This is a feature in which I track the progress of former Wildcats greats such as Darren Sproles and Jordy Nelson in the ranks of professional football.
For now, I shall restrict it to National Football League performances until I get the hang of it, but expanding it to other professional leagues such as the Canadian Football League and Arena Football is a future possibility.
Per a reader's suggestion, I have re-ordered these players by position and listed the inactive players at the bottom. I hope that helps people to find the performances they're seeking more easily.
Offense
Bryce Brown
RB — Buffalo Bills
K-Stater from 2010 to 2011
Drafted by the Eagles in 2012
Brown, a seventh-round pick in 2012 by Philadelphia who was traded to Buffalo in the offseason, rushed four times for 20 yards and hauled in a 40-yard reception in the Bills' 21-13 home victory Sunday over Green Bay.
Brown pushed his season rushing total to 126 yards on 36 attempts, while he also has hauled in 16 receptions for 176 yards. Buffalo is second in the AFC East with an 8-6 record.
Cornelius Lucas
OL — Detroit Lions
K-Stater from 2009 to 2013
Signed by the Lions in 2014
Lucas, an undrafted rookie free-agent offensive lineman, played in Detroit's 16-14 home win Sunday over Minnesota.
Lucas has played in 13 games this year — including one start — for the Lions, who improved to 10-4 with the win and now are tied for the NFC North lead.
Jordy Nelson
WR — Green Bay Packers
K-Stater from 2003 to 2007
Drafted by the Packers in 2008
A seventh-year veteran, Nelson caught five passes for 55 yards in Green Bay's 21-13 loss at Buffalo. A career 55-game starter, Nelson has 83 receptions for 1,320 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014.
He ranks second in the league in touchdowns, fifth in yards and eighth in receptions. In his seven-year career, Nelson has 385 receptions for 5,910 yards and 48 touchdowns. The Packers tied with Detroit for the NFC North lead at 10-4.
Darren Sproles
RB — Philadelphia Eagles
K-Stater from 2001 to 2004
Drafted by the Chargers in 2005
A 10th-year pro, Sproles accounted for 14 all-purpose yards in Philadelphia's 38-27 loss Sunday night to Dallas. The running back carded 5 yards on three rushes, 8 yards on two catches and 1 yard on one punt return.
Traded to the Eagles from the Saints in the offseason, Sproles has 300 rushing yards and five touchdowns, 321 receiving yards, and a 13.7-yard average on punt returns.
He also has racked up 16,621 career all-purpose yards to rank 16th in NFL history. The Eagles fell to 9-5 to sit in second place in the NFC East.
Daniel Thomas
RB — Miami Dolphins
K-Stater from 2009 to 2010
Drafted by the Dolphins in 2011
A 2011 draft pick by Miami who was cut and then re-signed by the Dolphins this year, Thomas caught two passes for 20 yards and rushed twice for five yards in Miami's 41-13 loss at New England.
In 11 games this year, the fourth-year back has 167 rushing yards on 43 carries and 120 receiving yards on 12 catches for the 7-7 Dolphins.
Defense
Zac Diles
LB — Cleveland Browns
K-Stater from 2005 to 2006
Drafted by the Texans in 2007
In his fourth game with Cleveland, Diles played in the Browns' 30-0 home loss Sunday to Cincinnati, but did not record any statistics. Diles, who also has played for Houston this year, has two tackles this year for the 7-7 Browns.
Emmanuel Lamur
LB — Cincinnati Bengals
K-Stater from 2009 to 2011
Signed by the Bengals in 2012
Lamur, an undrafted rookie free-agent signee in 2012, made his 13th start of the season Sunday in Cincinnati's 30-0 victory at Cleveland.
The strongside linebacker made one tackle to push his season total to 89, to go along with seven passes defended and two interceptions. The Bengals hold a half-game lead in the AFC North with a 9-4-1 record.
Justin Tuggle
LB — Houston Texans
K-Stater from 2011 to 2012
Signed by the Texans in 2013
A second-year linebacker, Tuggle played in Houston's 17-10 loss Sunday at Indianapolis, but the former undrafted rookie free agent did not record any statistics. The Texans are now 7-7
In 14 games this season, Tuggle has 38 tackles to improve his two-year career total to 52.
Reggie Walker
LB — San Diego Chargers
K-Stater from 2005 to 2008
Drafted by the Cardinals in 2009
A sixth-year pro, Walker played in San Diego's 22-10 home loss Sunday to Denver, but did not record any statistics. In his second season in San Diego, Walker has 12 tackles for the 8-6 Chargers.
Inactive
Arthur Brown
LB — Baltimore Ravens
K-Stater from 2010 to 2012
Drafted by the Ravens in 2013
A second-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, Brown was inactive for Baltimore's 20-12 home win over Jacksonville.
Brown has played in three games this season for the 9-5 Ravens, who are tied for second in the AFC North.
Chris Harper
WR — New York Giants
K-Stater from 2010 to 2012
Drafted by the Seahawks in 2013
A 2013 draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Harper now is on the practice squad for the New York Giants. The Giants defeated Washington 24-13 on Sunday to improve to 5-9.
Jeromey Clary
OL — San Diego Chargers
K-Stater from 2002 to 2005
Drafted by the Chargers in 2006
An eighth-year offensive lineman for San Diego, Clary remains on the Chargers' physically unable to perform list.
San Diego lost at home to Denver, 22-10, to fall to 8-6.
Terence Newman
CB — Cincinnati Bengals
K-Stater from 1998 to 2002
Drafted by the Cowboys in 2003
A 12-year NFL veteran, Newman was inactive for Cincinnati's 30-0 victory Sunday at Cleveland.
A career 171-game starter, the cornerback has 736 career tackles and 147 career passes defended, including season totals of 67 and 14, respectively. The Bengals hold a half-game lead in the AFC North with a 9-4-1 record.
Tavon Rooks
OL — New Orleans Saints
K-Stater from 2012 to 2013
Drafted by the Saints in 2014
Rooks, a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, is on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad. The Saints won at Chicago, 31-15, on Monday night to improve to an NFC South-leading 6-8 record.
Ty Zimmerman
S — New Orleans Saints
K-Stater from 2010 to 2013
Signed by the Saints in 2014
An undrafted rookie free-agent signee by the New Orleans Saints, Zimmerman is on injured reserve for the 2014 season. New Orleans won at Chicago on Monday night, 31-15, to improve to 6-8, the top mark in the NFC South.