SoCon Goes Pro: NFL Week 1
SoConSports.com will provide weekly notes of former SoCon players throughout the NFL season
The National Football League opened the 2021 season this week with 12 former Southern Conference football players on active rosters. The week was dominated by former SoCon defensive players who totaled 12 solo tackles, two sacks and a deflected pass.
Michael Pierce (Samford), who suited up for the first time for the Minnesota Vikings, made two sacks, marking his first career multi-sack game. In addition to his sacks, he made three solo tackles and totaled seven in the Vikings’ 27-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
There were three former SoCon football players in MetLife Stadium on Sunday, where the New York Giants hosted the Denver Broncos.
The Giants’ James Bradberry (Samford), who was ranked 74th in the NFL’s Top 100 List, was locked in on Sunday and recorded four solo tackles and deflected a pass against the Broncos.
His teammate Keion Crossen (Western Carolina) made one solo tackle.
Denver’s Sam Martin (Appalachian State) opened his season in New York with two punts averaging 39.0 yards.
Younghoe Koo (Georgia Southern) scored the Atlanta Falcons’ only points in their season-opening 32-6 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles. Koo, entering his fourth year in the NFL, connected on both of his field goal attempts.
Andre Roberts (The Citadel) played in his first game as a Houston Texan and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. He also returned three punts for 17 yards. The Texans took home their first win of the season, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-21.
Bradberry, Koo and Roberts were all Pro Bowlers last season.
Jaquiski Tartt (Samford) made four solo tackles and had two assists in the San Francisco 49ers’ 41-33 season-opening win at the Detroit Lions.
See below for the full roundup of former SoCon NFL player week one stats:
Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons (Georgia Southern, 2013)
Week 1 vs. Philadelphia Eagles: 2-for-2 on field goals, 6 points scored
Nick Williams, DE, Detroit Lions (Samford, 2009-10)
Week 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers: 1 assisted tackle
Michael Pierce, DT, Minnesota Vikings (Samford, 2013-15)
Week 1 at Cincinnati Bengals: 3 solo tackles, 4 assists, 2 sacks
James Bradberry, CB, New York Giants (Samford, 2012-15)
Week 1 vs. Denver Broncos: 4 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 pass defended
Keion Crossen, DB, New York Giants (Western Carolina, 2014-17)
Week 1 vs. Denver Broncos: 1 solo tackle
Jaquiski Tartt, S, San Francisco 49ers (Samford 2011-14)
Week 1 at Detroit Lions: 4 solo tackles, 2 assists
Matt Breida, RB, Buffalo Bills (Georgia Southern, 2013)
Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4 carries for 4 yards
Sam Martin, P, Denver Broncos (Appalachian State, 2009-12)
Week 1 at New York Giants: 2 punts averaging 39.0 yards
Andre Roberts, WR, Houston Texans (The Citadel, 2006-09)
Week 1 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2 kick returns for 47 yards, 3 punt returns for 17 yards
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (Georgia Southern, 2010-13)
Week 1 vs. Cleveland Browns: Appeared in 33-29 win
Dee Delaney, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (The Citadel, 2013-16; finished career at Miami)
Week 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys: Appeared in 31-29 win
Kendall Lamm, OT, Tennessee Titans (Appalachian State, 2011-13)
Week 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals: Appeared in 28-13 loss
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)