Above: Several former Huskers, who have played in the NFL, returned to Memorial Stadium for the Spring Game in April 2018.
The National Football League returns this week and 27 former Husker football players will represent Nebraska on their sport’s biggest stage this season. Eighteen former Huskers were signed to teams’ 53-man active roster, while an additional four made practice squads. The remaining four have been place on the injured/reserve list.
NFL veterans and former Blackshirts include Stanley Jean-Baptiste (Baltimore Raves, IR), Prince Amukamara (Chicago Bears), Maliek Collins (Dallas Cowboys), Randy Gregory (Dallas Cowboys), Ndamukong Suh (Los Angeles Rams), Vincent Valentine (New England Patriots, PS), Nathan Gerry, (Philadelphia Eagles), Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Will Compton (Tennessee Titans).
On the offensive side of the ball, 11 veteran players represent Nebraska, including Alex Lewis (Baltimore Ravens), Jeremiah Sirles (Carolina Panthers, IR), Cethan Carter (Cincinnati Bengals, IR), Andy Janovich (Denver Broncos, Team Captain), Ameer Abdullah (Detroit Lions), Matt Slauson (Indianapolis Colts), Niles Paul (Jacksonville Jaguars), Rex Burkhead (New England Patriots), Quincy Enunwa (New York Jets), Spencer Long (New York Jets), Zach Sterup (Miami Dolphins) and Brent Qvale (New York Jets).
Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch and Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher represent the Huskers on special teams.
The list of Huskers in the NFL also includes rookies Tanner Lee (Jacksonville Jaguars, PS), Nick Gates (New York Giants, IR), Chris Jones (Arizona Cardinals, PS) and Joshua Kalu (Tennessee Titans, PS).
A complete list of Huskers in the NFL, as of Sept. 5, 2018, is below.
Chris Jones, DB, Arizona Cardinals, PS
Sam Koch, P, Baltimore Ravens
Alex Lewis, OT, Baltimore Ravens
Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Baltimore Raves, IR
Jeremiah Sirles, OG, Carolina Panthers, IR
Prince Amukamara, CB, Chicago Bears
Cethan Carter, TE, Cincinnati Bengals, IR
Maliek Collins, DT, Dallas Cowboys
Randy Gregory, DE, Dallas Cowboys
Brett Maher, K, Dallas Cowboys
Andy Janovich, FB, Denver Broncos, Team Captain
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions
Matt Slauson, OL, Indianapolis Colts
Niles Paul, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tanner Lee, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars, PS
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots
Vincent Valentine, DT, New England Patriots, PS
Nick Gates, G, New York Giants, IR
Quincy Enunwa, WR, New York Jets
Spencer Long, C, New York Jets
Brent Qvale, OL, New York Jets
Zach Sterup, OT, Miami Dolphins
Nathan Gerry, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Will Compton, LB, Tennessee Titans
Joshua Kalu, CB, Tennessee Titans, PS
PS = Practice Squad
IR = Injured Reserved