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| Kory Sperry diving for a dudge. (Getty Images) |
As we wait for the boys to start spring practice, we thought it would fun to go out and take a look at Rams that are currently in the NFL. Coach Kubiak of the Houston Texans must really like the Rams because there seems to be a lot on his roster.
79 Erik Pears | OT Buffalo Bills – 3rd String Tackle, has a chance to make the team due to experience (5 years), but unless there is an injury Pears doesn’t have a chance to contribute. Was signed as an undrafted Free Agent by the Denver Broncos in 2005 where he played a couple years. Also played for the Raiders for a brief stint. A three-year starter and two-time first team All-Mountain West Conference selection Pears played in 48 games with 40 starts for the Rams, including starts in each games in his final two seasons. Erik was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the Gridiron Classic after earning first team all-conference accolades in 2004.He was a preseason Outland Trophy candidate entering his junior year in 2003, and was named first team All-MWC as a junior. He started 13 of 14 games as a sophomore. Pears received honorable mention All-MWC honor. Erik made three starts as a redshirt freshman in 2001, making first career start in win vs. Utah.
78 Tommie Hill | DE Oakland Raiders - Hill was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Giants in 2009 where he was quickly waived. He then played ball in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions. He was just signed to a futures contract in January by the Raiders. He has a chance to make the team, but his chances are as good as me making Mila Kunis my baby’s momma. Here is an article on a big play he made in the preseason while with the New York football Giants, but that was the highlight of his career so far.
CLICK HERE Here is Tommie’s college accolades as described by his Wikipedia page- In 2008 Hill was one of two defensive team captains, who finished his CSU career by earning
New Mexico Bowl Defensive Player of the Game, started all 13 contests at his familiar right defensive end position and made 30 tackles (14 solo) and three sacks, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, two more passes broken up, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick. In 2007, as a junior, he played in all 12 games, starting nine, and established his career high with 47 tackles (26 solo); also had 5½ sacks and six tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. As a sophomore he saw playing time in all 12 games, starting four and ended season with 3 sacks. In 2005 he finished the season with 13 tackles, three for losses, in 10 games, including the
Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 22). Redshirted as a true freshman in his first year of eligibility in 2004.
82 Kory Sperry | TE San Diego Chargers - Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chargers in 2009. Is currently their 3rd string tight end. They use a lot of two tight end sets so he does see the field. He is a strong receiver at the tight end position. The Chargers having Antonio Gates on the Chargers does not help Kory very much. Should make the team, but that is not a given. Here is a bit of lazy journalism but the official CSU athletic website has enough Kory Sperry information about his outstanding collegiate career that they did my job for me. In fact, they give you a second by second account of every single game he participated in. Visits to the team physicians complete with physicians technique and what he ate for lunch before performing the surgery on his knee. Check it out:
CLICK HERE
68 Clint Oldenburg | OT Washington Redskins - Was drafted in the 5th round of the draft by the New England Patriots, but then preceded to bounce around from the Patriots to the Jets, to the Rams, to the Broncos, and to the Vikings. He settled in with Mike Shanahan and the Redskins and then cut. He was signed again by the Redskins to give it the ol’ college try this year. Odds are against him. Clint started 10 games as a sophomore. In 2005 Clint started all 12 games. He also was named to the ESPN The Magazine’s all-district team. Clint was also on the Academic All Conference team, and was honorable mention all conference. Besides being really smart Oldenburg also was a pretty good player and was voted preseason all-MWC second team.
27 Gartrell Johnson | RB Atlanta Falcons - Gartrell was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round in 2009. He was then cut and played the year with the New York Giants. He was then cut by the Giants and signed by Atlanta in September of 2010. He has a chance to make the team, but the Falcons have a talented backfield and he will have to play killer special teams to stay on the roster. Big Gartrellstarted 14 games combined his Sophomore and Junior seasons although he led the tem in rushing in both 2006 and 2007. In 2008 Gartrell was a first team all-MWC selection in 2008. He was also the Fum McGraw MVP, and the New Mexico Bowl offensive player of the game in CSU’s 40-35 victory over Fresno St. Gartrell destroyed Cecil Sapp’s CSU bowl record with 285 yards rushing on 27 carries.
12 Caleb Hanie | QB Chicago Bears - Everyone should remember Hanie coming into the NFC Championship game and quickly striking for 3 TD’s. Yeah, one was to the other team, but Hanie gave the Bears a chance until the end. He was their 3rd string QB, and is expected to be the 3rd string again this year. For some reason Mike Martz, the Bears offensive Coordinator does not feel comfortable having Hanie as the back up and said as much this offseason as he is looking for a back up for Cutler. Hanie will make the team, and the prediction here is that he will be the backup for Chicago by the end of the 2011 season.Here is Caleb’s Senior year page from the CSU athletic website:
CLICK HERE I remember when Caleb Hanie was a freshman and played when Justin Holland was hurt. He looked impressive and was a physical specimen with his size and ability.
85 Joel Dreessen | TE/LS Houston Texans - Joel was drafted in the 6th round by the New York Jets in 2005. He has made his home with the Houston Texans where it seems Gary Kubiak is stockpiling all of Klint’s old buddies. He replaced the injured Owen Daniels and played very well. He caught 36 passes for 518 yards and 4 TD’s. He was so impressive I actually grabbed him for my Fantasy Football Team. But it was short lived due to Daniels coming back toward the end of the season. Joel is a solid back up that will make the team.Here is an overview of Joel’s career at CSU from a USA Today NFL Draft page:
CLICK HERE Joel and Kory Sperry need to get in a dark alley and duke it out over who gets more love from the Ram Nation at the hybrid TE/H back position.
70 Cole Pemberton | T Houston Texans - Cole was an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans last year. He had no stats and is not likely to make the team in 2011. I wanted to have a ton of comprehensive links to great things that Cole did in his legendary career at CSU, but the only relevant thing fans would care about is he allowed only 1 sack in all 2009, and was an honorable mention all conference selection. Apparently this was good enough for Gary Kubiak to keep him on his NFL roster.
71 Shelley Smith | G Houston Texans - Shelley was a 6th round draft pick by the Texans in 2010. He also has no stats. He is currently 3rd string, which means he needs to stand out in camp this year to make the team. Given the fact that Gary Kubiak has a man crush on Colorado State he might try to add him to the practice squad if he is waived. Was a second team all MWC his Junior year and a Preseason all-MWC his Senior year before an injury caused him to end the year as just an honorable mention. Which means this was impressive enough for Gary Kubiak to give Shelley a shot with the Texans.
65 Mike Brisiel | C Houston Texans - Mike was signed by the Houston Texans in 2006. Brisiel is a guard but listed as the back up Center. He threw a key block against the Dolphins to score Quarterback Matt Schaub for the decisive score on October 12th 2008. Brisiel is a key back up for the Texans on the line and should be on the team in 2011. How do I know this. Wikipedia performs magic. The magic disappears though when tracking down his college heroics. Brisiel was apparently an average joe, doing average things, with average flows because I cannot find anything about his college career. Apparently his NFL career is better than his college career.
72 Jesse Nading | DE Houston Texans - Jesse was signed as an undrafted Free Agent in 2008. He played a little in 2008 and made 6 tackles. He was on the practice squad in 2009, and was signed to a future contract in January of 2010 where he had 10 tackles and a sack. He is still on the team, and will fight to stay there this year. Jesse started all 12 games at defensive end in 2007, collecting 56 tackles (19 solo), 6½ tackles for loss, 3½ sacks, one INT, one pass breakup and three fumble recoveries and was Second-team All-Conference honors. In 2006 as a junior he started at defensive end in 11 of the team's 12 games and made 33 tackles (2 for a loss) ½ a sack and 2 passes broken up. In 2005 he was named honorable mention All-conference and finished season with 56 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks and one intercepted pass and a forced fumble.
89 David Anderson | WR Houston Texans- David was drafted in the 7th Round by the Texans in 2006. He was cut then signed 4 weeks later where he has remained ever since. He has recorded 81 receptions for 886 yards and 4 TD’s in his career. He is a solid special teamer as well as a receiver. He should be too valuable for Gary not to keep around. Anderson was listed as number one and two in season receptions with 86 in 2005 and 75 in 2003. Anderson was listed number two and three in receptions per game with 12 against Colorado in 2005 and 12 against BYU in 2004. Anderson was listed as number one, two and eight in total yards per season with 1,282 (2003), 1,221 (2005) and 940 (2004). Anderson was listed as number one and six in touchdown receptions per season with 10 (2003) and 8 (2005). Anderson was number two, five and ten on the all time list for receiving yards per game, second to Greg Primus with 256 yards against Hawaii in 1991, with 233 against Brigham Young University in 2004, 199 against Air Force in 2003 and 169 against Wyoming in 2005.Anderson was number one on the Rams all time receiving lists for career yards (3,634) and career receptions (223).
53 Clark Haggans | LB Arizona Cardinals - Clark is CSU’s all time leader in sacks with 33. Clark was drafted in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000. He became a starter in 2004, and won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers. He has 408 career tackles, 38.5 sacks and 1 interception. He was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals in 2008. Clark has been a solid starter and has had a stellar career.
55 Joey Porter | LB Arizona Cardinals - Joey was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999. Joey was a four time pro bowler, and was a second team all pro 3 times. He was a first team all pro in 2002. Joey was a super bowl XL champion with the Steelers, and was named to the all decade team for the 2000’s. To add a cherry on top and the accolade I am most impressed with. Joey was labeled the most intimidating player in the league by Sports Illustrated, and was a vocal leader for one of the best defenses of the decade. He also was ejected November 14th 2004 for getting into a pregame fistfight with the Cleveland Browns William Green. Joey Porter will always be considered the best pro athlete to come out of Colorado State on reputation alone. Porter started out as an H-back for CSU, but moved to end his Junior year. In just two seasons at end for the Rams, Porter notched 22 quarterback sacks, the fourth-highest career total in school history. In 1998, Porter tied the single-season school record with 15 sacks held by Brady Smith, who also went on to enjoy a long NFL career. Porter was named first-team all-conference as a senior in 1998, and played in the East-West Shrine and the Senior Bowl all-star games following his senior season. He was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior in 1997, when he played a critical role in the Rams' 11-2 season that included a conference championship and win over Missouri in the Holiday Bowl. The Rams concluded the season ranked 13th nationally, the highest end-of-season ranking in school history.
Who knows... maybe we'll see some of these guys in the UFL if the NFL doesn't get their act together.
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