Note: This information on Vanderbilt players on current National Football League rosters was updated August 31, 2019.
KHARI BLASINGAME (2015-18) // Minnesota // NFL Bio // Blasingame has earned a spot on the Viking practice squad after making a quick favorable preseason impression a as a rookie free agent fullback prospect.
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. Burks was forced to the sideline with a chest injury suffered in the 2o19 preseason opener, but has hopes of a quick recovery and return the the Packer defense. He was a starter at inside linebacker in the preseason opener.
2018-19 SEASON STATS: Burks ended his rookie season with four starting assignments in 14 appearances. He finished the year with 24 total tackles, including 18 solo stops.
ADAM BUTLER (2013-16) // New England // NFL Bio // Butler enters his third season in New England and comes off a year when he helped the Patriots capture the Super Bowl. Butler has played multiple defensive line positions, and has been most effective as a pass-rushing specialist from the defensive tackle role. ls 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.
2018-19 SEASON STATS: Playing in every game on the Pats’ defensive line for the second straight year, Butler contributed 17 total tackles, including a career-high three quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defended.
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.
2018-19 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.
CASEY HAYWARD (2008-11) // L.A. Chargers // NFL Bio // Hayward enters his eighth season and again, listed among the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro defender who topped the NFL in 2016 with seven interceptions. In 2017, he was named the Chargers’ Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
2018-19 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 interceptions in his career.
TRE HERNDON (2014-17) // Jacksonville // NFL Bio // Herndon enters his second year after playing in 11 games on coverage units and at cornerback as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made the Jags’ active roster after signing with the team as a rookie free agent.
2018-19 SEASON STATS: Herndon finished his rookie season with 10 solo tackles and 13 total stops.
SPENCER PULLEY (2011-15) // New York Giants // NFL Bio // Pulley is competing for the starting job at center for the New York Giants in training camp. Pulley joined the Giants early in the 2018-19 season, and eventually went on to start nine games on the offensive front. In 2017, Pulley served as the Chargers’ starting center for all 16 regular season games.
2018-19 SEASON STATS: In his third NFL season, Pulley earned nine starts at center and appeared in 13 games with the New York Giants.
TRENT SHERFIELD (2014-17) // Arizona // NFL Bio // Sherfield enters his second NFL season after making the most of his rookie campaign in Phoenix. Signed as a rookie free agent, Sherfield eventually played in 13 games and earned two starts at wide receiver for the Cardinals. By the end of the season, he was one of the team’s top receiving threats.
2018-19 SEASON STATS: Enjoying 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.
KYLE SHURMUR (2015-18) // Kansas City // NFL Bio // Shurmur was added to the practice squad at Kansas City on Aug. 30 after a strong preseason showing with the Chiefs.
JUSTIN SKULE (2015-18) // San Francisco // NFL Bio // Skule was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the 49ers. He is competing at offensive tackle in preseason camp. Two other Commodore standouts, center Wesley Johnson and wide receiver Jordan Matthews, also are with the 49ers.
STEPHEN WEATHERLY (2012-15) // Minnesota // NFL Bio // Weatherly enters his fourth NFL season coming off the best year of his career. In 2018-19, Weatherly became an occasional starter at defensive end and valuable pass-rush specialist for the Vikings, enjoying the most playing time of his pro career.
2018-19 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.
JOEJUAN WILLIAMS (2016-18) // New England// NFL Bio // Williams was selected as the 45th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Patriots. He is expected to get plenty of action in his rookie campaign.
JONATHAN WYNN (2014-17) // Detroit // NFL Bio // Wynn was named to the practice squad with the Detroit Lions after competing for a roster spot during preseason camp. He was originally signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent in June 2018.
Additionally:
ANDREW EAST (2012-15) // Washington // East was released by Washington Aug. 1. He signed with the Redskins in mid-December after trying out for several NFL teams over a three-year span, and served as the Redskins’ primary snapper during the final three weeks of the season.
ANDRE HAL (2010-13) // Hal announced his retirement from the NFL in May 2019 after enjoying a five-year career with the Houston Texans. Hal also successfully rebounded from a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis in early 2018 to return as the Texans’ starting safety by October. He was named the Texans’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient.
WILL HOLDEN (2013-16) // Holden, who was entering his third year in the league, was released by the Dolphins and Seahawks in late August. The tackle-guard earned a pair of starts last year with the Cardinals. He was originally a fifth-round pick by Arizona in the 2017 Draft.
WESLEY JOHNSON (2010-13) // A sixth-year veteran, Johnson was released by the 49ers in August. Johnson saw action in 10 games last year on the offensive line in Miami and was a 16-game starter at center for the New York Jets in 2017.
KENNY LADLER (2010-13) // New York Giants // NFL Bio // Ladler is released Aug. 30 by the New York Giants despite a strong preseason showing at safety. A four-year NFL veteran who appeared in eight games last year with the Giants, Ladler also has NFL experience with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.
JORDAN MATTHEWS (2010-13) // San Francisco // NFL Bio // Matthews was released Aug. 30 by San Francisco after signing an offseason free agent deal. Matthews has suffered from injuries in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Entering his sixth year in the league, Matthews has accumulated 270 receptions, 3,255 yards and 22 touchdowns during tenures with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. and New England
DARE ODEYINGBO (2015-18) // Cincinnati // NFL Bio // Odeyingbo was picked up by Cincinnati on Aug. 14. He was originally signed as a rookie free agent by Tampa Bay.
CALEB SCOTT (2014-17) // After working his way to the Seahawks’ practice squad as a rookie free agent, Scott was waived July 29, 2019 by Seattle after being placed on the non-football injury list.
EMMANUEL SMITH (2014-17) // Emmanuel Smith was released in late August by Tampa Bay in his second NFL season. The inside linebacker was signed as a rookie free agent by Atlanta and finished the 2018 season as a practice squad contributor in Tampa Bay.
JOSH SMITH (2015-18) // Tennessee // NFL Bio // Josh Smith was released Aug. 30 by the Tennessee Titans. The outside linebacker also worked out for the Titans after the 2019 NFL Draft.
RALPH WEBB (2014-17) // A second-year pro, Webb was waived/injured Aug. 8 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has also spent time with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots.
LADARIUS WILEY (2015-18) // Rookie LaDarius Wiley was released by the Titans Aug. 30. The free agent safety will look to continue his professional journey elsewhere.