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NFL update: 35 pro Mormons
By Aaron Shill
Mormon Times
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
Several Latter-day Saints have taken advantage of their opportunities through the first five weeks of the National Football League season -- none more so than Spencer Larsen.
Larsen is one of 35 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints listed on NFL team rosters. The rookie from Gilbert, Ariz., who was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft as a linebacker, is now a starter for the Denver Broncos -- as a fullback.
Larsen switched positions after proving to be an impact player on special teams, according to Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star. The returned missionary and University of Arizona standout produced two memorable special-teams hits against the Saints and Chiefs.
"He made two kickoff coverage tackles that made most of the ESPN-type highlight shows," wrote Hansen. "I suspect the Broncos have now discovered what the UA learned in Larsen’s four wonderful seasons: He plays winning football and is a one-of-a-kind, positive and engaging locker-room presence."
Larsen told the Denver Post that "a lot of things had to fall into the right place at the right time for me to stick around and for a team to take a chance on me.
"That's basically how my life's been, and that's how most people's lives are, if they sit down and look at it," Larsen said. "If things are working out in a certain way, and it's not always the way that you planned, but normally it's the best way for you."
A recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette spoke about how Larsen often reads his Book of Mormon at his locker.
In Minnesota, former BYU running back Naufahu Tahi has earned the starting fullback position after beginning the year as third string. Tahi has caught six passes so far this season, but has yet to get a carry in the Vikings' offense.
In addition to Larsen and Tahi, several Mormons have made their way into the starting lineup for their respective teams as replacements for injured starters.
Former BYU safety Aaron Francisco is coming off his two best games of the season for Arizona. He had nine and six tackles against the Jets and Bills, respectively, filling in for starter Adrian Wilson, who was slowed by injury.
Cowboys backup center Cory Procter has been starting in place of the injured Kyle Kosier, making four starts. And Pittsburgh backup nose tackle Chris Hoke has made two starts in place of injured starter Casey Hampton.
In Buffalo, Derek Schouman has made four starts for the Bills this season, one of which came at fullback. He has two catches for 32 yards. Schouman is still the backup to Robert Royal but has seen significant playing time. Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, a Provo (Utah) High and Stanford product, is the backup at right tackle, while reserve defensive end Ryan Denney had three solo tackles each of the past three weeks for the 4-1 Bills.
Philadelphia’s Stewart Bradley has started all five games for the Eagles, recording 33 tackles and a sack. Teammate Kevin Curtis, a returned missionary from Utah State, sat out the first five games of the year with a sports hernia, but he is practicing once again. He may play this week.
In San Diego, former Utah defensive back Eric Weddle is well-established as the Chargers' starting free safety. Weddle has 39 tackles (30 solo), leading the team in that category, and an interception.
Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna has played in all five games for the 2-3 Chargers, catching four passes. Ryon Bingham has 10 tackles as San Diego's primary backup on the defensive line, but veteran linebacker Derek Smith may have lost his starting spot with Stephen Cooper returning from suspension.
Former BYU defensive lineman and current Steelers starter Brett Keisel missed three games with a calf injury, but is once again practicing and should play next week against Cincinnati. The Steelers have a bye this week.
Another former Cougar, Giants reserve rookie linebacker Bryan Kehl, has seen significant playing time this season, but last week, Gerris Wilkinson played most of the game at weakside linebacker while Kehl was "mostly a special-teams participant," according to New York Newsday.
In Baltimore, Todd Heap is coming off a four-catch performance in a loss to Tennessee. Third-year defensive lineman Haloti Ngata has 14 tackles for the top-ranked Ravens defense, including five stops in Week 4 on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh.
Chris Cooley has started all five games for Washington and caught a touchdown pass in last week's 23-17 win over Philadelphia. He has 25 catches so far for 288 yards.
Maake Kemoeatu has 11 tackles as a starter for Carolina.
John Tait (Bears), Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui (Cardinals), Eric Heitmann (49ers), Samson Satele (Dolphins) and Edwin Mulitalo (Lions) have started all season on the offensive lines for their teams.
In Green Bay, Brady Poppinga (23 tackles) is still the starter, though he lost that job for one week when the Packers played the Cowboys. He returned with a 12-tackle effort the following week.
Jonathan Fanene, a backup defensive end for the Bengals, had four tackles in a Week 4 loss to Cleveland, while Garrett Mills, a reserve tight end for the Vikings, has four total catches this year. Sione Pouha has seven tackles as a reserve defensive lineman for the Jets.
John Beck (QB, Dolphins), Shawn Murphy (OL, Dolphins) and David Hale (OL, Ravens) have yet to play this season.
Name, position, team, college
John Beck, QB, Dolphins, BYU
Ryon Bingham, DL, Chargers, Nebraska
*Stewart Bradley, LB, Eagles, Nebraska
Kirk Chambers, OL, Bills, Stanford
*Chris Cooley, TE, Redkins, Utah State
*Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles, Utah State
John Denney, LS, Dolphins, BYU
Ryan Denney, DE, Bills, BYU
Jonathan Fanene, DL, Bengals, Utah
Aaron Francisco, DB, Cardinals, BYU
David Hale, OL, Ravens, Weber State
*Todd Heap, TE, Ravens, Arizona State
*Eric Heitmann, OL, 49ers, Stanford
Chris Hoke, DL, Steelers, BYU
Scott Jackson, OL, Texans, BYU
Bryan Kehl, LB, Giants, BYU
Brett Keisel, DL, Steelers, BYU
Maake Kemoeatu, DL, Panthers, Utah
*Spencer Larsen, FB, Broncos, Arizona
*Deuce Lutui, OL, Cardinals, Southern California
Brandon Manumaleuna, TE, Chargers, Arizona
Garrett Mills, TE, Vikings, Tulsa
*Edwin Mulitalo, OL, Lions, Arizona
Shawn Murphy, OL, Dolphins, Utah State
*Haloti Ngata, DL, Ravens, Oregon
*Brady Poppinga, LB, Packers, BYU
Sione Pouha, DT, Jets, Utah
Cory Procter, OL, Cowboys, Montana
*Samson Satele, OL, Dolphins, Hawaii
Derek Schouman, TE, Bills, Boise State
Derek Smith, LB, Chargers, Arizona State
*Naufahu Tahi, FB, Vikings, BYU
*John Tait, OL, Bears, BYU
*Eric Weddle, DB, Chargers, Utah
Scott Young, OL, Browns, BYU
*Starters
E-mail: ashill@desnews.com
Larsen is one of 35 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints listed on NFL team rosters. The rookie from Gilbert, Ariz., who was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft as a linebacker, is now a starter for the Denver Broncos -- as a fullback.
Larsen switched positions after proving to be an impact player on special teams, according to Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star. The returned missionary and University of Arizona standout produced two memorable special-teams hits against the Saints and Chiefs.
"He made two kickoff coverage tackles that made most of the ESPN-type highlight shows," wrote Hansen. "I suspect the Broncos have now discovered what the UA learned in Larsen’s four wonderful seasons: He plays winning football and is a one-of-a-kind, positive and engaging locker-room presence."
Larsen told the Denver Post that "a lot of things had to fall into the right place at the right time for me to stick around and for a team to take a chance on me.
"That's basically how my life's been, and that's how most people's lives are, if they sit down and look at it," Larsen said. "If things are working out in a certain way, and it's not always the way that you planned, but normally it's the best way for you."
A recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette spoke about how Larsen often reads his Book of Mormon at his locker.
In Minnesota, former BYU running back Naufahu Tahi has earned the starting fullback position after beginning the year as third string. Tahi has caught six passes so far this season, but has yet to get a carry in the Vikings' offense.
In addition to Larsen and Tahi, several Mormons have made their way into the starting lineup for their respective teams as replacements for injured starters.
Former BYU safety Aaron Francisco is coming off his two best games of the season for Arizona. He had nine and six tackles against the Jets and Bills, respectively, filling in for starter Adrian Wilson, who was slowed by injury.
Cowboys backup center Cory Procter has been starting in place of the injured Kyle Kosier, making four starts. And Pittsburgh backup nose tackle Chris Hoke has made two starts in place of injured starter Casey Hampton.
In Buffalo, Derek Schouman has made four starts for the Bills this season, one of which came at fullback. He has two catches for 32 yards. Schouman is still the backup to Robert Royal but has seen significant playing time. Bills offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, a Provo (Utah) High and Stanford product, is the backup at right tackle, while reserve defensive end Ryan Denney had three solo tackles each of the past three weeks for the 4-1 Bills.
Philadelphia’s Stewart Bradley has started all five games for the Eagles, recording 33 tackles and a sack. Teammate Kevin Curtis, a returned missionary from Utah State, sat out the first five games of the year with a sports hernia, but he is practicing once again. He may play this week.
In San Diego, former Utah defensive back Eric Weddle is well-established as the Chargers' starting free safety. Weddle has 39 tackles (30 solo), leading the team in that category, and an interception.
Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna has played in all five games for the 2-3 Chargers, catching four passes. Ryon Bingham has 10 tackles as San Diego's primary backup on the defensive line, but veteran linebacker Derek Smith may have lost his starting spot with Stephen Cooper returning from suspension.
Former BYU defensive lineman and current Steelers starter Brett Keisel missed three games with a calf injury, but is once again practicing and should play next week against Cincinnati. The Steelers have a bye this week.
Another former Cougar, Giants reserve rookie linebacker Bryan Kehl, has seen significant playing time this season, but last week, Gerris Wilkinson played most of the game at weakside linebacker while Kehl was "mostly a special-teams participant," according to New York Newsday.
In Baltimore, Todd Heap is coming off a four-catch performance in a loss to Tennessee. Third-year defensive lineman Haloti Ngata has 14 tackles for the top-ranked Ravens defense, including five stops in Week 4 on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh.
Chris Cooley has started all five games for Washington and caught a touchdown pass in last week's 23-17 win over Philadelphia. He has 25 catches so far for 288 yards.
Maake Kemoeatu has 11 tackles as a starter for Carolina.
John Tait (Bears), Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui (Cardinals), Eric Heitmann (49ers), Samson Satele (Dolphins) and Edwin Mulitalo (Lions) have started all season on the offensive lines for their teams.
In Green Bay, Brady Poppinga (23 tackles) is still the starter, though he lost that job for one week when the Packers played the Cowboys. He returned with a 12-tackle effort the following week.
Jonathan Fanene, a backup defensive end for the Bengals, had four tackles in a Week 4 loss to Cleveland, while Garrett Mills, a reserve tight end for the Vikings, has four total catches this year. Sione Pouha has seven tackles as a reserve defensive lineman for the Jets.
John Beck (QB, Dolphins), Shawn Murphy (OL, Dolphins) and David Hale (OL, Ravens) have yet to play this season.
Name, position, team, college
John Beck, QB, Dolphins, BYU
Ryon Bingham, DL, Chargers, Nebraska
*Stewart Bradley, LB, Eagles, Nebraska
Kirk Chambers, OL, Bills, Stanford
*Chris Cooley, TE, Redkins, Utah State
*Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles, Utah State
John Denney, LS, Dolphins, BYU
Ryan Denney, DE, Bills, BYU
Jonathan Fanene, DL, Bengals, Utah
Aaron Francisco, DB, Cardinals, BYU
David Hale, OL, Ravens, Weber State
*Todd Heap, TE, Ravens, Arizona State
*Eric Heitmann, OL, 49ers, Stanford
Chris Hoke, DL, Steelers, BYU
Scott Jackson, OL, Texans, BYU
Bryan Kehl, LB, Giants, BYU
Brett Keisel, DL, Steelers, BYU
Maake Kemoeatu, DL, Panthers, Utah
*Spencer Larsen, FB, Broncos, Arizona
*Deuce Lutui, OL, Cardinals, Southern California
Brandon Manumaleuna, TE, Chargers, Arizona
Garrett Mills, TE, Vikings, Tulsa
*Edwin Mulitalo, OL, Lions, Arizona
Shawn Murphy, OL, Dolphins, Utah State
*Haloti Ngata, DL, Ravens, Oregon
*Brady Poppinga, LB, Packers, BYU
Sione Pouha, DT, Jets, Utah
Cory Procter, OL, Cowboys, Montana
*Samson Satele, OL, Dolphins, Hawaii
Derek Schouman, TE, Bills, Boise State
Derek Smith, LB, Chargers, Arizona State
*Naufahu Tahi, FB, Vikings, BYU
*John Tait, OL, Bears, BYU
*Eric Weddle, DB, Chargers, Utah
Scott Young, OL, Browns, BYU
*Starters
E-mail: ashill@desnews.com
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