Tigers impact felt in NFL
The 2012 NFL season opened Wednesday night when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
There are six former LSU players on those teams - Morris Claiborne, Nate Livings, Danny McCray and Marcus Spears with Dallas and Rueben Randle and Corey Webster with New York.
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There are 37 former Tigers on the 32 NFL rosters this season. Most of those players are on the defensive side of the football - eight linemen, three linebackers and ten backs.
Four of Gerry DiNardo's recruits - Todd McClure, Ryan Clark, Donnie Jones and Bradie James - are still in the NFL. Of the 33 remaining NFL players, current coach Les Miles signed 17 and former coach Nick Saban signed 16. All but nine of the 37 players completed their LSU careers under Miles.
Here is a breakdown of the 37 former LSU players in the NFL.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints - signed by Saban (2000); drafted in second round (2004)
Career stats: 218 catches, 3,983 yards, 19 touchdowns
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs - signed by Saban (2003); drafted in first round (2007)
Career stats: 356 catches, 4,927 yards, 36 touchdowns; 1 Pro Bowl selection, 1 All-Pro selection
Early Doucet, Arizona Cardinals - signed by Saban (2004); drafted in third round (2008)
Career stats: 110 catches, 1,277 yards, 7 touchdowns
Brandon LaFell, Carolina Panthers - signed by Miles (2005); drafted in third round (2010)
Career stats: 72 catches, 1,081 yards, 4 touchdowns
Rueben Randle, New York Giants - signed by Miles (2009); drafted in second round (2012)
Career stats: first year
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Todd McClure, Atlanta Falcons - signed by DiNardo (1995); drafted in seventh round (1999)
Career stats: 178 games, 175 starts
Stephen Peterman, Detroit Lions - signed by Saban (2000); drafted in third round (2004)
Career stats: 70 games, 66 starts
Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati Bengals - signed by Saban (2001); drafted in second round (2006)
Career stats: 86 games, 82 starts
Nate Livings, Dallas Cowboys - signed by Saban (2002); undrafted
Career stats: 48 games, 43 starts
Joe Barksdale, Oakland Raiders - signed by Miles (2007); drafted in third round (2011)
Career stats: 16 games, 0 starts
QUARTERBACKS
Matt Flynn, Seattle Seahawks - signed by Saban (2003); drafted in seventh round (2008)
Career stats: 1,015 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 92.8 quarterback rating
RUNNING BACKS
Quinn Johnson, Tennessee Titans - signed by Saban (2004); drafted in fifth round (2009)
Career stats: 8 catches, 60 yards
Keiland Williams, Detroit Lions - signed by Miles (2006); undrafted
Career stats: 456 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns, 3.7 yards per carry
Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots - signed by Miles (2007); drafted in third round (2011)
Career stats: 441 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 5.1 yards per carry
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Marcus Spears, Dallas Cowboys - signed by Saban (2001); drafted in first round (2005)
Career stats: 203 tackles, 9 sacks
Kyle Williams, Buffalo Bills - signed by Saban (2002); drafted in fifth round (2006)
Career stats: 301 tackles, 13½ sacks; 2 Pro Bowl selections, 1 All-Pro selection
Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs - signed by Saban (2004); drafted in first round (2008)
Career stats: 231 tackles, 4 sacks
Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs - signed by Saban (2004); drafted in first round (2009)
Career stats: 124 tackles, 2 sacks
Ricky Jean-Francois, San Francisco 49ers - signed by Miles (2005); drafted in seventh round (2009)
Career stats: 23 tackles, 1 sack
Al Woods, Pittsburgh Steelers - signed by Miles (2006); drafted in fourth round (2010)
Career stats: 19 tackles, ½ sack
Drake Nevis, Indianapolis Colts - signed by Miles (2007); drafted in third round (2011)
Career stats: 19 tackles
Michael Brockers, St. Louis Rams - signed by Miles (2009); drafted in first round (2012)
Career stats: first year
LINEBACKERS
Bradie James, Houston Texans - signed by DiNardo (1999); drafted in fourth round (2003)
Career stats: 744 tackles, 15½ sacks
Perry Riley, Washington Redskins - signed by Miles (2006); drafted in fourth round (2010)
Career stats: 75 tackles, 1 sack
Kelvin Sheppard, Buffalo Bills - signed by Miles (2006); drafted in third round (2011)
Career stats: 70 tackles
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers - signed by DiNardo (1997); undrafted
Career stats: 621 tackles, 11 interceptions; 1 Pro Bowl selection
Corey Webster, New York Giants - signed by Saban (2000); drafted in second round (2005)
Career stats: 303 tackles, 16 interceptions
Travis Daniels, Kansas City Chiefs - signed by Saban (2001); drafted in fourth round (2005)
Career stats: 172 tackles, 6 interceptions
LaRon Landry, New York Jets - signed by Saban (2003); drafted in first round (2007)
Career stats: 383 tackles, 4 interceptions
Craig Steltz, Chicago Bears - signed by Saban (2004); drafted in fourth round (2008)
Career stats: 86 tackles, 1 interception
Danny McCray, Dallas Cowboys - signed by Miles (2006); undrafted
Career stats: 40 tackles, 1 interception
Ron Brooks, Buffalo Bills - signed by Miles (2007); drafted in fourth round (2012)
Career stats: first year (on injured reserve; eligible to return after eight games)
Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals - signed by Miles (2008); drafted in first round (2011)
Career stats: 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 punt return touchdowns; 1 Pro Bowl selection, 1 All-Pro selection
Brandon Taylor, San Diego Chargers - signed by Miles (2008); drafted in third round (2012)
Career stats: first year
Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys - signed by Miles (2009); drafted in first round (2012)
Career stats: first year
SPECIAL TEAMS
Donnie Jones, Houston Texans - signed by DiNardo (1999); drafted in seventh round (2004)
Career stats: 648 punts, 45.3-yard average; 2 second-team All-Pro selections
Trindon Holliday, Houston Texans - signed by Miles (2006); drafted in sixth round (2010)
Career stats: first year