Updated and Current List of Former EWU Players in Professional Football
 
With the NFL playoffs getting started this weekend, the Big Sky Conference has a total of 16 former players – including four from Eastern Washington University -- vying for a chance to help lead their team to Super Bowl LV. The grand stage is set for Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa Bay, Fla.
 
Eastern Washington leads the way for all Big Sky teams with four players across two playoff squads. Cal Poly, Sacramento State, and Weber State all have two players each. Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, and Portland State all have one representative apiece.
 
Included on the playoff rosters are a pair of Big Sky Offensive MVPs that hail from Eastern Washington -- four-time All-Big Sky first team wide receiver Cooper Kupp and two-time All-Big Sky first team running back Taiwan Jones. Jones earned the offensive honor in 2010, followed by Kupp in 2015.
 
On the opposite side of the ball, the two former Big Sky Defensive MVPs belong to Weber State. Wildcat cornerback Taron Johnson and defensive lineman Jonah Williams both picked up the top defensive accolade for the league in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
 
Fifty-five former Big Sky players have etched their names on Super Bowl rosters. Kendrick Bourne (Eastern Washington) and Mike Person (Montana State) represented the San Francisco 49ers in last year's Super Bowl.
 
 

Team-by-Team List of Former Big Sky Conference Players in the NFL Playoffs . . .

 
AFC
 
2 Seed: Buffalo Bills
CB Taron Johnson (Weber State), RB Taiwan Jones (Eastern Washington)
 
3 Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers
LS Kameron Canady (Portland State)
 
4 Seed: Tennessee Titans
LB Nick Dzubnar (Cal Poly)
 
5 Seed: Baltimore Ravens
CB Khalil Dorsey (Northern Arizona)
 
6 Seed: Cleveland Browns
DE George Obinna (Sacramento State)
 
 
NFC
 
2 Seed: New Orleans Saints
LB Kaden Elliss (Idaho), TE Josh Hill (Idaho State)
 
5 Seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Travis Jonsen (Montana State)
 
6 Seed: Los Angeles Rams
OLB Samson Ebukam (Eastern Washington), WR Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), WR Nsimba Webster (Eastern Washington), WR J.J. Koski (Cal Poly), DL Jonah Williams (Weber State)
 
7 Seed: Chicago Bears
WR DeAndre Carter (Sacramento State), QB Kyle Sloter (Northern Colorado)
 
For more information and playoff updates visit www.NFL.com.
 
 
 
 
 

2020 Regular Season Statistics by EWU Players in the NFL . . .

 
San Francisco 49ers (NFL) – Kendrick Bourne – Wide Receiver – EWU Letterwinner in 2013-14-15-16

• Played in 15 games in 2020 (started 5)
• 49 receptions, 667 yards 2 TDs, average of 13.6 yards per reception (2nd on the team in both yards and receptions)
• Best games:
  • (Wk 8; 11/01/20) vs. Seattle, 8 rec 81 yds 0 TD (Loss 37-27)
  • (Wk 15; 12/20/20) vs. Dallas, 4 rec 86 yds 1 TD (Loss 41-33)
  • (Wk 17; 01/03/20) vs. Seattle, 5 rec 76 yds 0 TD (Loss 26-23)
• Career totals: 137 receptions, 1,769 yds, 11 TDs in 58 games played
• 49ers finished 6-10, 4th in the NFC West in 2020

 
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) – Samson Ebukam – Outside Linebacker – EWU LW in 2013-14-15-16

• Played in all 16 games in 2020 (started 14)
• 31 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble
• Career totals: 149 total tackles, 14 sacks, 6 pass deflections, 6 forced fumble, 1 interception in 64 games played
• Rams finished 10-6, good for 2nd in the NFC West and the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs

 
Buffalo Bills (NFL) – Taiwan Jones – Running Back/Cornerback – EWU LW in 2008-09-10

• Played in 13 games in 2020
• No offensive stats recorded
• Recorded 6 tackles on special teams throughout the year
• Played over 50 percent of special teams snaps for Buffalo in 12 of his 13 played games (48% in the other game)
• Bills advanced to the playoffs with a 10-6 regular season record and championship in the AFC East Division.

 
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) – Cooper Kupp – Wide Receiver – EWU LW in 2013-14-15-16

• Played in 15 games in 2020 (started 12)
• 92 receptions, 974 yards, 3 TDs, average of 10.6 yards per reception (1st on team in yards and receptions)
• Ranked 11th in the NFL in receptions and 22nd in yards (6th and 13th in the NFC, respectively)
• 3 100-yard games:
  • (Wk 3; 9/27/20) vs. Buffalo, 9 rec 107 yds 1 TD (Loss, 35-32)
  • (Wk 8; 11/01/20) vs. Miami, 11 rec 110 yds 0 TD (Loss, 28-17)
  • (Wk 11; 11/23/20) vs. Tampa Bay, 11 rec 145 yds 0 TD (Win, 27-24)
• 5 returned punts for 50 yards
• Surpassed 3,500 career receiving yards (3,570)
• Career totals: 288 receptions, 3,570 yards, 24 TDs in 54 games played
• Rams finished 10-6, good for 2nd in the NFC West and the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs

 
Chicago Bears/San Francisco 49rs (NFL) – Aaron Neary – Offensive Guard – EWU LW in 2012-13-14-15

• Did not play in any games in 2020, but spent time on the practice squads of two NFL teams
• 2020 Transaction History:
  • 11/03/20; Added to CHI practice squad
  • 11/09/20; Activated from CHI practice squad
  • 11/09/20; Reverted back to CHI practice squad
  • 11/10/20; Removed from CHI practice squad
  • 12/16/20; Signed to SF practice squad
  • 01/02/21; Released from SF practice squad
  • Currently Free Agent

 
Denver Broncos/Baltimore Ravens (NFL) – Jake Rodgers – Offensive Tackle – EWU LW in 2013-14

• Played in 5 games in 2020 (started 0), all with Denver
• Played 51 snaps on offense (all Week 9 against Atlanta); had 26 snaps on special teams over the five games he played
• 2020 Transaction History:
  • 4/23/20; Re-signed by DEN for 1 year, $675,000 contract
  • 9/29/20; Protected by DEN
  • 10/01/20; Activated from DEN practice squad (played 51 on offense, 26 on ST)
  • 10/02/20; Added to DEN practice squad
  • 10/10/20; Activated from DEN practice squad
  • 11/24/20; Waived by DEN
  • 11/25/20; Claimed by BAL off waivers
  • 12/07/20; Waived by BAL
  • 12/08/20; Cut by BAL (contract terminated)
  • 12/10/20; Had visit w/ TEN
  • Currently Free Agent

 
Los Angeles Rams (NFL) – Nsimba Webster – Wide Receiver/Return Specialist/Special Teams – EWU LW in 2015-16-17-18

• Played in all 16 games in 2020 (0 starts)
• 16 kick returns for 347 yards (21.7 average), 25 punt returns for 185 yards (7.4 avg) in 2020
• 10 tackles on special teams in 2020 (12 total for career)
• Career Totals (Returns):
  • 18 kick returns for 404 yards (22.4 avg)
  • 32 punt returns for 203 yards (6.3 avg)
• Rams finished 10-6, good for 2nd in the NFC West and the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs