82 Cal Poly Football History -- Mustangs in the Pros
Jordan Beck Denver Broncos
Chris Gocong Philadelphia Eagles
Courtney Brown Dallas Cowboys
Mark Restelli Edmonton Eskimos
Ramses Barden New York Giants
Draftees/Free Agents 1954 Alex Bravo, RB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9th-L.A. Rams Bob Lawson, FB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9th-Detroit Lions Stan Sheriff, C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18th-L.A. Rams Vic Buccola, OG . . . . . . . . . . .Saskatchewan (CFL) Bud Chadwick, FB . . . . . . . . .Saskatchewan (CFL) 1955 Bob Heaston, G . . . . . . . .24th-San Francisco 49ers Perry Jeter, RB . . . . . . . . . . . . .26th-Chicago Bears 1956 Jim Cox, E . . . . . . . . . . . . .9th-San Francisco 49ers 1958 John Madden, OL-DL . . . .21st-Philadelphia Eagles 1968 Cecil Turner, WR . . . . . . . . . . . .5th- Chicago Bears 1969 Gary Kerr, WR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(FA-Chicago) 1970 Emmanuel Murrell, DB . . . . . . . . .12th-Detroit Lions Don Milan, QB . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Oakland Raiders Don Sverchek, LB . . . . . . .FA-San Francisco 49ers 1972 Rick Wegis, DB . . . . . . . . . .12th-Cincinnati Bengals Mike Amos, WR . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Dallas Cowboys Rich Nominni, DL . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Chicago (WFL) Fred Stewart, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Hawaii (WFL) 1974 John Loane, K . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Oakland Raiders 1976 Gary Davis, RB . . . . . . . . . . . . .6th-Miami Dolphins John Henson, RB . . . . . . .14th-Green Bay Packers Ray Hall, WR . . . . . . . . . .17th-Green Bay Packers Pat Manus, DB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Rams Walter Mead, WR . . . . . . . .FA-San Francisco 49ers 1977 Bill McCadden, DB . . . . . . . . . .FA-Dallas Cowboys Dana Nafziger, TE . . . .FA-Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1978 Jimmy Childs, WR . . . . . . . .4th-St. Louis Cardinals Andre Keys, WR . . . . . . . . .8th-Pittsburgh Steelers 1979 Ed McDonald, DL . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Denver Broncos Mike Raymo, LB . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Oakland Raiders Steve Spencer, DL . . . . . . . . . .FA-New York Giants 1980 Mike Bailey, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Denver Broncos Dwight Crump, WR . . . . . . . . . .FA-Denver Broncos Paul Dickens, RB . . . . .FA-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bob Trudeau, RB . . . . . . . . .FA-St. Louis Cardinals 1981 Robbie Martin, WR . . . . . . . .4th-Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Daum, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . .6th-Miami Dolphins Louis Jackson, RB . . . . . . . . .7th, New York Giants Mike Bush, WR . . . . . . . .FA-New England Patriots Chris Jones, DB . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Dallas Cowboys Mel Kaufman, LB . . . . . . .FA-Washington Redskins LeCharls McDaniel, DB . .FA-Washington Redskins Jeff S. Smith, LB . . . . . . .FA-Washington Redskins 1982 Charles Daum, OL . . . . . . . . . .6th-Dallas Cowboys Carl Gillberg, C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Rams Rick Jones, TE . . . . . . . . .FA-Washington Redskins Martin Ponek, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Rams 1983 Steve Booker, LB . . . . . . .FA-Washington Redskins Tom Gilmartin, DL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Buffalo Bills Sven Hasselberg, LB . . . . . . . . . .FA-Houston Colts Jerry Schmidt, DL . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Dallas Cowboys
1984 Paul Sverchek, DL . . . . . . . .8th-Minnesota Vikings Dale Bartel, DB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oakland (USFL) Brian Gutierrez, RB . . . . . . . .FA-Seattle Seahawks Jeff J. Smith, WR . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Winnipeg (CFL) Gene Underwood, DB . . . . . . . . . .Oakland (USFL) Steve Wahl, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Raiders 1985 Damone Johnson, TE . . . . . . . . . . . .6th, L.A. Rams Gary Swanson, LB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9th- L.A. Rams Steve Gibson, DL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Rams Brian Moore, C . . . . . . . . . .FA-San Francisco 49ers 1986 Sal Cesario, OL . . . . . . . . . . . . .12th-New York Jets John Cummins, DE . . . . . .FA-San Francisco 49ers Greg Thompson, DB . . . . . . . . .FA-Denver Broncos 1989 Chris Dunn, DL . . . . . . . . . . . . .9th-Atlanta Falcons 1991 Pat Moore, DL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Chicago Bears 1993 Chris Thomas, WR . . . . . . .FA-San Diego Chargers 1998 Kamil Loud, WR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7th-Buffalo Bills 1999 Dan Loney, OL/DL . . . . . . . . . . .FA-San Jose (AFL) Ed Wynn, DB . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Sioux Falls (NIFL) 2000 Andy Jepson, QB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Iowa (NIFL) James Tuthill, PK . . . . . . . .FA-San Francisco 49ers 2001 Antonio Warren, RB . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Calgary (CFL) 2002 Seth Burford, QB . . . . . . . .7th-San Diego Chargers Adam Herzing, WR . . . . . . . . .FA-Indianapolis Colts Dustin Kroeker, OL . . . . . . . . .FA-Seattle Seahawks 2003 Vaughn Jarrett, DB . . . . . . .FA-Chicago Rush (AFL) 2004 David Richardson, DB . . . .FA-Jacksonville Jaguars Navid Niakan, PK . . . . . . .FA-Central Valley (AFL2) 2005 Jordan Beck, LB . . . . . . . . . . . .3rd-Atlanta Falcons Darrell Jones, WR/RS .FA-Montreal Alouettes (CFL) 2006 Chris Gocong, DE . . . . . . .3rd-Philadelphia Eagles Jonah Russell, WR . . . . . . .FA-L.A. Avengers (AFL) Byungwoo Yoon, K . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Macon (AFL2) Aaron Williams, DB . . . . . . . . . .FA-Amarillo (AFL2) 2007 Courtney Brown, DB . . . . . . . . .7th-Dallas Cowboys Kyle Shotwell, LB . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Oakland Raiders Chris White, DL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Calgary (CFL) Josh Mayfield, OL . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Amarillo (AFL2) 2008 Ramses Barden, WR . . . . . . . .3rd-New York Giants Mark Restelli, LB . . . . . . . . . . .FA-Edmonton (CFL) 2009 Ryan Shotwell, DE . .Sollerod Gold Diggers (DAFF) Key (FA - Free Agent): CFL - Canadian Football League NFL - National Football League NIFL - National Indoor Football League USFL - United State Football League WFL - World Football League AFL - Arena Football League AFL2 - Arena Football League 2 DAFF - Danish American Football Federation
Tre’dale Tolver Sacramento (UFL)
Ryan Shotwell Sollerod Gold Diggers
Current Professionals As of August 1, six former Cal Poly football players are competing in the professional ranks. Two ex-Mustangs are in the National Football League. Wide receiver Ramses Barden was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft and was activated for three of the team’s 16 games in 2009, catching one pass from Eli Manning for 16 yards. Defensive end Chris Gocong was drafted in the third round by the Philadelphia Eagles four years ago. He spent the 2006 season on the injured reserve list due to a neck injury, then played all 16 games in 2007 on the strong side of the linebacking corps and recorded 92 tackles, including one sack. He added 61 tackles in 16 games in 2008 and played in 15 contests last season, including 11 starts, recording 44 tackles and one sack. Gocong was traded to the Cleveland Browns last April. Cornerback Courtney Brown was drafted in the seventh round in April 2007 by the Dallas Cowboys and notched 13 tackles in two seasons with the Cowboys before being released prior to the 2009 season He signed a future contract with the Giants last January. Linebacker Kyle Shotwell was on the practice squads of five NFL teams in 2007 and 2008 but never played in a regular season game. Linebacker Jordan Beck was drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2005, but sat out his first season due to a preseason ankle injury. He was a backup linebacker in 2006, playing in 15 games and recording 13 tackles (11 solo). He was released by Atlanta and signed a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos midway through the 2007 season, but was released after the 2008 preseason. Playing mostly on special teams in 2007, Beck notched 10 tackles in 11 games. Shotwell, Gocong and Beck all were Buck Buchanan Award winners at Cal Poly. Meanwhile, former Cal Poly linebacker Mark Restelli was the leading tackler for the Edmonton Eskimos in 2009. He played most of the downs on defense -- he also played on every Eskimo special team except field goal -- and recorded 58 defensive tackles, 16 special teams tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three passes knocked down, and three tackles for loss. He played the first two games of the 2010 season before being sidelined with a knee injury. Ex-Mustang defensive end Ryan Shotwell is a player/coach for the Sollerod Gold Diggers of the Danish American Football Federation while former Cal Poly wide receiver/return specialist Tre’dale Tolver reached agreement with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League in July and was to compete for a spot on the 55-man roster at training camp in August. Running back Antonio Warren led the Canadian Football League in rushing TDs with 13 and was fourth in combined yards with 2,179 for the BC Lions in 2005 after rushing for 1,136 yards and catching 34 passes in 2004. He played briefly in 2006 (BC Lions) and 2007 (Edmonton) before being released. He had played briefly for the New York Giants in 2003 and spent the 2001, 2002 and part of the 2003 season with the Calgary Stampeders, returning a kickoff 99 yards in 2003. Offensive and defensive lineman Dan Loney played seven seasons with 2008 ArenaBowl finalist San Jose as the starting center after a year on the SaberCats’ practice squad. Wide receiver/return specialist Darrell Jones played for the Arizona Rattlers in 2006 and 2007. The AFL ceased operations in 2009. Wide receiver Jonah Russell played for the Los Angeles Avengers in 2006 and with AFL2’s Amarillo Dusters in 2007 and 2008. Defensive back Aaron Williams also played for the Dusters in 2008 and played for the Spokane Shock in 2009. Fullback/linebacker Josh Mayfield played for the Dusters in 2008 while defensive lineman Chris White played briefly for the Central Valley Coyotes in 2009, recording nine tackles, including one sack. Other former Mustangs who played professionally in recent years include quarterback Seth Burford (Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers), cornerback David Richardson (Jacksonville Jaguars), wide receiver Adam Herzing (Colts, Lions, 49ers, Steelers), tackle Dustin Kroeker (Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions), placekicker James Tuthill (Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers), defensive back Vaughn Jarrett (Chicago Rush and San Jose SaberCats of AFL) and placekickers Navid Niakan (Central Valley Coyotes of AFL2) and Byungwoo Yoon (Macon Knights in 2006 and South Georgia Wildcats in 2007, both AFL2 teams).