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TSF Turns 10: From HSFB to the NFL

As the home of two NFL teams, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the defending college football national champions, and several nationally recognized high school football programs, it is safe to say that Ohio is a football-crazed state. As of 2014, Ohio has produced the fifth most (78) active NFL players, trailing only Georgia, Texas, Florida, and California. Southwest Ohio has churned out many NFL players, including NFL Hall of Fame members Roger Staubach and Cris Carter.
As we celebrate our tenth anniversary at Tristatefootball, here is a look at players we have had the pleasure to cover that have now made it to the NFL.
Luke Kuechly – St. Xavier: Kuechly had an outstanding college career at Boston College. During his time with the Golden Eagles, Kuechly won numerous awards (three-time first-team All-ACC, three-time first-team All-American, the Butkus Award, the Lombardi Award, the Lott Impact Trophy, the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Jack Lambert Award, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, ACC Athlete of the Year). He was selected ninth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Following his rookie season, he was named as the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The next season, he was named as the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (the only other player to win those awards back to back was Lawrence Taylor). He has been named as a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All Pro. On December 22, 2013, he set an NFL record by recording 26 tackles in one game against the New Orleans Saints. Needless to say, Kuechly is the best linebacker in the NFL today.

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Greg Scruggs – St. Xavier: He only played one year at St. Xavier which is where the remarkable story of Scruggs starts. The Bombers went 15-0 winning the Division I state title in 2007. Scruggs parlayed his efforts into a scholarship to Louisville before being selected in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. In his second season with the team, the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Scruggs is entering his fourth year with Seattle.

Alex Albright – St. Xavier: Albright played his college ball at Boston College before signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Albright spent two seasons with Dallas.

Kyle Rudolph – Elder: Rudolph declared for the NFL draft following his junior season at Notre Dame. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. In four seasons with Minnesota, Rudolph has accounted for 1,286 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named to the 2012 Pro Bowl, where he was named MVP of the game.

Jacob McQuaide – Elder: McQuaide signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2011, after playing his college ball at Ohio State. He is entering his fifth season as the long snapper for the Rams.

Greg Jones – Moeller: Following a successful four years at Michigan State that included three first-team All-Big Ten selections, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, and two All-American selections, Jones was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Jones appeared in games for the Giants and Jaguars during his career. He is currently a member of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Marcus Rush – Moeller: Rush started 53 games at Michigan State but did not get drafted this past season. The San Francisco 49ers like the former Crusader so much they have signed him to their practice squad. He was the TriStateFootball.com 2009 Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Moeller.

DeVier Posey – La Salle: Posey was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, after playing his college ball at Ohio State. After three seasons with Houston, Posey was traded to the New York Jets.

J.K. Schaffer – La Salle : Schaffer was a two-time all-conference player at Cincinnati before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. He spent two seasons with the Bengals. He was a TriStateFootball.com 2007 Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year finalist as a senior at La Salle.
Garrett Celek – La Salle: Celek signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2012, after playing his college ball at Michigan State. Celek is entering his fourth season with the 49ers.

Julian Posey – La Salle: Posey played his college ball for the Ohio Bobcats before signing with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on September 3, 2011. During his career, Posey appeared in games for the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns. He is currently a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

Chris Borland – Alter: Borland played his college ball at Wisconsin, receiving several accolades in the process (three-time first-team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year). He was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Following an outstanding rookie season in which he recorded 108 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 interceptions, Borland surprised the football world by announcing his retirement, due to concerns about head trauma.

Michael Bennett – Centerville: Bennett was selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, after playing his college ball at Ohio State. Playing on both sides of the ball as a senior at Centerville Bennet became one of the few offensive lineman ever nominated for the TriStateFootball.com Dayton Offensive Player of the Year in 2009. A year later as a senior he was a finalist for the 2010 TriStateFootball.com Dayton Defensive Player of the Year.

Will Johnson – Centerville: After playing his college ball at West Virginia, Johnson went undrafted. The following season, after catching the attention of Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, Johnson signed with the Steelers. Johnson is entering his fourth season as the Steelers fullback.

Jerel Worthy – Wayne: Worthy earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors at Michigan State. He was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Green Bay Packers. As a rookie, he recorded 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He is currently a member of the Detroit Lions.

Andrew Norwell – Anderson: Norwell became a starter as a true freshman and went on to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors twice while playing Ohio State. Six times in seven years between high school and college he started on teams that won at least 12 games and went 81-16 overall in that span. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Norwell allowed only one quarterback hit and zero sacks during his rookie season.

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Preston Brown – Northwest: Brown played his college ball at Louisville, earning second-team all-conference honors twice. He was selected in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He was the Bills’ leading tackler in his rookie season, registering 109 tackles.

Quinten Rollins – Wilmington: The former college hoops point guard, Rollins played only one season of football for the Miami Redhawks. He was named the MAC Defensive Player of Year after recording 72 tackles and seven interceptions. Rollins was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.
Jordan Hicks – Lakota West : Hicks played his college ball at Texas. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a two-time TriStateFootball.com Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2008 & ’09 while at Lakota West.

Spencer Ware – Princeton: Ware played at LSU and was drafted by Seattle in 2013. He got in two games as a rookie for the Seahawks running for 10 yards on three carries. That has been the extent of his career. Ware was just waived by Kansas City on September, 5th.

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