DALLAS – From Super Bowl champions to All-Pro selections, Conference USA has consistently produced NFL-caliber talent across all positions and the league’s influence continues to be felt as the NFL embarks on its 2025 campaign on Thursday.
 
At least one former CUSA player is featured on 31 out of 32 rosters, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers leading the way with six each. The conference’s contingent totals 83 former players, including 46 on active rosters as of Sept. 4. The remaining 37 are on reserve lists or practice squads for their franchise.
 
All the players listed competed at their respective schools while those institutions were members of CUSA. The years in parentheses represent the years they played in CUSA.
 
Arizona Cardinals
Kelvin Beachum, OL, SMU (2007-11) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA; NFLPA Board Member
Will Hernandez, OL, UTEP (2013-17) – 2017 First-Team All-CUSA
Nick Leverett², OL, Rice (2019) – 2019 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Tejhaun Palmer², WR, UAB (2021-22) – 2022 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Starling Thomas V³, CB, UAB (2018-22) – 2022 First-Team All-CUSA
 
Atlanta Falcons
Natrone Brooks, CB, Southern Miss (2020-21) – 2020 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
DeAngelo Malone, LB, WKU (2017-21) – 2x CUSA Defensive Player of the Year
Joshua Simon, TE, WKU (2019-22) - 2022 Second-Team All-CUSA
 
Baltimore Ravens
Zaire Mitchell-Paden², TE, FAU (2021)
Dayton Wade, WR, WKU (2019-21)
 
Buffalo Bills
Larry Ogunjobi¹, DL, Charlotte (2015-16) – 2016 First-Team All-CUSA
 
Carolina Panthers
Brandon Walton², OL, FAU (2016-19) – 2019 First-Team All-CUSA
 
Chicago Bears
Maurice Alexander², WR, FIU (2015-19) – 2018 First-Team All-CUSA
Kevin Byard, S, MTSU (2013-15) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA; 2x First-Team All-Pro
Deion Hankins³, UTEP (2019-23) - 2x Second-Team All-CUSA 
Cairo Santos, K, Tulane (2010-13) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Cincinnati Bengals
Trey Hendrickson, DE, FAU (2013-16) – 2016 CUSA DPOTY; 4x Pro Bowl
Mitchell Tinsley, WR, WKU (2020-21) – 2021 Second-Team All-CUSA
 
Cleveland Browns
Malachi Corley², WR, WKU (2020-23) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
Alex Wright, DE, UAB (2019-21) – 2021 Second-Team All-CUSA
Bailey Zappe², QB, WKU (2021) – 2021 CUSA Most Valuable Player
 
Dallas Cowboys
Rob Jones³, OL, MTSU (2019-20) – 2x Honorable Mention All-CUSA
 
Denver Broncos
Devon Key, S, WKU (2016-20) – 2020 Second-Team All-CUSA
 
Detroit Lions
Myles Adams², DE, Rice (2016-19) – 2019 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA (2014-17) – 2017 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year
Jack Fox, P, Rice (2015-18) – 2018 CUSA Special Teams POTY; 2024 First-Team All-Pro
Amik Robertson, CB, LA Tech (2017-19) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Houston Texans
Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, FAU (2015-18) – 2017 First-Team All-CUSA
Harrison Bryant², TE, FAU (2016-19) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Indianapolis Colts
Dalton Tucker, OL, Marshall (2020-21)
Charvarius Ward, CB, MTSU (2016-17) – Super Bowl Champion (LIV); 2023 Pro Bowl
 
Jacksonville Jaguars
Joshua Cephus³, WR, UTSA (2019-22) – 2022 Second-Team All-CUSA
Nick Mullens, QB, Southern Miss (2013-16) – 2015 CUSA Offensive Player of the Year
 
Kansas City Chiefs
Ethan Driskell⁴, OL, Marshall (2020-21)
Nazeeh Johnson³, CB, Marshall (2016-21) – 2020 Second Team All-CUSA; 2x Super Bowl Champion
Brodric Martin², DT, WKU (2021-22) – 2022 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
 
Las Vegas Raiders
Jordan Meredith, OL, WKU (2016-20) – 2020 Second-Team All-CUSA
 
Los Angeles Chargers
Rick Lovato², LS, Old Dominion (2014) – 2014 HM All-CUSA; 2x Super Bowl Champion (LII, LIX)
Teair Tart, DT, FIU (2018-19)
 
Los Angeles Rams
Tru Edwards², WR, LA Tech (2022-24) – 2024 First-Team All-CUSA
Tyler Higbee, TE, WKU (2014-15) – 2015 First-Team All-CUSA; Super Bowl Champion (LVI)
Eli Neal², LB, Marshall (2019-21) – 2x Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Darious Williams, CB, UAB (2014-17) – 2017 First-Team All-CUSA; Super Bowl Champion (LVI)
 
Miami Dolphins
Andrew Meyer³, OL, UTEP (2018-23) – 2023 First-Team All-CUSA
Jeff Wilson Jr. ², RB, North Texas (2014-17) – 2017 Second-Team All-CUSA
 
Minnesota Vikings
Khalef Hailassie², S, WKU (2021-22) – 2022 Second-Team All-CUSA
Lucky Jackson², WR, WKU (2015-19) – 2019 First-Team All-CUSA
Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP (2013-16) – 2016 First Team All-CUSA; 2020 Pro Bowl
Tim Jones², WR, Southern Miss (2017-20) – 2019 Second-Team All-CUSA
Alexander Musch Williams³, DL, MTSU (2024)
 
New England Patriots
Milton Williams, DE, LA Tech (2017-20) – 2020 First-Team All-CUSA; Super Bowl Champion
 
New Orleans Saints
Bub Means³, WR, LA Tech (2020-21) – 2021 CUSA All-Freshman Team
Nick Saldiveri³, OL, Old Dominion (2018-21) – 2021 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
 
New York Giants
Elijah Garcia², DE, Rice (2016-21) – 2021 First-Team All-CUSA
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DE, Southern Miss (2011-14) – 2014 First-Team All-CUSA; Super Bowl Champion
Roy Robertson-Harris, DE, UTEP (2011-15) – 2014 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Devin Singletary, RB, FAU (2016-18) – 2017 CUSA Most Valuable Player
 
New York Jets
Stone Smartt, TE, Old Dominion (2019-21)
 
Philadelphia Eagles
Reed Blankenship, S, MTSU (2017-21) – 2021 First-Team All-CUSA; Super Bowl Champion (LIX)
Kylen Granson, TE, Rice (2016-17)
 
Pittsburgh Steelers
Calvin Anderson, OL, Rice (2014-17) – 2x Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Beanie Bishop², CB, WKU (2018-21) – 2021 First-Team All-CUSA
Chris Boswell, K, Rice (2009-13) – 2x Second-Team All-CUSA; 2024 First-Team All-Pro
Alex Highsmith, LB, Charlotte (2016-19) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
James Pierre², CB, FAU (2017-19) – 2017 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Jonnu Smith, TE, FIU (2013-16) – 2014 First-Team All-CUSA; 2024 Pro Bowl
 
San Francisco 49ers
Spencer Burford, OL, UTSA (2018-21) – 2021 First-Team All-CUSA
Jacob Cowing³, WR, UTEP (2019-21) – 2021 First-Team All-CUSA
Sincere McCormick², RB, UTSA (2019-21) – 2x CUSA Offensive Player of the Year
Thomas Morstead, P, SMU (2005-08) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA; 2023 NFL punting leader
Upton Stout, CB, WKU (2022-24)/North Texas (2020-21) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
Trent Taylor³, WR, LA Tech (2013-16) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Seattle Seahawks
Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP (2020-23) – 2023 First-Team All-CUSA
Riq Woolen, CB, UTSA (2017-21) – 2021 Honorable Mention All-CUSA; 2022 Pro Bowl
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Elijah Klein, OL, UTEP (2018-23) – 2023 First Team All-CUSA
Markees Watts, LB, Charlotte (2018-22) – 3x Honorable Mention All-CUSA
Rashad Wisdom, S, UTSA (2019-22) – 2x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Tennessee Titans
L’Jarius Sneed, CB, LA Tech (2016-19) – 2019 Second-Team All-CUSA; 2x Super Bowl Champion
Clay Webb², OL, Jax State (2023-24) – 2024 First-Team All-CUSA
Xavier Woods, S, LA Tech (2013-16) – 3x First-Team All-CUSA
 
Washington Commanders
Ricky Barber², DL, WKU (2019-20) - 2020 Honorable Mention All-CUSA
George Fant, OL, WKU (2014-15)
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice (2021-22)
 
¹ – Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner
² – Practice Squad
³ – Reserve/Injured
⁴ – Reserve/Non-Football Illness