Hoosiers in the NFL: 2020 Recap

Written by Evan McShane

Hoosiers in the NFL: 2020 Recap

The 2020 season unfolded differently for several former Indiana football players. While there were no staggering statistical performances and plenty of struggles, both injury and otherwise, a number of Hoosiers had success in 2020. Both continued dominance and newfound hope defined this season for a number of players. Let’s take a look around the league and recap 2020 for each of these former Hoosiers. 

Rodger Saffold, LG, Tennessee Titans (11-5)

The reliable former IU offensive lineman had yet another solid season. Rodger Saffold and his fellow Tennessee offensive linemen paved the way for the NFL’s second-best rushing offense. The Titans won 11 games, improving upon last year, but fell to the Ravens in the opening week of the playoffs. Saffold missed just one game in 2020 – the only game he’s missed since the end of the 2017 season.

Heading into 2021, Saffold and the Titans look to build upon their recent success. After over a decade of stable line play, Saffold will be entering his 12th season in the league. He is the longest tenured former IU player in the NFL by a wide margin. Throughout the past handful of seasons with the Titans and Rams, Saffold has established himself as one of the best offensive guards in pro football.

Jordan Howard, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)

Jordan Howard’s 2020 season did not go quite as he had hoped. The former Hoosier running back scored a touchdown in each of his first three games this season with the Miami Dolphins, but his yards-per-carry average was under 1-yard in those games. Howard was benched after week four and did not play again until week nine. In his final game with the Dolphins, Howard scored yet another goal-line touchdown, but Miami released the power running back the following Monday.

Howard was picked up on waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that traded for him back in 2019. Howard appeared in two games with the Eagles, rushing for 27 yards on seven attempts. In 2020, Howard finished the season with 35 carries for 60 yards and four touchdowns. Howard’s career numbers through five seasons: 932 carries for 3,955 yards and 34 touchdowns to go along with 83 catches for 634 yards and two touchdowns. Howard is looking forward to a healthy offseason and hopes to revive his career in 2021.

Tevin Coleman, RB, San Francisco 49ers (6-10)

Tevin Coleman had a rocky 2020 season as he battled injuries while his team struggled to recapture the magic from their Super Bowl appearance in 2019. Coleman had 18 carries for 30 yards in his first two games before suffering a sprained knee that would sideline him for the next six weeks. Coleman returned in November, only to reaggravate his prior injury. Luckily, Coleman worked his way back to full strength and appeared in three December games to close out the year.

Coleman’s final numbers during this injury-riddled season: 28 attempts for 53 yards and four receptions for 34 yards. After six NFL seasons, Coleman has racked up 693 carries for 2,937 yards and 24 touchdowns as well as 117 receptions for 1,224 yards and 12 touchdowns. Similar to Jordan Howard, Tevin Coleman hopes a healthy offseason can help bring him more success in 2021.

Nate Sudfeld, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)

Former Hoosier quarterback Nate Sudfeld was inactive for most of the season as rookie QB Jalen Hurts took his backup role behind Carson Wentz. The Eagles struggled mightily in 2020, thanks in large part due to inconsistent QB play. Hurts eventually took Wentz’s job and by the final game of the season, Sudfeld returned to his second-string spot.

During that final game of the season, the Eagles were rather blatantly trying to lose the game for draft positioning. Sudfeld made a surprise appearance in the second half where he completed 5-of-12 passes for 32 yards, threw an interception, and lost a fumble on a bad snap. Hopefully this performance is not indicative of Sudfeld’s future in the NFL. The former IU QB has established himself as a trustworthy backup in this league, and if the Eagles move on from Wentz, Sudfeld should have an opportunity to regain his role as a primary backup.

Dan Feeney, LG, Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)

Dan Feeney’s career is off to a fabulous start. The former Hoosier O-lineman did not miss a single snap in 2020 as he anchored the guard spot for the LA Chargers. In his fourth season as a pro, Feeney has proved he will have a long and successful NFL career. The future for Feeney and his Chargers team looks bright after rookie QB Justin Herbert showed some serious flashed this season. Despite going just 7-9 on the year, LA was competitive in nearly every game.

Dating back to midway through his rookie year, Feeney has not missed a single game. In fact, he has started every single game since week seven of his first season as a pro. Out of those 57 games he has started, Feeney has played 100% of the offensive snaps in 55 of those games. A remarkable achievement for a young offensive lineman. Feeney hopes his personal success will eventually lead to team success. He might not have to wait very long as 2021 could be a breakout year for Feeney and the Chargers.

Ian Thomas, TE, Carolina Panthers (5-11)

Throughout his three-year NFL career thus far, Ian Thomas has appeared in every game. The former IU tight end has used his size and athleticism to carve out a role on the Panthers offense. In 2020, Thomas caught 20 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. While Carolina limped to a 5-11 record, Thomas improved his reception and yardage totals from the prior year.

In 48 NFL games, Thomas has caught 72 passes for 614 yards and four touchdowns. Thomas entered the pros at a young age when the Panthers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He will enter his fourth season shortly after turning 25 years old. By all accounts, Thomas’ best years are ahead of him.

Wes Martin, OL, Washington Football Team (7-9)

Wes Martin was the only Hoosier selected in the 2019 NFL Draft when the Washington Football Team selected him in the first round. In 2020, Martin played 100% of Washington’s offensive snaps over the course of the first five games of the season. Washington struggled in 2020 but a 7-9 record proved enough to win them the division.

Martin appeared primarily on special teams and served an emergency backup role throughout the latter half of the season. Despite early struggles, Martin is just 24 years old and has plenty of time to right the ship. Martin should benefit from a long and healthy offseason while Washington hopes to find more consistency in 2021.

Brandon Knight, OL, Dallas Cowboys (6-10)

In his second NFL season, Brandon Knight more than doubled his snap count from his rookie year. The former IU O-lineman appeared in 13 games in 2020 and started in nine of them. Knight also played a role on the Dallas special teams’ unit. In four of the final five games of the season, Knight played 100% of the Cowboys’ offensive plays.

Knight went undrafted in 2019 but has carved out a role with the Cowboys over the past two seasons. Despite undergoing a knee scope in week six of this season, Knight rehabbed his way back onto the field and finished the year strong. Now healthy heading into the offseason, Knight hopes to prove he can be a full-time starter in this league.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans (11-5)

Early in the 2020 season Nick Westbrook-Ikhine joined the Tennessee Titans and proceeded to appear in 14 games. The former Hoosier wideout caught three passes for 33 yards and caught a clutch two-point conversion in Tennessee’s win over Houston in week six. Westbrook-Ikhine also earned himself a reliable role on the Titans’ special teams’ unit.

The 23-year-old wide receiver began the season as a fringe NFL player and ended it by cementing a role on the roster of a playoff team and division champion. Westbrook-Ikhine will spend the offseason at work and hopes to translate his role on special teams into more playing time at wide receiver in 2021.

Jason Spriggs, OT, Chicago Bears (8-8)

Jason Spriggs was a member of the Chicago Bears in 2020. Spriggs saw the bulk of his playing team on special teams and served an emergency backup role on the Bears’ offensive line. For perhaps the first time in his professional football career, Spriggs spent almost all of 2020 fully healthy.

After the Packers traded up to draft Spriggs 48th overall in 2016, he suffered an array of unlucky injuries that prevented him from establishing himself in Green Bay. Now with a healthy season under his belt, Spriggs hopes to increase his role in 2021.

Simon Stepaniak, OL, Green Bay Packers (13-3)

Simon Stepaniak was the only IU player selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Hoosier O-lineman spent 2020 on the Packers practice squad. Green Bay had one of the best offensive lines in all of football this season and have a proven track record developing mid-late round O-linemen.

Stepaniak hopes he can use his time in Green Bay to develop into a key part of the rotation up front. At just 23 years old, Stepaniak will have plenty of chances to make a name for himself. 

Dan Godsil, Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)

Former IU long snapper Dan Godsil spent 2020 with the Cincinnati Bengals. During week four of the preseason, Godsil showed off his heads up play by recovering two fumbles on muffed punts. Godsil was bounced on and off the active roster throughout the season.

At the end of 2020, Godsil earned one of the largest signing bonuses among players to receive a futures contract. The Bengals current long snapper Clark Harris looks to be retiring after his age 36 season. With Godsil signed to a futures contract, he will be on the Bengals roster this offseason and should have ample opportunity to become their full-time long snapper.

Tegray Scales, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Former IU linebacker Tegray Scales spent 2020 trying to make an NFL roster. Scales was selected in the XFL draft before they suspended operations. Shortly after, he was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad before being released a few weeks later.

Immediately after his release, Scales signed on to the Steelers’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in weeks 14 and 15. On January 15th, 2021, Scales inked a futures contract with the Steelers. Scales will spend this offseason in the weight room, hoping his time spent on practice squads will earn him a chance to play on Sundays.

Chris Covington, LB, Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

Former IU linebacker Chris Covington bounced around the NFL in 2020. After his release from the Cowboys in April, Covington worked his way back to the Colts practice squad by mid-December. The Colts released Covington a few weeks later. Covington will continue his efforts to make an NFL roster.

Coach Deland McCullough

Former Indiana running backs coach Deland McCullough is searching for his second straight Super Bowl ring. McCullough spent six seasons in Bloomington, spent a gap year with the USC Trojans, and has been the Kansas City Chiefs RBs coach since 2018. Coach McCullough has found success at each of these roles, and now has another chance to add to his jewelry collection.

Antwaan Randle El, Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The former IU quarterback and NFL veteran finds himself back in the Super Bowl, this time as part of the coaching staff for the Buccaneers.

Total Hoosier Touchdowns: 5 (Jordan Howard 4, Ian Thomas 1)