Note: This information on Vanderbilt players on current National Football League rosters was updated Jan. 15.
OREN BURKS (2014-17) // Green Bay // NFL Bio // Burks was a third-round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and competed for a starting job at linebacker as a rookie in Green Bay.
WEEK 17: Burks started at linebacker in the Packers’ regular season finale, but did not register a tackle as Green Bay fell to 6-9-1 with a home loss to NFC North rival Detroit on Dec. 30.
SEASON STATS: Burks ended his rookie season with four starting assignments in 14 appearances. He finished the year with 23 total tackles, including 18 solo stops.
ADAM BUTLER (2013-16) // New England // NFL Bio // Butler is in his second season as a defensive lineman with the New England Patriots. As a rookie free agent, Butler was productive through the 2017 season, finishing the campaign with an appearance in the Super Bowl.
THIS WEEK (AFC DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP): Butler and the 12-5 Patriots are back in the AFC Championship, facing the 13-4 Kansas City Chiefs on the road on Sunday, Jan. 20. Kickoff in Arrowhead Stadium is 5:40 p.m. CT.
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS: Butler and the New England Patriots advanced in the AFC playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 13 in Gillette Stadium. Butler contributed a tackle and quarterback hurry from his defensive tackle position.
WEEK 17: Butler concluded the regular season with a solid performance in New England’s 38-3 home win over the Jets on Dec. 30. Butler contributed a quarterback sack and forced fumble in the victory. Butler and the 11-5 Pats advance to the AFC playoffs.
SEASON STATS: Playing in every game on the Pats’ defensive line, Butler contributed 17 total tackles, including a career-high three quarterback sacks.
ZACH CUNNINGHAM (2013-16) // Houston // NFL Bio // The 57th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, Cunningham became a starter and one of Houston’s most productive defenders as a rookie. A consensus First Team All-America inside linebacker for the Commodores in 2016, Cunningham has received high marks from Texan coaches with his abilities to play the rush and defend the pass.
AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS: Cunningham started at linebacker for Texans in a wild card game against Indianapolis on Jan. 5. He registered seven total tackles, a quarterback hurry and defensed pass in Houston’s 21-7 home loss to the Colts.
WEEK 17: Cunningham continued his outstanding play for the Houston defense, contributing a team-high six tackles and a fumble recovery as the Texans sealed the AFC South divisional title on Dec. 30 with a 20-3 home victory over Jacksonville.
SEASON STATS: Cunningham enjoyed his best year in 2018. He led the Texans with 78 solo tackles and 114 combined tackles, and added two forced fumbles, an interception return for a score, and a fumble recovery.
ANDREW EAST (2012-15) // Washington // After trying out for several NFL teams over the last 36 months, East was signed to Washington’s active roster on Dec. 15.
WEEK 17: East served as Washington’s long snapper in the regular season finale, a 24-0 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 30. The Redskins finished the regular season with a 7-9 record.
SEASON STATS: After being signed in mid-December, East served as the Redskins’ primary snapper during the final three weeks of the season.
ANDRE HAL (2010-13) // Houston // NFL Bio // A 16-game starter in the Houston secondary in 2017, Hal was added to Houston’s active roster on Oct. 17, just five months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Hal has been a mainstay on the Texans’ defense for the last four years.
AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS: Hal started at safety for the Texans in their matchup against Indianapolis on Jan. 5, contributing a pair of tackles as Houston dropped a 21-7 home decision to the Colts.
WEEK 17: Hal ended the regular season as a starter at safety for the 11-5 Texans. Hal contributed two tackles and a interception in Houston’s 20-3 home victory over Jacksonville on Dec. 30 that sealed the AFC South divisional title.
SEASON STATS: One of the NFL’s most remarkable storylines, Hal returned from illness to earn two starts and made eight appearances in 2018. He finished the year with 15 total tackles, three interceptions and five passes defended. He was named the Texans’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient.
CASEY HAYWARD (2008-11) // L.A. Chargers // NFL Bio // Hayward is in his seventh season, and is regarded among the NFL’s elite cover cornerbacks. In 2016, Hayward enjoyed his finest season, earning his initial Pro Bowl recognition after leading the league with seven interceptions. He was also named the Chargers Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl honors in 2017.
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS: The season came to an end Jan. 13 for Hayward and the Chargers when they fell to the New England Patriots 41-28 on the road in Gillette Stadium. Hayward contributed four solo tackle as the Chargers’ starting cornerback.
AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS: As a starting cornerback, Hayward posted four tackles and one defensed passes as the Chargers advanced to the divisional playoffs with a 23-17 road victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 6.
WEEK 17: Hayward and the Los Angeles Chargers earned a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs with an impressive 23-9 road victory at Denver. Hayward posted one solo tackle from his starting cornerback post for the 12-4 Chargers.
SEASON STATS: As the Chargers’ top cover corner, Hayward finished the regular season with 47 solo tackles, 53 total stops and nine passes defended. He has 20 career interceptions.
TRE HERNDON (2014-17) // Jacksonville // NFL Bio // Herndon made the Jaguars 53-man roster as a rookie free agent cornerback.
WEEK 17: Herndon notched a season-high three tackles as 5-11 Jacksonville concluded the season by suffering a 20-3 road loss at Houston on Dec. 30.
SEASON STATS: Appearing in 11 games, Herndon finished his rookie season with 10 solo tackles and 13 total stops.
WILL HOLDEN (2013-16) // Arizona // NFL Bio // A fifth-round pick in the 2017 Draft, Holden was re-signed to the Arizona active roster on Nov. 30.
WEEK 17: Holden earned a starting assignment at left tackle in Arizona’s regular-season finale, a 27-24 road loss to Seattle. The Cardinals ended the season with a 13-3 record.
SEASON STATS: Holden earned two starts at left tackle in four appearances after re-signing with Arizona in late November.
WESLEY JOHNSON (2010-13) // Miami // NFL Bio // A five-year veteran, Johnson was signed to the Miami Dolphins active roster on Oct. 2. He was a 16-game starter at center for the New York Jets in 2017.
WEEK 17: Johnson saw action at center and on special teams as Miami ended the season with a 7-9 record after dropping a 42-17 road decision at Buffalo on Dec. 30.
SEASON STATS: Johnson appeared in 10 games as an offensive lineman and special-teams contributor after signing with Miami before the fifth game of the season.
KENNY LADLER (2010-13) // New York Giants // NFL Bio // Ladler was signed by the New York Giants on Nov 16. Ladler saw action in six games for the Redskins earlier this season.
WEEK 17: Ladler enjoyed finest game as a member of the Giants in the regular season finale, contributing three tackles and a quarterback hurry as 5-11 New York dropped a 36-35 home decision to the NFC East rival Cowboys on Dec. 30.
SEASON STATS: Ladler appeared in eight games for the Giants, contributing nine total tackles as a reserve safety and special-teams player.
JORDAN MATTHEWS (2010-13) // Philadelphia // NFL Bio // Matthews was signed by his original NFL team (Philadelphia) on Sept. 19 after getting injured in the preseason as a member of the New England Patriots. In four years entering the 2018 season, Matthews has amassed 270 receptions for more than 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns.
NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS: Matthews and the Eagles concluded their season with a narrow 20-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome on Jan. 13. Matthews hooked up with quarterback Nick Foles for a 37-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia an early 7-0 lead.
NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS: Matthews did not register a reception on Sunday, Jan. 6 as the Eagles advanced to the divisional playoffs with a 16-15 road victory over Chicago at Soldier Field.
WEEK 17: Matthews saw action as a reserve wide receiver in Philadelphia’s regular-season finale victory at Washington. The Eagles earned a NFC wildcard spot by shutting out the Redskins 24-0.
SEASON STATS: Making five starts in 12 appearances with the Eagles, Matthews posted 21 receptions, good for 337 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
SPENCER PULLEY (2011-15) // New York Giants // NFL Bio // Pulley became New York’s starting center after being picked up Sept. 2 by the Giants. In 2017, Pulley served as the Chargers’ starting center for all 16 regular season games.
WEEK 17: Pulley earned a starting role at center for the New York Giants against NFC East rival Dallas on Dec. 30. The 5-11 Giants suffered a late-second 36-35 home loss to the Cowboys in the regular season finale.
SEASON STATS: After signing with the Giants after the opening week, Pulley earned nine starts at center and appeared in 13 games on the New York offensive line.
CALEB SCOTT (2014-17) // Seattle // NFL Bio // Scott was added to the Seahawks’ practice squad Sept. 2. He was a rookie free agent receiver.
TRENT SHERFIELD (2014-17) // Arizona // NFL Bio // Sherfield earned a spot on Cardinals’ 53-man active roster with a strong preseason performance. He is a rookie free agent wide receiver for the Cardinals and enjoyed increased playing time during the course of the season.
WEEK 17: Sherfield concluded the regular season by catching two passes for 23 yards as Arizona fell to 3-13 after a 27-24 road loss to Seattle on Dec. 30.
SEASON STATS: Entering significant minutes at wide receiver late in his rookie season, Sherfield ended the campaign with 19 receptions, good for 210 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also earned two starts.
EMMANUEL SMITH (2014-17) // Tampa Bay // NFL Bio // Smith was signed to the Bucs’ practice squad on Dec. 11. He started the year as a rookie free agent linebacker candidate at Atlanta.
STEPHEN WEATHERLY (2012-15) // Minnesota // NFL Bio // Weatherly registered his finest season as a Viking in his third season in 2018. He has been a starter and key contributor on the Vikings’ defensive front for much of the year.
WEEK 17: Weatherly contributed three assisted tackles from his defensive end position in Minnesota’s 24-10 home loss to NFC North rival Chicago in the regular season finale. The Vikings narrowly missed a wildcard spot in the playoffs, ending the season with a 8-7-1 mark.
SEASON STATS: Earning six starts at defensive end in 15 appearances, Weatherly accumulated 23 solo tackles, 33 total tackles and three quarterback sacks – all single-season career highs for the third-year pro.
RALPH WEBB (2014-17) // Pittsburgh // NFL Bio // A rookie running back free agent, Webb was signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad on Dec. 4. Earlier in the fall, Webb was on the Tampa Bay practice squad. He impressed during the preseason as a running back prospect with New England.
JONATHAN WYNN (2014-17) // Detroit // NFL Bio // A rookie free agent defensive end, Wynn was signed to the Detroit practice squad on Dec. 12. He was a member of the Minnesota practice squad through mid-October.