The locker room of the Kansas City Chiefs is a melting pot of players from across the country with different paths to the NFL.But four Chiefs players took a similar route from Baton Rouge to Kansas City. Former LSU players Rudy Niswanger, Dwayne Bowe, Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson have made the transition from hot, humid summers to cooler temperatures and from purple and gold to red and gold.The dominance of former Tigers in the NFL is becoming a new trend this decade, and 41 former Tigers are on active NFL rosters, while three more are on practice squads, and one is on injured reserve. The Tigers have had a player drafted in the first round of the NFL draft for six consecutive years, the longest active streak in college football.”The system we use to develop our players on and off the field, in the weight room, in the classroom, gives a great structure to those guys that leave here,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We do a good job recruiting. We develop them, and they go on to have success in the NFL.”NFL draft expert Mike Detillier said LSU’s recent success in sending players to the NFL stems from recruiting, the lifeline of any prominent team.”It’s part of the strategy Nick Saban had when he came to LSU,” Detillier said. “He built a 30-foot levee across the state. Very few of the top players left.”Wide receiver Michael Clayton and defensive end Marcus Spears began the six-year streak when they were drafted in 2004 — Saban’s last year at LSU.Miles had eight players drafted in the first round under his watch — running back Joseph Addai, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, safety LaRon Landry, wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis, and defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson.”Les has continued that same kind of recruiting,” Detillier said. “Now they are getting recruits to at least pay attention to them from any area of the country.”During the last decade, LSU has transformed itself into one of the elite college programs in terms of success at the professional level.”The schools more comparable to LSU right now are Ohio State, Oklahoma and USC,” Detillier said. “The greatest common denominator is the fact that success on the football field leads to success in the draft.”These former LSU players don’t only play in the 16 regular season games, but a total of 21 former Tigers have won a Super Bowl championship. Four of them participated in Super Bowl XLIII, with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Justin Vincent and cornerback Ryan Clark capturing Super Bowl rings.The Chiefs lead all NFL teams with four active players from LSU, while the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers rank second with three active players each. The longest tenured Tiger is Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae. He began his career for the Seattle Seahawks in 1994 before being a mainstay for the New York Jets for eight years. Mawae has made seven Pro Bowls during his career.”He’s been around forever,” said Rene Nadeau, football analyst for ESPN and TigerVision. “He is overlooked because of his position, but he’s been great in the NFL.”Albert Elias, NFL agent for former Tigers such as Randall Gay, Jarvis Green and Herman Johnson, said LSU players are sought after by NFL teams.”The track record of players that come out of LSU is great,” Elias said. “[NFL scouts] say they have superior athleticism and discipline.”LSU has continued to mold and develop players to make the jump from college football to the NFL. Top competition from the Southeastern Conference helps prepares LSU players for pro football, Detillier said.”The SEC is the closest thing to the National Football League,” Detillier said. “Scouts like that each and every week they are going up against top coaches, top players and great athletes. Those are the kind of guys you want to try to get in because the transition to the NFL is easier.”Nadeau said LSU’s recent success in the NFL doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, with offensive tackle Ciron Black, wide receiver Brandon LaFell and running back Charles Scott projected as potential first round picks.————Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]