Most fans know that LSU football currently sits atop the Southeastern Conference standings and the AP poll, but the Tigers also rank near the top of the list of most current NFL players produced. Miami leads all 252 NFL-player-producing colleges with 46 former players on NFL rosters at the kickoff of the 2007 season, while LSU falls into a tie for seventh with 32 players. Several noteworthy players are among the LSU alumni currently collecting NFL paychecks.
Joseph Addai Through four games this season, ex-Tiger Joseph Addai has put up impressive numbers out of the Indianapolis Colts’ backfield. Addai leads all NFL running backs in touchdowns with five and has compiled 407 rushing yards – good for No. 3 in the league. As a rookie this past season, he helped lead the Colts to a Super Bowl victory with 143 total yards against the Chicago Bears’ vaunted defense – just three years after his BCS National Championship with the Tigers. Addai made his contribution to the offense hard to overlook in 2006, filling the vacancy left by superstar Edgerrin James’ departure to Arizona. The Colts’ first pick in 2006 led all rookie running backs with 1,081 rushing yards and became the first NFL running back in history to gain 1,000 yards without starting a game – he split time with veteran Dominic Rhodes. Addai went on to start his first professional games in the playoffs. Addai gets the chance to improve upon his numbers this weekend when the Colts (4-0) host Tampa Bay – and Addai’s former Tiger teammate, receiver Michael Clayton.
Jamarcus Russell After the longest hold out in more than 20 years, No. 1 overall pick Jamarcus Russell now sits behind Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown and Andrew Walter on the Oakland Raiders’ depth chart. Through four games without Russell this season, the Raiders have gone 2-2, while the ex-Tiger has begun collecting at least $29.2 million guaranteed of a six-year $61 million contract – the most possible for a rookie contract. McCown started the beginning of the season but spent more time playing receiver this past season than quarterback in Detroit. The ever-talented Culpepper started Sunday against his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Culpepper threw two touchdowns and 75 yards on just 5 of 12 passing, adding three rushing touchdowns. The Raiders go into a week-five bye this weekend with McCown listed as questionable and Culpepper hoping he can reach the level of play he displayed before his 2005 injury. With Russell’s addition to the roster, the Raiders are awaiting more information on McCown’s injury before deciding whether to move current third-string Walter.
Alan Faneca At the quarter pole of the 2007 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have rushed for 168 yards per game – No. 3 in the league. At the heart of one of the best offensive lines in the game is ex-Tiger left guard Alan Faneca. Faneca, one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, has been with the Steelers since the team drafted him in the first round of the 1998 draft. Tied as the longest tenured Steeler, Faneca has been selected to the past six Pro-Bowls, starting five. Faneca’s stint with the Steelers is over at the end of this season, however, because of the team’s philosophy of not extending large contracts to players, according to sportingnews.com Faneca, who helped spring Willie Parker for the longest rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history, will likely be a highly coveted free agent in the offseason.
Corey Webster/Travis Daniels New York Giants’ cornerback Corey Webster has started 2007 slowly with five tackles and no interceptions, while Travis Daniels has already put up 13 tackles, an interception and a safety for the Miami Dolphins. Webster and Daniels formed one of the country’s top cornerback duos for LSU’s 2003 championship run and 2004 season before being drafted by the Giants and Dolphins, respectively. Webster, now a starter, primarily backed up veteran Will Allen his rookie year with the Giants before Allen moved on to Miami where he starts across from Daniels. The two now have combined for four career interceptions – including Daniels’ pick of former Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell in the season opener. While Webster’s Giants face the first season of the post-Tiki Barber era this year, Daniels faces his first collegiate or professional season not coached by current Alabama coach Nick Saban, who moved from LSU to Miami in Daniels’ rookie year.
Kevin Mawae While casual fans may not recognize his name, Kevin Mawae has put together an impressive 14-year career at center for three different teams. The ex-Tiger was inducted into the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame on Sept. 25. Currently anchoring Tennessee’s line, Mawae has helped the Titans to the second-best rushing average per game this season. The second-round pick spent the first four years of his career (1994-1997) with the Seattle Seahawks before moving on to the New York Jets for eight (1998-2005). During that time, Mawae managed to establish himself as one of the top centers in the game and was selected to the Pro-Bowl six consecutive years (1999-2004) before losing his 2005 season to injury. Mawae, 36, now on the downside of his career, goes to work at home this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, and time will tell if Vince Young can help deliver him an elusive Super Bowl ring.
Devery Henderson The New Orleans Saints have started the 2007 season slowly by dropping their first three games, and receiver Devery Henderson has not done much to help. Henderson has caught only four passes for a combined 45 yards and no touchdowns compared to eight receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns through three games this past season. Tiger fans may remember Henderson from the receiving end of Marcus Randall’s game-winning touchdown pass at Kentucky in 2002 – the play known as the “Bluegrass Miracle.” More recently, Louisiana sports fans may remember Henderson’s scoring the first offensive touchdown in the Superdome’s 2006 reopening on Monday Night Football. Henderson scored on a double-reverse after taking a handoff from then-rookie running back Reggie Bush. The Saints’ 2004 second-round pick has not been a force in the NFL, but his numbers this past season did show improvement over his 2005 statistics. After 343 yards and three touchdowns on 22 receptions in 2005, Henderson managed to put up 745 yards and five touchdowns on 32 receptions in 2006 – plus the double-reverse score against the Falcons. Henderson and the Saints will have their first chance to turn their 2007 season around Sunday when the division rival Carolina Panthers travel to New Orleans.
—-Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]