DII Report: DII football in the NFL
As we enter the first full week of the 2022 NFL preseason, let's take a look at some of the names on NFL rosters.
The NFL preseason is underway, with the Las Vegas Raiders handing the Jacksonville Jaguars a 27-11 loss. Kentucky Wesleyan alum Keelan Cole pulled down a 31-yard reception in the opener as several DII football players were on the field and sidelines.
Below is a list of players currently on NFL rosters. Keep in mind this list is fluid (per NFL.com as of Friday, August 5). With it being the preseason, cuts can be made in a blink of an eye, as well as free agent additions (Central Missouri’s Delanie Walker is still unsigned, for example). Chances are, there will be names missing from the list depending on when it’s viewed.
There is also some ambiguity or unclarity to the positions. For now, I didn’t separate between offensive guard or offensive tackle, for example, and just went with offensive line. These positions, too, are fluid and could shift in the preseason, especially among the younger DII football players. After all, DII national-champion quarterback Jared Bernhardt is listed on the Atlanta Falcons roster as a wide receiver. Things change.
(Austin Ekeler at Western Colorado, then Western State. Image: Western Colorado Athletics)
Keep in mind there are also no designations yet (injured reserved, practice squad, and things of that sort). Ryan Jensen is listed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, even though we know much of the Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion’s season is unfortunately over due to injury.
If you’re curious about the DII players drafted this year, I sat down with the team at D2Football to get some insight on each player. You can read that article here.
DII football players in the NFL preseason (for now)
Arizona Cardinals Dennis Gardeck OLB Sioux Falls
Arizona Cardinals Christian Matthew DB Valdosta State
Baltimore Ravens Shemar Bridges WR FVSU
Baltimore Ravens Nate McCrary RB SVSU
Baltimore Ravens David Vereen DB Newberry
Atlanta Falcons Jared Bernhardt WR Ferris State
Atlanta Falcons Dee Alford DB Tusculum
Atlanta Falcons Erik Harris FS Cal (PA)
Buffalo Bills Tanner Owen OL NWMSU
Carolina Panthers Devin Jones DB UNC Pembroke
Cincinnati Bengals Alex Cappa OL Humboldt State*
Cincinnati Bengals Domenique Davis DT UNC Pembroke
Chicago Bears Auzoyah Alufohai DT West Georgia
Chicago Bears Rhysen John TE Simon Fraser
Chicago Bears David Moore WR East Central
Chicago Bears Mike Pennel DL CSU Pueblo
Cleveland Browns D'Anthony Bell DB West Florida
Dallas Cowboys CJ Goodwin DB Cal (PA)
Dallas Cowboys Amon Simon OL Texas A&M-Commerce**
Denver Broncos Kaden Davis WR Northwest Missouri State
Denver Broncos Sebastian Guttierez OL Minot State
Denver Broncos Jonathan Harris DT Lindenwood**
Denver Broncos Tyreik McAllister RB Charleston (WV)
Detroit Lions Trinity Benson WR East Central
Detroit Lions John Cominsky DE Charleston (WV)
Detroit Lions Zein Obeid OL Ferris State
Detroit Lions Anthony Pittman LB Wayne State (MI)
Detroit Lions Craig Reynolds RB Kutztown
Detroit Lions Shane Zylstra WR Minnesota State
Green Bay Packers Malik Taylor WR Ferris State
Houston Texans Jonathan Owens DB Missouri Western
Houston Texans Tavierre Thomas DB Ferris State
Indianapolis Colts Ashton Dulin WR Malone
Indianapolis Colts Dallas Flowers DB Pitt State
Indianapolis Colts Brandon Kemp OT Valdosta State
Indianapolis Colts Kenny Moore DB Valdosta State
Indianapolis Colts EJ Speed LB Tarleton State**
Indianapolis Colts Grover Stewart DT Albany State (GA)
Indianapolis Colts Mike Strachan WR Charleston (WV)
Indianapolis Colts John Hurst WR West Georgia
Jacksonville Jaguars Tyrell Adams LB West Georgia
Jacksonville Jaguars Gregory Junior DB OBU
Kansas City Chiefs Brandin Dandrigde DB Missouri Western
Kansas City Chiefs Austin Edwards DL Ferris State
Kansas City Chiefs Jody Fortson TE Valdosta State
Kansas City Chiefs Joshua Williams DB Fayetteville State
LA Chargers Austin Ekeler RB Western Colorado
LA Chargers Matt Feiler OL Bloomsburg
LA Chargers Morgan Fox DL CSU Pueblo
LA Chargers Damon Lloyd LB Indiana (PA)
LA Chargers Jason Moore WR Findlay
LA Chargers Trey Pipkins OL Sioux Falls
LA Rams Chris Garrett LB Concordia-St. Paul
LA Rams Matthew Orzech LS Azusa Pacific
LA Rams Luis Perez QB Texas A&M-Commerce**
Las Vegas Raiders Keelan Cole WR Kentucky Wesleyan
Las Vegas Raiders Sam Webb DB Missouri Western
Miami Dolphins Tyreek Hill WR West Alabama
Miami Dolphins Kader Kohou DB Texas A&M-Commerce**
Miami Dolphins Adam Shaheen TE Ashland
Miami Dolphins Zach Sieler DL Ferris State
Minnesota Vikings Zach Davidson TE Central Missouri
Minnesota Vikings CJ Ham RB Augustana (SD)
Minnesota Vikings Kyle Hinton OL Washburn
Minnesota Vikings Chris Reed OL Minnesota State
Minnesota Vikings Adam Thielen WR Minnesota State
New England Patriots Malcolm Butler DB West Alabama
New England Patriots Kyle Dugger DB Lenoir-Rhyne
New England Patriots Matt Judon LB Grand Valley State
New England Patriots Sam Roberts DL Northwest Missouri
New Orleans Saints Deonte Harty WR Assumption
New York Jets Irvin Charles WR Indiana (PA)
New York Jets Greg Zuerlein K Missouri Western
Pittsburgh Steelers Gunner Olszewski WR Bemidji State
San Francisco 49ers Tanner Hudson TE Southern Arkansas
Seattle Seahawks Matt Gotel OL West Florida
Seattle Seahawks Dareke Young WR Lenoir-Rhyne
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ryan Jensen OL CSU Pueblo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vyncint Smith WR Limestone
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Zach Triner LS Assumption
Washington Commanders Alex Armah RB West Georgia
Washington Commanders DeVante Blausby DB Pitt State
*= no longer has a football program
**=moved to Division I, but player played at DII level for his collegiate career