Florida colleges still repped in NFL playoffs
The final four teams in the NFL have punched their tickets to the conference championship round this weekend, as the journey to next month’s Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium continues on Sunday.
With the AFC and NFC Championships Games set, former players from several Florida colleges will competing on Sunday. Here’s a breakdown, in alphabetical order, of players who attended Florida colleges who will be participating in the conference championships. You might be surprised which college teams have multiple players still in the hunt for the Super Bowl.
LB Azeez Al-Shaair,
San Francisco 49ers College: FAU (2015-18)
Short slant: The former FAU standout is making the most of his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2018, FAU’s all-time leading tackler managed to fully recover and totaled 15 tackles in 15 games for
the 49ers at the SAM linebacker position.
Al-Shaair was signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco in 2019.
OT Cam Erving, Kansas City Chiefs College: Florida State (2010-14)
Short slant: After being traded to the Chiefs by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, Erving has served as the team’s back-up left tackle and has played in 40 games for Kansas City.
Erving, who was the Browns’ first-round pick (No. 19) in 2015, has successfully made the transition from offensive guard to the offensive tackle position.
TE Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers
College: Miami (2005-09) Short slant: Graham, the former Miami Hurricanes’ basketball and football standout, has hauled in 38 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns this season.
The five-time Pro Bowl pick is in his 10th season in the NFL and ranks fourth in NFL history among tight ends with 71 career touchdown receptions.
The 2010 third-round pick (No. 95) signed with the Packers in 2018 after stints with the Seattle Seahawks (2015-17) and the New Orleans Saints (2010-14). He is the only former Hurricanes player in the conference titles.
S Marcell Harris, San Francisco 49ers
College: Florida (2013-17) Short slant: Harris, who spent the early parts of his career on injured reserve, has put together a career season in 2019 after being activated from the 49ers’ practice squad in October.
The 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 184) by San Francisco has compiled 40 total tackles, five pass deflections and three forced fumbles in the 13 games in which he he has appeared.
DT Joey Ivie, Tennessee Titans
College: Florida (2013-16) Short slant: After bouncing around from team-toteam
in the early parts of his career, Ivie has managed to earn a roster spot with the Tennessee Titans.
Ivie, who signed with Tennessee on Nov. 26 after spending five games with Kansas City to start the season, has appeared in three games for the team without recording a statistic.
The former Florida Gator began his pro career with the Dallas Cowboys after being picked in the seventh round (No. 228) of the 2017 draft.
K Greg Joseph, Tennessee Titans
College: FAU (2013-17) Short slant: The American Heritage-Delray High School graduate and former Owl joined the Titans before Week 16 of the regular season after Ryan Succop was placed on injured reserve.
In the four games he’s appeared in for the Titans, including two of their postseason games, Joseph has been perfect from the extra-point mark, at 15-for-15.
The second-year NFL player has yet to attempt a field goal for Tennessee but was 17 of 20 while with the Cleveland Browns last season.
DT Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs College: Florida State (2014-17)
Short slant: Nnadi has played a key role in the Chiefs’ defensive lineman rotation this season.
The 2018 third-round pick (No. 75) by Kansas City has excelled in his second year, recording 47 total tackles, one sack, one interception, one pass deflection and one forced fumble.
Want a weird coincidence? In Kansas City, Nnadi gets to hear the same war chant from fans that Seminoles fans made popular.
C Austin Reiter, Kansas City Chiefs
College: USF (2010-14) Short slant: The Chiefs’ starting center is part of a Kansas City offensive line that has only allowed 25 sacks this season and helped the Chiefs rack up 1,569 rushing yards in the regular season.
Reiter, who is in second year with Kansas City, came to the Chiefs after being
claimed off of waivers in 2018.
The former South Florida Bull previously played for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins.
WR Demarcus Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs
College: Florida (2013-15) Short slant: The former 2016 fourth-round draft pick (No. 126) has impressed in his fourth season with the Chiefs.
Robinson has been putting up career-high numbers this season, hauling in 32 receptions for 449 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season.
He’s the last of three former Florida Gators in the conference championships, the most of any college in the state.
TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
College: FIU (2013-16) Short slant: Smith, a three-year pro, had been the understudy of veteran tight end Delanie Walker since he came into the league in 2017. Now a starter, Smith has put together career season for himself, catching 35 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
Last season, the thirdround pick of the 2017 draft (No. 100) began to make a name for himself by recording 20 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns. He is the only former Panther in the conference championships.
WR Marquez ValdesScantling, Green Bay Packers
College: USF (2016-2017) Short slant: The secondyear wide out has proven to be one of the up-and-coming players on the Packers’ offense. Valdes-Scantling, who has become one of Aaron Rodgers’ most reliable targets, caught 26 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season.
The USF single-season receiving yards leader (879) strung together a productive rookie campaign in 2018 as he recorded 38 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns.
Valdes-Scantling came to Green Bay after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2018 draft (No. 174).