How former Michigan State players and Greater Lansing stars fared in the NFL this season
Another NFL regular season is in the books.
The action this fall included 16 former Michigan State players making appearances in games and 18 total being on rosters. And a trio of Greater Lansing graduates also appeared in game action.
Here’s a look at how the former Spartans and area standouts fared this season.
THE FORMER SPARTANS
Brian Allen
▶ Team: Los Angeles Rams
The starting center had an injury-plagued season, battling knee, thumb and calf injuries that kept him out of the lineup for L.A. He made seven appearances – all starts – for the Rams.
AJ Arcuri
▶ Team: Los Angeles Rams
The rookie offensive tackle made eight appearances and made one start for the Rams.
Joe Bachie
▶ Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Playing in his second season in Cincinnati, the linebacker made 10 appearances and recorded 10 tackles for the AFC North champion Bengals.
Jack Conklin
▶ Team: Cleveland Browns
The seventh-year NFL offensive tackle made 14 appearances – all starts – in his third season and recently signed a four-year contract extension for more than $60 million.
Kirk Cousins
▶ Team: Minnesota Vikings
The veteran quarterback started all 17 games this season while leading the Vikings to the NFC North title. He completed 424 of 643 passes for 4,547 yards and 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his 11th NFL season. He helped Minnesota to a 13-4 mark that included the largest comeback in NFL history in a Week 15 39-36 overtime road win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Andrew Dowell
▶ Team: New Orleans Saints
The linebacker appeared in all 17 games for the Saints in his third professional season and registered seven tackles and had two forced fumbles.
William Gholston
▶ Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The veteran defensive lineman started nine of the 17 games he appeared in and made 49 tackles for the Bucs. He had four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery while helping Tampa Bay win the NFC South crown.
Connor Heyward
▶ Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
The rookie tight end appeared in all 17 games and had 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers. He also had two carries for 27 yards.
Brian Hoyer
▶ Team: New England Patriots
The veteran quarterback appeared in one game and completed 5 of 6 passes for 37 yards for the Patriots.
Naquan Jones
▶ Team: Tennessee Titans
The second-year defensive tackle made 11 appearances and started one game for Titans. He registered 16 tackles, which included two for loss.
Justin Layne
▶ Team: Carolina Panthers
The fourth-year cornerback split this season between the New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Panthers. He made seven appearances with the Giants and then played in a pair of games for the Bears. Layne, who totaled four tackles, didn’t appear in any games with Carolina after being claimed off waivers in December.
Jalen Nailor
▶ Team: Minnesota Vikings
The rookie wide receiver made 15 appearances and had nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown for the NFC North champion Vikings. Most of his production came in Week 17 and 18 for Minnesota as he scored his first TD and had a career-high 89 yards in a loss to Green Bay and finished with a career-best four catches in a win over the Bears.
Taybor Pepper
▶ Team: San Francisco 49ers
The long snapper made 17 appearances for the NFC West champion 49ers in his fifth NFL season. This was Pepper’s third season with the 49ers.
Matt Sokol
▶ Team: New England Patriots
The tight end made three appearances this season for the Patriots. The game action this season was the first for Sokol since appearing in two games in 2020.
Kenneth Walker III
▶ Team: Seattle Seahawks
The rookie running back had a strong debut season while helping the Seahawks secure the seventh and final spot in the NFC playoffs. He started 11 of the 15 games he appeared in and had 228 carries for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns. Walker also had 27 catches for 165 yards. He had five 100-yard rushing games, including the final three of the regular season.
Cody White
▶ Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
The receiver made one appearance for the Steelers and had a reception for two yards.
Raequan Williams
▶ Team: Carolina Panthers
The defensive tackle didn’t appear in any games this season but spent time on the practice squad for Carolina.
Kenny Willekes
▶ Team: Minnesota Vikings
The defensive end spent this season on injured reserve.
THE LOCAL PRODUCTS
Taylor Moton
▶ Team: Carolina Panthers
The Okemos graduate and former Western Michigan standout started all 17 games at offensive tackle for the Panthers while playing in his sixth NFL season.
Cooper Rush
▶ Team: Dallas Cowboys
The Charlotte native, Lansing Catholic graduate and former Central Michigan star made nine appearances at quarterback for the Cowboys this season and five starts in place of the injured Dak Prescott. Rush completed 94 of 162 passes for five touchdowns and Dallas went 4-1 in his starts.
Ray Wilborn
▶ Team: Denver Broncos
The Sexton grad and former Ball State standout made his first two NFL appearances in the final weeks of the regular season at linebacker for the Broncos. He played in 31 snaps. The Broncos signed Wilborn to a futures contract Monday.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: How former Michigan State and Greater Lansing players fared in NFL
