(From NCAA.com, please see the full article HERE.)
The 2019 NFL playoffs kick off on Saturday, Jan. 5 when the Houston Texans battle the Indianapolis Colts in the first Wild Card game of the postseason. Five former DII football players will hit the field for that game.
In fact, all eight teams playing on Wild Card weekend will feature former Division II football players. The numbers are up from last season when 22 former DII ballers were spread out across 11 teams in the NFL playoffs. One year later, 26 players from 10 different rosters* enter the postseason. Only the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints are not represented on their active rosters by any former DII football players.
MORE: An incredibly early look at the 2019 preseason top 10
Here are some interesting numbers from the 2019 NFL playoffs:
2 — Players from Grand Valley State and California (Pa) in the postseason, the only two schools with multiple players in the playoffs.
3 — DII players returning to the playoffs from last season. Ethan Westbrooks returns for the Rams while both Tyreek Hill and Ron Parker return for the Chiefs. Morgan Fox (Colorado State-Pueblo) played for the Rams last season but is currently on injured reserve.
5 — Former DII players on the Baltimore Ravens roster, more than any other team in the NFL playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams are right behind with four.
NFL✔@NFL
.@BCarr39 intercepts Rivers on the first play! #RavensFlock
9 — Defensive backs, including safeties, from DII schools in the NFL playoffs, the most from any position. Wide receivers were the second most represented with five.
11 — DII players on NFC rosters, up one from last season.
15 — DII players on AFC rosters, up three from last year.
MORE: 11 record-breaking numbers from the 2018 DII football championsip
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | ||
| John Brown | WR | Pittsburg State |
| Brandon Carr | CB | Grand Valley State |
| Matthew Judon | LB | Grand Valley State |
| Zach Sieler | DT | Ferris State |
| Brandon Williams | DT | Missouri Southern |
| Chicago Bears | ||
| Eric Kush | OG | California (Pa) |
| Adam Shaheen | TE | Ashland |
| Dallas Cowboys | ||
| C.J. Goodwin | CB | California (Pa) |
| Jeff Heath | S | Saginaw Valley State |
| Chris Jones | P | Carson-Newman |
| Houston Texans | ||
| Tyrell Adams | LB | West Georgia |
| Vyncint Smith | WR | Limestone |
| Indianapolis Colts | ||
| Pierre Desir | CB | Lindenwood |
| Kenny Moore II | CB | Valdosta State |
| Grover Stewart | DT | Albany State |
| Kansas City Chiefs | ||
| Tyreek Hill | WR | West Alabama |
| Ron Parker | DB | Newberry |
| Los Angeles Chargers | ||
| Austin Ekeler | RB | Western State |
| Jeff Richards | CB | Emporia State |
| Tyrell Williams | WR | Western Oregon |
| Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Marqui Christian | S | MSU Texas |
| Matt Longacre | LB | Northwest Missouri |
| Ethan Westbrooks | DE | West Texas A&M |
| Greg Zuerlein | K | Missouri Western |
| Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Tre Sullivan | S | Shepherd |
| Seattle Seahawks | ||
| David Moore | WR | East Central |
* — Active rosters per NFL.com team sites only. Practice squad, future contracts, and injured reserve players are not included.
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This is really awesome. I am affiliated with SVSU, home to Jeff Heath.
Do you have details about how many of the 26 were starters? Looking to share this article to our official SVSU social channels and was hoping to include a nugget about Health being among xx starters from DII schools. Thanks!