Stanford Players on NFL 53-Man Rosters
Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • 1st season • @HenryAnderson91
Anderson will make his NFL debut as a projected starter against Buffalo on Sunday. The versatile defensive lineman was drafted in the third round with the 93rd overall pick by the Colts.
Johnson Bademosi • DB • Cleveland Browns • 4th season • @j_bademosi24
Bademosi’s value comes in many forms to the Browns, who use him as a cornerback, safety, and special teamer.
Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • 5th season • @DougBaldwinJr
Baldwin enters 2015 as Seattle’s most established receiver. The former Cardinal standout has 196 career receptions, 2,757 receiving yards and at least three touchdowns in each of his four NFL seasons.
David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • 4th season
The former All-American at Stanford played 1,111 snaps for the Steelers in 2014, paving the way for Le’Veon Bell’s 1,361 rushing yards.
Jim Dray • TE • Cleveland Browns • 6th season
Dray earned this reputation as a skilled blocking tight end long ago when his efforts allowed Toby Gerhart to finish as runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2009.
Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • 3rd season • @ZERTZ_86
Ertz racked up seven touchdowns on 94 receptions his first two years in the league. His status for the Eagles’ opener against Atlanta is in question, having underwent core muscle surgery on Aug. 14th.
Coby Fleener • TE • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season • @Coby
Since joining the league, Fleener’s targets, receiving yards, yards per catch, and touchdown totals have increased each season. Last season, he grabbed eight touchdowns from his former Stanford colleague Andrew Luck.
Toby Gerhart • RB • Jacksonville Jaguars • 6th season • @Toby_Gerhart
Gerhart has at least one touchdown in each of his five NFL seasons. Now healthy, the former Cardinal tailback looks to bounce back from a 2014 season limited by injuries.
Ryan Hewitt • H-B • Cincinnati Bengals • 2nd season • @Huey_85
Fullback is a dying breed in the NFL, but Hewitt’s role as a hybrid fullback/tight end remains integral to the Bengals’ success. Last season, Cincinnati ranked sixth in rushing offense, thanks in large part to Hewitt.
Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season
The former No. 1 overall pick has 86 touchdowns, 12,957 passing yards and a 86.6 QB rating in three NFL seasons. An NFL MVP-caliber player, Luck will try to lead the Colts to a third-consecutive AFC South title.
Matthew Masifilo • G • Tampa Bay Buccaneers • 2nd season • @MMasifilo
Masifilo, a defensive end since entering the league in 2012 and throughout his Stanford career, made the switch to guard this offseason. Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith cites Masifilo’s intelligence as his most intangible characteristic.
Josh Mauro • DE • Arizona Cardinals • 2nd season • @JustJoshin90
Nine days after he was signed by Arizona from the Steelers’ practice squad last season, Mauro made his first NFL start. Mauro’s versatility across the defensive line will be valuable to the Cardinals in 2015.
Ty Montgomery • WR • Green Bay Packers • 1st season • @TyMontgomery2
A season-ending injury to Jordy Nelson could open the door for Montgomery to make a strong impact as quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ third-choice target. The former Cardinal standout has earned rave reviews from Green Bay training camp.
Trent Murphy • LB • Washington Redskins • 2nd season • @TMurphy_93
Murphy was recently named Washington’s starting strong-side linebacker, a role he made his own in 2014. The former second-rounder had 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in eight starts as a rookie.
Chris Owusu • WR • New York Jets • 5th season • @Owusu81
The former Buccaneer will be utilized as both a wide receiver and kick returner. In 2009, as a member of the Cardinal, Owusu set a single-season school record with three kickoffs returned for touchdowns.
David Parry • DT • Indianapolis Colts • 1st season • @DavidParry58
Parry was recently named the starting nose tackle by the Colts, who will line up with two Stanford rookies on its defensive line in Parry and Henry Anderson.
Andrus Peat • OT • New Orleans Saints • 1st season • @AndrusPeat
Peat was Stanford’s highest-drafted player in the 2015 draft at 13th overall. It remains unclear where and when Peat will be featured in the New Orleans offense.
Jordan Richards • DB • New England Patriots • 1st season
Richards featured at both strong and free safety for the Patriots in the preseason. The second-round pick makes his NFL debut on Thursday against Pittsburgh.
Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • 5th season • @RSherman_25
Arguably the top cover corner in the NFL, Sherman has helped the Seahawks reach two consecutive Super Bowls. His 24 interceptions in four seasons lead all NFL players over that span.
Shayne Skov • LB • San Francisco 49ers • 1st season • @ShayneSkov
Now in his second stint with the 49ers, Skov has found a home in Eric Mangini’s aggressive defense. The former undrafted linebacker led San Francisco in tackles during the preseason with 18.
A.J. Tarpley • LB • Buffalo Bills • 1st season • @AJTarpley
The undrafted linebacker made six tackles, including one for a loss, and defended a pass in the Bills’ preseason finale, earning him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Stepfan Taylor • RB • Arizona Cardinals • 3rd season • @KULABAFI
Stanford’s career leader in carries has made a name for himself as one of the most consistent performers on the Cardinals. His contributions in the backfield and on special teams make him invaluable to Arizona’s run at the NFC West in 2015.
Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • 3rd season • @Michael31Thomas
The Dolphins rewarded Thomas’ strong play in 2014 with an extension through 2015. The versatile defensive back can line up in nickel packages as both a slot corner and a safety.
Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • 3rd season • @LevineToilolo
Toilolo impressed as both a run-blocking and pass-catching tight end in training camp. In two NFL seasons, he has 42 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns.
Griff Whalen • WR • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season • @GriffWhalen
Whalen made the 53-man roster as the fifth and final receiver in Andrew Luck’s arsenal. His special teams output makes him a valuable piece of the Colts’ bid for a third-straight AFC South title.
Players on Injured Reserve
Alex Carter • CB • Detroit Lions • 1st season • @AlexCarter
The third-round pick sustained an ankle injury in training camp and will be sidelined through at least the first half of the 2015 season.
Tyler Gaffney • RB • New England Patriots • 2nd season
A former sixth-round pick, Gaffney was injured in the first week of Patriots training camp. After clearing waivers, the Patriots placed him on their short-term injury reserve list.
Players on NFL Practice Squads
Cameron Fleming • OG • New England Patriots • 2nd season • @cammyjfresh
Fleming appeared in seven games with two starts as a rookie in 2014 with New England. The former fourth-rounder was named to the Patriots’ practice squad on Sunday.
Ed Reynolds • S • Philadelphia Eagles • 1st season
Reynolds spent last season on the Philadelphia practice squad. During the 2015 preseason, Reynolds had 13 tackles and two interceptions, both against the Colts on Aug. 16.
James Vaughters • LB • Green Bay Packers • 1st season • @JVaught9
Vaughters went undrafted in 2015, but nonetheless earned a role in the Packers organization. Vaughters beat out Jermauria Rasco and Adrian Hubbard for a spot on the Packers’ practice squad.
David Yankey • OG • Minnesota Vikings • 2nd season • @papa_yank
Yankey was signed to the Vikings practice squad on Sunday. The former All-American at Stanford was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft by Minnesota.