Gallery: Gators in the NFL, Introducing this Year’s Group of Ballers

FloridaGamedayr | September 11, 2012 at 1:45 pm | 0 Comments

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This Year's Class of NFL Gators...

Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

NFL football has officially kicked off, which means it is time to dive into this year's Florida alums playing in the big leagues.

There are currently 32 Gators on NFL rosters, 25 of who saw playing time in Week 1. Of the 25 active players, 14 started at their respective positions.

The following players were inactive in Week 1:

Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals
Andre Caldwell, Denver Broncos
Jeff Demps, New England Patriots
Justin Trattou, New York Giants
Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles
Jaye Howard, Seattle Seahawks
Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins

It's time to get into it folks. Here is a gallery of the players who hit the field this weekend, along with their production.

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Mike Peterson, Outside Linebacker - Atlanta

Thomas Campbell-US Presswire

The Falcons took on Kansas City in their season opener. Peterson saw action, however he didn't make a significant impact, and failed to record and statistics.

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Deonte Thompson, Wide Receiver - Baltimore

Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

Deonte made the cut with the Ravens, and is officially an NFL baller. He saw plenty of action in Week 1, grabbing one catch for 25 yards, as well as adding 88 yards on kick off returns.

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David Nelson, Receiver - Buffalo

David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

Hands down, David Nelson is one of the most stand up Gators to ever come out of our great university. This week he started at tight end for the Bills, recording two catches for 31 yards.

Nelson unfortunately tore his ACL during the game and will miss the rest of this season. We wish you a speedy recovery big guy!

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Louis Murphy, Wide Receiver - Carolina

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Louis Murphy started at wide receiver for the Panthers on Sunday. Yes my friends, he will be catching balls all season long from former Gators QB, turned enemy, Cam Newton. As long as that means more receptions for Murphy we are "a ok" with it.

Murphy caught three balls for a total of 63 yards.

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Reggie Nelson, Free Safety - Cincinnati

David Kohl-US PRESSWIRE

Reggie, Reggie, Reggie. The man who once put the fear into college QB's across the country, is once again starting for the Cincinnati Bengals. Nelson led the team with eight tackles in Week 1. That a boy.

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Major Wright, Strong Safety - Chicago

Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

I still remember the play from the '08 championship game vividly. You know, the one where he completely hammered Oklahoma's wide receiver on the sideline. Complete side thought there, but how can you not think of the glory days and what these guys brought to the Gator Nation?

Wright started at Strong Safety for the Bears in Week 1, recording seven tackles, good enough to tie for the team lead. Once again, that a boy!

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Joe Haden, CB - Cleveland Browns

David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Simple enough, Joe knows. Joe knows coverage, Joe knows how to be a gamer, Joe just knows. Haden started at cornerback for the Browns, recording six tackles, and picking off Eagles QB Michael Vick for a 50 yard return. Not too shabby of a start.

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Jeremy Mincey, LB - Jacksonville Jaguars

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Mincey started at right defensive end for the Jags, recording three total tackles, two of which were solo.

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Brandon Siler, LB - Kansas City

Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The trusty linebacker from our '06 national championship team is suiting up for the Chiefs this season. Siler hit the field, but failed to record any stats in Week 1. No biggie here though, he has a full 15 games left in the regular season.

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Mike Pouncey, Center - Miami

Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

Yes my fellow Gators, Mike is still snapping strong in the big leagues, and no, it isn't over rookie QB Ryan Tannehill's head.

Pouncey got the start at Center for the 'Phins.

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Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver - Minnesota

Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Mercy Percy! Harvin was back in action on Sunday for the Vikings. He started the game and did what Percy does: ball out. Harvin caught six balls for 84 yards, and added 20 yards on the ground on five touches.

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Jermaine Cunningham, LB - New England

Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

Cunningham saw action on Sunday, totaling three tackles for the Pats, two of which were solo.

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Aaron Hernandez, TE - New England

Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE

AH is fresh off a new lucrative contract, and he isn't stopping anytime soon. He reeled in six catches for 59 total yards, and also "toted the rock" one time for five yards. Play on player.

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Brandon Spikes, LB - Patriots

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

B Spikes, aka Twitter's poster child, started for the Pats on Sunday. His day was lackluster, recording just one tackle, but we can chalk that up to knocking off the rust in Week 1.

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Will Hill, DB - NY Giants

Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Will "The Thrill" Hill is surviving folks. He's in the league, playing for the Super Bowl Champion New York "Football" Giants. Could I possibly get more adjectives into two lines?

Hill recorded just one tackle in the Giants' opening game.

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Tim Tebow, QB/TE/Who Knows - NY Jets

Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Timmy Tebow, aka the Jets fall back plan when things turn sour with Sanchez, aka there hope for the NFL playoffs, started the season at tight end. Yes, two aka's in one sentence. Overboard? Maybe.

Tebow rushed the ball five times for a total of 11 yards. Note to the Jets, if you want Tebow to be Tebow, he needs a whole game to wear down the opposing defense's legs.

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Cooper Carlisle, Guard - Oakland

Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

We had to go way out west to find this guy. Carlisle started the game at left guard for the Raiders.

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Chas Henry, P - Philadelphia

Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Chas Henry is suiting up for the Eagles, and punted six times for a total of 330 yards, and a per average punt of 55 yards.

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Marcus Gilbert, Center - Pittsburgh

David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Gilbert is one of three former Florida Gators that start on the Steelers offensive line. No big deal, right? Gilbert played right tackle in Week 1.

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Maurkice Pouncey, Center - Steelers

Vincent Pugliese-US PRESSWIRE

The other member of the Pouncey Twins duo, Maurkice, was in action for the mighty Steelers in Week 1. He started at Center, and proceeded to mow down opposing defensive lineman.

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Chris Rainey, RB - Steelers

Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

If you hadn't noticed, it's still good to be Chris Rainey. The rain man didn't exactly make it rain in Week 1, but he did see action on the field, catching one pass for minus one yard, and rushing twice for five yards.

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Max Starks, Tackle - Steelers

Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

The third of three Gators on the Steelers offensive line, Starks is the veteran of the bunch. He holds down the most important part of the offense, starting at left tackle and covering Big Ben's blindside.

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Ray McDonald, DE - 49ers

Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

Big Ray McDonald recorded four tackles (three solo) in the 49ers opening season win over the Green Bay Packers.

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Ahmad Black, S - Tampa Bay

Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE

Secretly everyone's favorite player on the '08 national championship team, Black started for the 'Bucs at free safety in Week 1. He picked off Carolina's Cam Newton once.

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