.large_content p{float:left; width:100%;}
OK folks, we’re less than two weeks away from the Jan. 9 FCS National Championship between North Dakota State and Jacksonville State. We will have in-depth coverage and features about the two teams every day from Dec. 28 until Jan. 9.
RELATED: North Dakota State’s top five NFL players
Today, we take a look at both North Dakota State and Jacksonville State’s NFL products and how they performed. We’re ranking the best five products of each school. See if you agree or disagree, and leave a comment underneath the story so we can debate you. And thanks for reading!
JACKSONVILLE STATE TO THE NFL
ALL-TIME NFL PLAYERS: 15
HIGHEST DRAFT PICK: Jesse Baker, DE (2nd round, 50th overall NFL Pick in 1979- Houston)
MOST RECENT DRAFT PICK: Alan Bonner, WR (6th round, 195th overall NFL Pick in 2013- Houston)
FIRST NFL PLAYER: Terry Owens, OL (1966-1975)
2016 POSSIBILITIES: Defensive linemen Devaunte Sigler and Lamichael Fanning began their careers at Auburn and Alabama, respectively, and both are intriguing pro prospects who have some off-the-field baggage to contend with, along with injuries in 2015. Sigler still received second team Ohio Valley Conference accolades, despite only playing in six games. The 6-foot-7 Fanning only played in 3 before suffering a season ending injury. It’ll be interesting to see if one or both of these two get a shot, and keep an eye on RB Troymaine Pope, too. Could he get into a camp and become a special teams guy? He’s had a whale of a senior season.
So let’s take a look at the best five Jacksonville State products to ever play in the NFL. HERO Sports’ Mr. FCS (AKA Brian McLaughlin) ranks them:
[divider]
5. JESSE BAKER, DE
NFL YEARS: 9 (1979-87)
NFL TEAMS: Houston Oilers (and one short stint with Dallas)
YEARS AT JSU: 1975-78
DRAFTED?: 2nd round, 50th overall pick of 1979 draft- Houston
THE QUICK TAKE: Baker played in 128 career games in the NFL, with 67 being starts. He recorded 35 tackles (after the league began recording them in 1982) and scored a defensive touchdown his rookie year in Houston. His best stretch was 1983 to 1985 when he started and played in every single game for the Oilers. He also recorded 7.5 sacks in the abbreviated nine-game 1982 season, making one wonder what he would have done in a full 16-game season.
[divider]
4. KEITH MCKELLER, TE
NFL YEARS: 7 (1987-1993)
NFL TEAMS: Buffalo Bills
YEARS AT JSU: 1986 (walked on for one season, catching 26 passes for 449 yards and 3 TDs; primarily played basketball at JSU)
DRAFTED?: 9th round, 227th overall pick 1987 draft- Buffalo
THE QUICK TAKE: McKeller was quite the athlete, playing basketball for four years for the Gamecocks before playing just one year of football. He went on to a nice NFL career where he caught 124 passes for 1,464 yards and 11 TDs, while also serving as a key blocker in the no-huddle K-Gun offense (named after him) that led the Bills to four Super Bowl appearances.
[divider]
3. ALVIN WRIGHT, DL/NT
NFL YEARS: 7 (1986-1992)
NFL TEAMS: Los Angeles Rams (with a short stint with Cleveland)
YEARS AT JSU: 1981-85
DRAFTED?: Undrafted free agent
THE QUICK TAKE: After redshirting in 1981, Wright was a four-year starter for the Gamecocks. In the NFL, he became a very effective “hole plugger” nose tackle in the Rams’ 3-4 defense. While his stats may not glisten like a defensive end with 15 sacks a year, he was a pivotal player for the Rams, pretty much a full-time starter from 1988 to 1991. In 1990 he was named a second-team All-NFC selection by the UPI.
[divider]
2. TERRY OWENS, OL
NFL YEARS: 10 (1966-75)
NFL TEAMS: San Diego Chargers
YEARS AT JSU: 1962-65
DRAFTED?: Undrafted free agent
THE QUICK TAKE: Owens was an 8-year starter in the NFL and played for 10 seasons. He was drafted by both the AFL and NFL, but chose to go with the AFL in 1966, signing with San Diego. He played in 132 career games, starting 46. He passed away in 2012, diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy–repeated brain trauma that has been a major topic of discussion in recent years with NFL veterans.
[divider]
1. ERIC DAVIS, DB
Jacksonville State alum Eric Davis was an NFL mainstay
NFL YEARS: 13 (1990-2002)
NFL TEAMS: San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers (short stints at Denver and Detroit).
YEARS AT JSU: 1986-89 (finished his senior season with 51 tackles, 6 INTs)
DRAFTED?: 2nd round, 53rd overall pick, 1990 draft- San Francisco
THE QUICK TAKE: There’s really no question Davis is the most successful NFL pro the Gamecocks have ever produced. He played for 13 years, three more than any other JSU alum, and he started 9 seasons. He was a Pro Bowler twice and All-Pro three times–while also winning a Super Bowl ring. He had 44 career INTs, while scoring 5 TDs. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in consecutive NFL playoff games (five) with at least one INT.
