Mid-American Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the NFL opens the 2017 regular season with the Kansas City Chiefs at the New England Patriots Thursday night, the Mid-American Conference is well represented across NFL rosters as clubs open regular season play this weekend.  Currently there are 77 former MAC students on NFL active rosters to being the 2017 season.

Former University at Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack was named the 2016 NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Mack, a defensive end for the Oakland Raiders, received the award at the NFL Honors in Houston on the eve of Super Bowl LI. Mack earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl as he posted 73 tackles, 11 sacks,  five forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown last season. Mack already has 30 sacks over his three-year NFL career, including 26 in the last two seasons.

Earlier this summer the NFL Network came out with its list of the current Top 100 players in the NFL.  The MAC was the only FBS conference with two players in the top 5 – former Central Michigan Chippewa Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 4, who has had four consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving, and former Buffalo Bull Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders at No. 5.

This past May the MAC had 11 draft selections in the 2017 NFL Draft to tie a MAC modern era (seven rounds) record for the most students drafted in an NFL Draft (2005 NFL Draft).  Highlighting the 2017 NFL Draft was Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis selected as the fifth overall selection in the first round by the Tennessee Titans.  Davis’ selection marked the third time in the last five years to have a MAC student selected in the top five overall of the first round. In 2014, Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack was the fifth overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft and in 2013, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher became the first MAC football player to be selected as the overall No. 1 selection in the NFL Draft. 
 
Former Mid-American Conference Players on Active NFL Rosters:
Player, Years Experience, School

Arizona (2)
LB Bryson Albright-Practice Squad; 1st year; Miami
DB Ronald Zamort-Injured-Reserve; 1st year; Western Michigan
 
Atlanta (1)
DE J.T. Jones-Practice Squad; Rookie; Miami
 
Carolina (1)
OL Taylor Moton; Rookie; Western Michigan
 
Chicago (1)
OL Josh Sitton; 10th year; Central Florida
 
Cincinnati (1)
TE Mason Schreck-Injured-Reserve; Rookie; Buffalo
 
Cleveland (2)
RB Darius Jackson-Injured-Reserve; 2nd year; Eastern Michigan
DB Najee Murray-Practice Squad; Rookie; Kent State
 
Dallas (4)
DT Richard Ash-Practice Squad; 2nd year; Western Michigan
LB Jayrone Elliott; 4th year; Toledo
S Kavon Frazier; 2nd year; Central Michigan
QB Cooper Rush; Rookie; Central Michigan
 
Denver (1)
K Brandon McManus; 4th year; Temple
 
Detroit (10)
LB Nick Bellore; 7th year; Central Michigan
WR Kenny Golladay; Rookie; Northern Illinois
OL Zac Kerin; 3rd year; Toledo
OL T.J. Lang; 9th year; Eastern Michigan
DB Rolan Milligan-Practice Squad; 1st year; Toledo
OL Storm Norton-Practice Squad; Rookie; Toledo
DL Pat O’Connor-Practice Squad; Rookie; Eastern Michigan
K Matt Prater; 11th year; Central Florida
TE Michael Roberts; Rookie; Toledo
LB Tahir Whitehead; 6th year; Temple
 
Green Bay (2)
DL Izaah Lunsford-Practice Squad; Rookie; Bowling Green
DB Quinten Rollins; 3rd year; Miami
 
Houston (2)
DB Bryce Jones-Practice Squad; Rookie; Akron
OL Greg Mancz; 2nd year; Toledo
 
Indianapolis (3)
DE Tarell Basham; Rookie; Ohio
DB Rashaan Melvin; 5th year; Northern Illinois
OL Andrew Wylie-Practice Squad; Rookie; Eastern Michigan
 
Jacksonville (2)
LB Blair Brown; Rookie; Ohio
DB Barry Church; 8th year; Toledo
 
Kansas City (3)
OL Eric Fisher; 5th year; Central Michigan
RB Kareem Hunt; Rookie; Toledo
LB Frank Zombo; 8th year; Central Michigan
 
Los Angeles Chargers (4)
DB Jahleel Addae; 5th year; Central Michigan
LB Jatavis Brown; 2nd year; Akron
TE Antonio Gates; 15th year; Kent State
RB Branden Oliver; 4th year; Buffalo
  
Miami (1)
LB Justin March; 3rd year; Akron
 
Minnesota (1)
RB Bronson Hill-Practice Squad; 1st year; Eastern Michigan
 
New England (2)
WR Julian Edelman-Injured-Resever; 9th year; Kent State
OL Willie Beavers-Practice Squad; 2nd year; Western Michigan
 
New Orleans (4)
WR Tommylee Lewis; 2nd year; Northern Illinois
OL Kristjan Sokoli-Practice Squad; 2nd year; Buffalo
WR Willie Snead; 2nd year; Ball State
OL Martin Wallace; 2nd year; Temple
 
N.Y. Giants (3)
LB Cap Capi; 1st year; Akron
WR Roger Lewis; 2nd year; Bowling Green
WR Brandon Marshall; 12th year; Central Florida
 
N.Y. Jets (4)
LB Freddie Bishop-Practice Squad; 2nd year; Western Michigan
WR JoJo Natson-Practice Squad 1st year; Akron
DT Muhammad Wilkerson; 7th year; Temple
OL Brian Winters; 5th year; Kent State
 
Oakland (3)
DB Travis Carrie; 4th year; Ohio
DL Treyvon Hester; Rookie; Toledo
LB Khalil Mack; 4th year; Buffalo
 
Philadelphia (2)
OL Brandon Brooks; 6th year; Miami
DE Steven Means; 3rd year; Buffalo
 
Pittsburgh (7)
LB Keion Adams-Injured-Reserve; Rookie; Western Michigan
WR Antonio Brown; 8th year; Central Michigan
LB James Harrison; 15th year; Kent State
FS Mike Mitchell; 9th year; Ohio
FB Roosevelt Nix; 3rd year; Kent State
QB Ben Roethlisberger; 14th year; Miami
DL L.T. Walton; 3rd year; Central Michigan
 
San Francisco (3)
DT Chris Jones; 4th year; Bowling Green
OT Joe Staley; 11th year; Central Michigan
DB Jimmie Ward; 4th year; Northern Illinois
 
Seattle (1)
RB Thomas Rawls; 3rd year; Central Michigan
 
Tampa Bay (1)
WR Bernard Reedy; 1st year; Toledo
 
Tennessee (6)
FB Joe Bacci-Injured-Reserve; Rookie; Central Michigan
WR Corey Davis; Rookie; Western Michigan
RB David Fluellen; 1st year; Toledo
P Brett Kern; 10th year; Toledo
OL Josh Kline; 5th year; Kent State
WR Tajae Sharpe-Injured-Reserve; 2nd year; UMass