Catching Up With How Former Hoosiers are Faring in the NFL in 2018
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Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Written By Lauralys Shallow
How the Hoosiers are Faring in the NFL
A total of 10 Indiana University football alums are on nine different NFL rosters for the 2018 NFL season. Below is a breakdown of each player’s accomplishments through the first eight weeks of the 2018 season.
Tevin Coleman- RB
Atlanta Falcons (4th season)
2018 Season: 7 Games Played, 82 Attempts, 310 Yards, 2 TDs
Coleman, a 2015 third round draft pick, quickly established himself as a major back for the Falcons. Coleman appeared in 12 games his rookie season, 13 his sophomore season and a career-high 15 games last year. In a Week 2 victory over the Panthers earlier this season, Coleman rushed for 107 yards for his second career 100+ rushing game. This past Sunday, Coleman rushed for 50 yards and a TD on 11 carries in a 23-20 victory over the Giants.
Chris Covington-LB
Dallas Cowboys (Rookie)
2018 Season: 3 Games Played
Covington, a 2018 sixth round draft pick, played in one preseason game, and he did not see any regular season action until Week 5. The Cowboys saw something they liked in Covington, and the team kept an extra linebacker on its roster because of him. Covington has appeared in Dallas’s last three games against the Texans, Jaguars and Redskins. Covington has a way to go before he starts to rise on the Cowboys’ depth chart, but his three appearances so far this year show the Cowboys see promise in the development of its late-round pick.
Rashard Fant-CB
Chicago Bears (Rookie)
2018 Season: Injured Reserve
After going undrafted, Fant and the Chicago Bears agreed on a free agent contract in April of last year. Fant at 5’10, 180 pounds is considered small for an NFL back, but his tremendous ball skills made him a playmaker in college. In September, it was announced that Fant would miss the remainder of the 2018 season on injured reserve.
Dan Feeney-OL
Los Angeles Chargers (2nd Season)
2018 Season: 7 Games Played, 7 Games Started
Feeney, a third rounder in the 2017 draft, appeared in 15 games in his rookie season, and he has played in all seven of the Chargers’ games in the 2018 season. Feeney is the starting guard on the Chargers, who are currently sitting in second place of the AFC West standings at 5-2.
Jordan Howard-RB
Chicago Bears (3rd season)
2018 Season: 7 Games Played, 112 Attempts, 392 Yards, 3 TDs
Howard, a fifth rounder out of the 2016 draft, has been the Bears starting back for the majority of his career. After starting in 13 of 15 games in his rookie year, Howard started every game in 2017, and he has been the starter every game so far this season. Howard rushed for 81 yards and a TD in the Bears 24-10 win over the Jets this past Sunday. The Bears are currently first in the NFC North, and Howard’s production at running back has been a major contribution to the Bears 4-3 start to the season.
Cody Latimer-WR
New York Giants (5th season)
2018 Season: 4 Games Played, 6 Receptions, 108 Yards
Latimer, a second rounder in the 2014 draft, is in his first season with the New York Giants. Latimer spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, and he was member of the Denver squad that won Super Bowl 50. Latimer played for Peyton Manning during his time in Denver, and now Latimer is playing with Peyton’s brother, Eli Manning. At 6’2, 217-pounds, Latimer’s size and strength has made him a solid NFL receiver. Latimer, a seasoned veteran, is the perfect fit for the younger Giants receiving core made up of Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shephard. Latimer was placed on IR prior to Week 7.
Rodger Saffold-OG
Los Angeles Rams (9th season)
2018 Season: 8 Games Played, 8 Games Started
Saffold was the 33rd overall pick in the 2010 draft. The 6’5, 323-pound guard has started in 103 of the 106 NFL games he has appeared in. Saffold started in every game for the Rams the 2016 and 2017 season. He is the starting guard for the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL this season.
Jason Spriggs- OT
Green Bay Packers (3rd Season)
2018 Season: 6 Games Played
Spriggs was the 48th overall pick in the 2016 draft. In his rookie season, he appeared in all 16 of the Packers games, starting in two of them. Last season, Spriggs suffered a knee injury in Week 16 against the Vikings, and he had to spend the remainder of the season and a portion of the off-season rehabbing his injury. Spriggs has played in six games for the Packers so far this year.
Nate Sudfeld-QB
Philadelphia Eagles (3rd Season)
2018 Season: No Appearances
Sudfeld, the sixth round, 187th pick in the 2016 draft, is IU’s most recent Super Bowl champion. Sudfeld was a member of the Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII this past February. Sudfeld started the Eagles preseason opener this year, completing 10 of 14 passes and 2 TDs and 2 INTs in the first half. Sudfeld is the third string behind starter Carson Wentz and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles. Sudfeld played in one game last year, and he is yet to make an appearance in the 2018 campaign.
Ian Thomas-TE
Carolina Panthers (Rookie)
2018 Season: 7 Games Played, 11 Receptions, 87 Yards
Thomas was the 101st overall pick in the 2018 draft. During the preseason, Thomas played and started in two games as tight end, earning 3 receptions for 37 yards a TD. So far in his rookie season, Thomas has played in seven games, starting three of them. The Panthers starting Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen re-fractured his right foot in Week 1 against Dallas. Thomas was named the starting tight end Weeks 2-4 while Olsen recovered from his injury. In his most recent appearance, Thomas had one catch for a 15-yard TD in the Panthers 36-21 win over the Ravens in Week 8.