SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Twelve former Southern Conference football players are on NFL 53-man rosters, with an additional seven on practice rosters.
Samford leads the way with four former players on active rosters, followed by former SoCon member Georgia Southern with three. Former league member App State and The Citadel have two each, while Western Carolina has one.
Chattanooga has a SoCon-best four on practice squads. App State, Furman and Western Carolina each have one alum on a practice squad.
Former Citadel wide receiver Andre Roberts, former Samford defensive back James Bradberry and former Georgia Southern kicker Younghoe Koo, who played in the SoCon as a freshman, were Pro Bowlers last season.
NFL season-opening rosters contain more than 140 former FCS players, according to
Stats Perform.
53-man rosters
Player, NFL team (SoCon school, years in SoCon)
Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons (Georgia Southern, 2013)
Nick Williams, DE, Detroit Lions (Samford, 2009-10)
Michael Pierce, DT, Minnesota Vikings (Samford, 2013-15)
James Bradberry, CB, New York Giants (Samford, 2012-15)
Keion Crossen, DB, New York Giants (Western Carolina, 2014-17)
Jaquiski Tartt, S, San Francisco 49ers (Samford 2011-14)
Matt Breida, RB, Buffalo Bills (Georgia Southern, 2013)
Sam Martin, P, Denver Broncos (Appalachian State, 2009-12)
Andre Roberts, WR, Houston Texans (The Citadel, 2006-09)
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (Georgia Southern, 2010-13)
Dee Delaney, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (The Citadel, 2013-16; finished career at Miami)
Kendall Lamm, OT, Tennessee Titans (Appalachian State, 2011-13)
Practice squads
Player, NFL team (SoCon school, years in SoCon)
John Brannon, Carolina Panthers (Western Carolina, 2015-19)
Kareem Orr, Los Angeles Rams (Chattanooga, 2017-18)
Dakota Dozier, Minnesota Vikings (Furman, 2010-13)
C.J. Board, WR, New York Giants (Chattanooga, 2013-16)
Ronald Blair, New York Jets (App State, 2011-13)
Dee Virgin, San Francisco 49ers (Chattanooga, 2012-15; finished career at West Alabama)
Corey Levin, G, Tennessee Titans (Chattanooga, 2012-13)