Record 6 CIS grads on NFL opening-day rosters

OTTAWA – A record six former Canadian Interuniversity Sport players are listed on National Football League rosters going into the 2014 NFL season, which kicks off Thursday night in Seattle.

This is the highest number of CIS grads to find themselves on NFL lineups at the same time since the first Canadian university product appeared in an official NFL game back in 1944. The previous high was five, in 2009.

All six former CIS standouts begin the campaign on their team’s active 53-man roster, including punter Jon Ryan (Regina) with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, defensive end Akiem Hicks (Regina) with New Orleans, defensive tackle Stefan Charles (Regina) with Buffalo, linebacker Henoc Muamba (St. Francis Xavier) with Indianapolis, offensive tackle Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (McGill) with Kansas City and offensive tackle David Foucault (Montreal) with Carolina.

Ryan, who last February became the first CIS grad to win the Super Bowl as a participant in the championship game, enters his ninth NFL campaign and his seventh with the Seahawks, after debuting with Green Bay in 2006 and 2007.

Hicks and Charles, former teammates with the U of R Rams, are going into their third and second seasons in the league, respectively, while Muamba, Duvernay-Tardif and Foucault are NFL rookies.

Muamba, who was selected first overall in the 2011 CFL draft, does have three seasons of professional football experience as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Duvernay-Tardif became the 11^th player in CIS history to be drafted into the NFL last May when the Chiefs picked him in the sixth round, 200^th overall. Foucault signed as a free-agent with the Panthers on May 19.

Going into the 2014 schedule, 26 former Canadian university stars have suited up for at least one official NFL contest (regular season or playoff) over the years, including Ryan, Hicks and Charles. A complete list is included below.

NOTE: Six other CIS grads were on NFL rosters until a few weeks ago but were recently released, including defensive end and 10-year NFL veteran Israel Idonije (Manitoba), defensive tackle Vaughn Martin (Western), linebacker Cory Greenwood (Concordia), defensive tackle Linden Gaydosh (Calgary), as well as long snappers Jorgen Hus (Regina) and Chad Rempel (Saskatchewan).

 

FORMER CIS PLAYERS ON 2014 NFL ROSTERS:

Stefan Charles, Regina, DT (Buffalo)

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OT, McGill (Kansas City)

David Foucault, OT, Montreal (Carolina)

Akiem Hicks, Regina, DE (New Orleans)

Henoc Muamba, LB, StFX (Indianapolis)

Jon Ryan, Regina, P (Seattle)

 

FORMER CIS PLAYERS RECENTLY RELEASED BY NFL TEAMS:

 

Linden Gaydosh, DT, Calgary (released by Carolina on Aug. 24)

Cory Greenwood, LB, Concordia (released by Detroit on Aug. 8)

Jorgen Hus, LS, Regina (released by St. Louis on Aug. 25)

Israel Idonije, DE, Manitoba (released by New York Giants on Aug. 30)

Vaughn Martin, DT, Western (released by Detroit on June 2)

Chad Rempel, LS, Saskatchewan (released by Chicago on Aug. 18)

 

ALL-TIME CIS PLAYERS IN THE NFL (at least one regular season or playoff game):

 

Stefan Charles, Regina, DT (Buffalo 2013)

Akiem Hicks, Regina, DE (New Orleans 2012-2013)

Jon Ryan, Regina, P (Seattle 2008-2013 / Green Bay 2006-2007)

Cory Greenwood, Concordia, LB (Kansas City 2010-2012)

Vaughn Martin, Western, DT (Miami 2013 / San Diego 2009-2012)

Israel Idonije, Manitoba, DE (Detroit 2013 / Chicago 2004-2012)

Samuel Giguère, Sherbrooke, WR (Indianapolis 2009)

Dan Federkeil, Calgary, OL (Indianapolis 2006-2009)

Steve Morley, Saint Mary’s, OG/OT (New York Jets 2005)

Randy Chevrier, McGill, LS/DE (Dallas & Cincinnati 2001)

Jean-Philippe Darche, McGill, LS (Seattle 2000-2006 / Kansas City 2007-2008)

Jerome Pathon, Acadia, REC (Indianapolis 1998-2001 / New Orleans 2002-2004 / Atlanta 2005)

Tim Tindale, Western, RB (Buffalo 1995-1997)

Mark Montreuil, Concordia, CB (San Diego 1995-1997)

Tyrone Williams, Western, WR (Dallas 1993)

Dean Dorsey, Toronto, K (Green Bay & Philadelphia 1988)

Brant Bengen, UBC, WR (Seattle 1987)

Dave Sparenberg, Western, OG (Cleveland 1987)

Brian Belway, Calgary, DE (Los Angeles Raiders 1987)

Mike Schad, Queen’s, OG (Los Angeles Rams 1987-1988 / Philadelphia 1989-1993)

Ken Clark, Saint Mary’s, P (Los Angeles Rams 1979)

Brian Fryer, Alberta, REC (Washington 1976)

Jim Young, Queen’s, RB/REC (Minnesota 1965-1966)

Bill Crawford, UBC, OG (New York Giants 1960)

Joe Krol, Western, K/RB (Detroit 1945)

Les Lear, Manitoba, OG/OT (Cleveland 1944-1945 / Los Angeles Rams 1946 / Detroit 1947)