/notables/2018/09/ten-start-season-on-nfl-rosters

Ten D-III alums start season on NFL rosters

The New Orleans Saints' Dan Arnold makes a catch between two defenders. (Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports)
New Orleans Saints tight end Dan Arnold, who played wide receiver for UW-Platteville, makes a catch between two defenders.
Photo by Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports
 

Jerrell Freeman retired this past offseason after six season in the National Football League, but Division III football has new alumni in the league for the 2018 season, with 10 players on active rosters and a handful of others on injured reserve and practice squads. 

Dan Arnold, a D3football.com first team All-America pick at wide receiver from UW-Platteville, made the season-opening 53-man roster for the New Orleans Saints at tight end. He spent last year on injured reserve with New Orleans. He joins Brandon Zylstra, who made the roster of the Minnesota Vikings. The Concordia-Moorhead wide receiver played in the CFL the past two seasons. Matt Gono, a tackle from Wesley, is on the Week 1 roster of the Atlanta Falcons. 

Former Monmouth quarterback Alex Tanney has played one game in the NFL in the seven seasons since he was an All-America selection for the Scots. At age 30, he's on the 53-man roster of the New York Giants. He spent last year on IR with the Tennessee Titans. 

Pierre Garcon, who has 604 career catches, has 11 years of experience and is back on the San Francisco 49ers roster. Ali Marpet, Division III's most recent draft pick, remains not only on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster, but in the starting lineup on the offensive line. Steven Hauschka, who was a D3football.com All-Region pick at Middlebury before finishing his collegiate career at North Carolina State, returns to the Buffalo Bills. Beloit tight end Derek Carrier and Greenville linebacker Nicholas Morrow remain with the Oakland Raiders. Louisiana College offensive lineman Jeremy Vujnovich, who started all 16 games up front for the Indianapolis Colts last season, is with the Arizona Cardinals.

UW-Whitewater wide receiver Jake Kumerow was in line to make the Green Bay Packers before being sent to the injured reserve. Dubuque cornerback Michael Joseph was among the final cuts but was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad. Frostburg State defensive lineman Niles Scott started out on the 49ers' practice squad but has since been cut. Wesley quarterback Joe Callahan, who spent training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, has yet to catch on. 

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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