or IR)
WR Scott Miller (photo: DraftKings)
(photo: Packers.com)
WR Scott Miller (photo: DraftKings)
Diyral Briggs LB 2009-2010 Undrafted
LB Diyral Briggs (photo: Pioneer Press)
Briggs played for BGSU from 2004-2008, finishing his career with over 200 tackles and 26 sacks which is 4th in BGSU history. Besides the astounding numbers from Briggs, he was on teams that did a lot of winning. BG won the GMAC bowl in 04 during Briggs' redshirt year, MAC East co-champions, made a bowl in 07, and upset Pitt in 2008. All of his years were spent under HC Gregg Brandon.
(photo: Packers.com)
In the NFL, Diyral went undrafted and was signed by the 49ers, Broncos, and Packers from 2009-2010. Briggs appeared in 5 games for the 49ers, 1 game for the Broncos, and 5 games for the Packers in the 2010 regular season. In the playoffs, Diyral appeared in every game, making a tackle in the Super Bowl win over the Steelers. Despite just parts of 2 years in the league, Briggs gets to walk away with a Super Bowl ring. That is pretty special.
Scott Mruczkowski OL 2005-2011 Drafted 7th Round, Pick 242
OL Scott Mruczkowski (photo: BGSU Athletics)
Mruczkowski played for BGSU from 2000-2004, finishing his career with 49 starts and was a team Captain in 2004. Scott started with Gary Blackney, then was a foundational member of the Urban Meyer/Gregg Brandon rebuild. During Mruczkowski's career, BG won 2 BCS games in 2001, 2 BCS upsets in 2002, then won the MAC West in 03 as well as the Motor City Bowl, beat Purdue, and then the GMAC Bowl win in 04.
In the NFL, Mruczkowski was drafted in the 7th round to the Chargers. Scott played in 83 games with 16 starts over 7 seasons with the Chargers. The Chargers made the playoffs from 07-09 during his career. He may not have been an all-pro, but staying in the show for 7 years and playing in that many games is a really solid career out of Bowling Green.
Shaun Suisham K 2005-2014 Undrafted
K Shaun Suisham (photo: Toledo Blade)
Suisham played for BGSU from 2000-2004, starting 4 straight years. Suisham made 45 career field goals and over 240 PATs. Like Scott above, Shaun started with Gary Blackney, then was a key member of the Urban Meyer/Gregg Brandon rebuild. During Suisham's career, BG won 2 BCS games in 2001, 2 BCS upsets in 2002, then won the MAC West in 03 as well as the Motor City Bowl, beat Purdue, and then the GMAC Bowl win in 04.
In the NFL, Shaun played in 128 games, making 211 field goals and 274 PATs over his 10 seasons. Shaun's best known stint was with the Steelers from 2010-2014 where he started in the Super Bowl loss vs the Packers. Suisham has to go down as one of the most successful NFL Falcons of all time.
Alex Bayer TE 2014-2014 Undrafted
TE Alex Bayer (photo: BGSU Athletics)
Bayer played for BGSU from 2009-2013. Bayer played during Dave Clawson's BGSU tenure, climaxing the rebuild in 2013 with the MAC Championship upset over undefeated NIU after bowl losses in 09 and 12. Bayer caught 115 balls for 1543 yards and 10 scores. In the 2013 MAC Championship Game Alex caught 7 passes for an astounding 124 yards and a touchdown.
In the NFL, Bayer had a one year stint with the Rams in 2014. He appeared in 6 games, recording 1 fumble recovery. Not the best NFL career but still 6 games is a lot more than many football players can say they got in the show.
Kory Lichtensteiger OL 2008-2016 Drafted 4th Round, Pick 108
OL Kory Lichtensteiger (photo: BGSU Athletics)
Lichtensteiger played for BGSU from 2003-2007. Kory played all his years under Gregg Brandon, starting for 4 straight years for the Falcons. During his Falcons career, BG won a share of the division twice and went 2-1 in bowl games. It is rare to see a lineman start every game during his career and dominate to the point of being drafted as high as the 4th round and being a BGSU Hall of Fame 2018 Inductee.
In the NFL, Kory had a heck of a career starting 75 games in the show for the Redskins. Lichtensteiger started 2 playoff games for the Skins and appeared in 16 for the 49ers his rookie year. To last almost a decade in the league and to start that many games is nothing short of fantastic.
Chris Jones DL 2013-2016 Drafted 6th Round, Pick 198
DL Chris Jones (photo: Cleveland.com)
Jones played for BGSU from 2009-2012, team Captain in his final year. Jones was an absolute beast, winning MAC player of the year in 2012 and finishing his career with over 150 tackles, 28 sacks and 46 TFLs. Jones was a foundational member of the Clawson rebuild and is 2nd in BGSU history in career sacks.
In the NFL, Chris Jones played in 41 games with 16 starts over 5 years in the league. His best year came in 2013 with over 50 tackles, finishing his career with a solid 102 tackles and 9 sacks. Jones racked up a lot of tackles in just 41 games and in 2014 played in 17 games on the way to a Super Bowl win with the Patriots over the Seahawks. Chris was on the field during the famous Malcolm Butler interception to win the game. Over 100 tackles and a Super Bowl ring with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick is a pretty awesome NFL career.
Jude Adjei-Barimah DB 2015-2016 Undrafted
DB Jude Adjei-Barimah (photo: Sentinal Tribune)
Jude played for BGSU from 2010-2014, racking up 150 tackles and 5 picks. From Dave Clawson to Dino Babers, Adjei-Barimah won 2 MAC East tittles and the MAC in 2013 with the Falcons. Jude played in all 13 games from 2012-2014 and made 8 tackles in the monster upset of Indiana in the Doyt.
In the NFL, Jude played in 23 games for the Bucs, totaling 63 tackles and a forced fumble. Again not a lengthy career, but again over 20 games in the National Football League and a bunch of tackles is something to be proud of.
Gabe Martin LB 2015-2017 Undrafted
LB Gabe Martin (photo: BG Athletics)
Martin also played for BG from 2010-2014, starting every game in 2014 and was a starter in 2013 before a season ending injury. Martin racked up almost 250 tackles in his Falcon career and had over 100 in 2014, 8 of which aided in the Indiana upset in 2014.
In the NFL, Martin played in 11 games over his 3 seasons with the Cardinals, totaling 6 tackles. Not a lengthy career, but staying on an active roster for 3 years is a solid go for an undrafted MAC player.
Roger Lewis WR 2016-2017 Undrafted
WR Roger Lewis (photo: BG Athletics)
Roger Lewis played for BG from 2014-2015. Obviously a benefactor of the Babers offense, Lewis put up astounding stats, putting up over 1,000 yards in each of his 2 seasons. Lewis scored 23 touchdowns on 158 catches. The Falcons won two division titles and the MAC in 2015 in large part due to Roger's speed and ability to stretch the field. A BG legend no doubt.
In the NFL, Lewis played in 28 games over 2 seasons with the Giants, racking up 500 yards and 4 scores. Despite the short career, scoring a few TDs in the show is a pretty awesome feat for an undrafted skill player.
Ryan Hunter OL 2019-2019 Undrafted
OL Ryan Hunter (photo: BG Athletics)
Ryan Hunter was a stud for the Falcons through the best and worst of times from 2013-2017. Hunter redshirted in 2013, then started every single game for BG the next 4 years. In my opinion he should be a BGSU Hall of Famer. Hunter leaves with 2 MAC Championship rings but also had to endure two lean years under Mike Jinks. Even in those blowout losses, Hunter always stood out as a star.
In the NFL, Hunter was mostly a practice squad guy, appearing in 3 games in 2019 for the Chiefs on their way to the Super Bowl over the 49ers. Ryan not only has a Super Bowl ring, but a CFL Grey Cup ring as well as he started in the Championship for the Toronto Argonauts just 5 days after joining the team.
Scotty Miller WR 2019-Present Drafted Round 6, Pick 208
WR Scotty Miller (photo: BG Athletics)
Scotty Miller is my personal all time favorite Falcon. He was a star when I was a student at BG, he was one of few bright spots on a terrible team under Coach Jinks and was able to shine when the team in theory had nothing going for them in terms of championships hopes. Scotty was also a contributor to the MAC Championship team in 2015. Miller finished his BG career with just under 3,000 yards, 23 scores and over 200 catches. Not bad for an under sized, under rated recruit who had just one offer.
In the NFL, Miller has played in over 50 games since 2019 and just signed with the Atlanta Falcons. While with the Bucs, Scotty was catching passes from the GOAT Tom Brady and helped win a Super Bowl in 2020. Scotty caught the go ahead touchdown against the Packers in the NFC Championship game and has been featured on multiple NFL Videos due to that crucial catch. So far Miller has just over 1,000 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns to his name and despite some injuries has had a huge impact on the Bucs organization with his contributions in 2020.
Quintin Morris TE 2022-Present Undrafted
TE Quintin Morris (photo: BG Athletics)
Q came to BG under Mike Jinks and then finished his career with Coach Loeffler, being a Falcon from 2017-2020. Morris was another player who stood out even when BG was down bad, catching 125 balls for over 1500 yards and 13 scores. Q started at WR and bulked up to become a fierce TE in the MAC.
In the NFL, Q went undrafted to the Bills and was on the practice squad in 2021 before playing in 14 games in 2022. Morris caught 10 passes for 102 yards and got his first career TD in primetime against the Dolphins. Q is doing a lot of work in the Buffalo community and should be proud to have made the roster undrafted.
James Morgan QB Drafted 4th Round, Pick 125
QB James Morgan (photo: Hustle Belt)
While his bio will always say FIU (as it should) Morgan was at BGSU from 2015-2017. Morgan did not have much success in the Jinks offense (most wouldn't) and left BG with 3,000 yards and 25 TD passes to 22 INTs. Jinks brought in Doege to start over Morgan so James decided to transfer. James would then email a bunch of FBS schools asking for a roster spot and FIU answered. At FIU James would throw for 40 touchdowns to just 11 picks and prove he had NFL arm talent. Morgan also led FIU to 2 bowls and a victory over the Miami Hurricanes.
In the NFL, Morgan never appeared in a game a bounced around a few practice squads. James now starts in the USFL for the Pittsburgh Maulers. It is the toughest for QBs to make teams and even tougher to see the field so being picked so highly still means a lot.
Gehrig Dieter WR 2018-2020 Undrafted
WR Gehrig Dieter (photo: BG Athletics)
Dieter's bio will say Alabama as he transferred there in 2016 but he was a Falcon from 2013-2015 where in 2015 he caught 94 balls for over 1,000 yards and 10 scores. Gehrig was a key member of the 2015 MAC Championship team and also has a ring from the 2013 season.
In the NFL, Dieter appeared in 13 games for the Chiefs and caught 3 passes for 43 yards in his career. Not crazy in numbers, but Dieter was a valued scout team member and won a Super bowl ring in 2019 with Ryan Hunter when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.
Comments
Post a Comment