COLUMBIA, Mo. – Since Mizzou Football head coach Gary Pinkel took the helm of the program in 2001, Mizzou has become a program that is noted for getting players to the NFL. In all, 22 players were on preseason rosters battling for spots with 19 making it to opening day, including nine starters. Below is a look at how the former Tigers faired in week one.
Tim Barnes – C – St. Louis Rams
Barnes went from undrafted lineman to starting center for the Rams after an impressive training camp this season. In his debut as a starter, Barnes and the Rams upset defending NFC Champion Seattle, 34-31. The 34 points scored by the Rams were the most on Seattle's 'Legion of Boom' since Oct. 6, 2013, when the Colts hung 34 points on the board (span of 33 games). With Barnes at center, the Rams put up 352 yards of total offense.
Beau Brinkley – LS – Tennessee Titans
As the Titans' long snapper, Brinkley was one of nine #MizzouMade starters in week one. He helped the Titans claim a 42-14 win over Tampa Bay. Brinkley has amassed 15 total tackles (nine solo) in his three-plus seasons as the team's long snapper after singing as a free agent in 2012.
Justin Britt – OL – Seattle Seahawks
One year after helping the Seattle Seahawks to an NFC Championship as the team's right tackle, Britt was the team's starting left guard on Sunday. The Lebanon, Mo., native and the Seahawks suffered a tough, 34-31 overtime loss to the St. Louis Rams in week one. Britt was one of nine #MizzouMade starters.
Chase Coffman – TE – Free Agent
Chase Coffman, an All-American tight end in his time as a Tiger, was cut by Tennessee on Sept. 6 but was re-signed before the Titans' season-opener.
Chase Daniel – QB – Kansas City Chiefs
A 2007 Heisman Trophy Finalist, Daniel has settled in as the Chiefs back-up quarterback despite putting up great numbers in the preseason. He went 41-of-53 (77 percent) for 388 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception. He averaged 7.3 yards per attempt and 9.5 per completion in the preseason. He did not play week one in Kansas City's 27-20 win.
Kony Ealy – DE – Carolina Panthers
Ealy, one year removed from totaling 12 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble as a rookie with Carolina, started week one for the Panthers in a 20-9 win over Jacksonville. He was one of nine #MizzouMade starters in week one. He did not compile any stats but earned high praise from head coach Ron Rivera, who said, "He did all the dirty work this week. You look at the plays he allowed to happen by his teammates. Those are things you get excited about."
Blaine Gabbert – QB – San Francisco 49ers
Gabbert, the backup quarterback for the 49ers, did not play week one but had an impressive preseason. In fact, he completed 15-of-17 passes for 117 yards without an interception. Now in his fifth NFL season, Gabbert and the 49ers earned a 20-3 week one win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Andrew Gachkar – LB – Dallas Cowboys
A linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, Gachkar was part of one the most exciting games during week one of NFL action. His Cowboys rallied to defeat division rival New York in a 27-26 thriller. He played in the game but did not record any tackles. He totaled 10 tackles in the preseason. He is in his fifth season in the NFL.?
E.J. Gaines – CB – St. Louis Rams
A starter at corner for the Rams a year ago, Gaines was dealt a tough blow during training camp with a hurt foot that will cause him to miss the 2015 season as he was placed on injured reserve. The talented corner tallied 70 tackles and two interceptions in his first season in 2014. Sixty-three of his 70 tackles were of the solo variety and he also pitched in 15 passes defended.
Markus Golden – LB – Arizona Cardinals
Golden, while not starting in week one, saw plenty of action in his first NFL game on Sunday. He tallied three tackles and one tackle for loss in a 31-19 win over the Saints. A second-round draft pick, the Cardinals have high hopes for Golden during his rookie season.
Ziggy Hood – DT – Jacksonville Jaguars
Now in his seventh season in the NFL, Hood was in line to be a starting defensive tackle for the Jaguars but was injured in the preseason finale, forcing him to be placed on injured reserve. Hood had 24 tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery last season with the Jaguars.
Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Maclin, one of the NFL's most sought-after free agents last year, signed with the Chiefs and has instantly transformed the offense for Andy Reid's club. In week one, he was targeted a team-high nine times and hauled in five passes for 52 yards. Maclin signed a 5-year, $55 million contract back in March.
William Moore – S – Atlanta Falcons
Moore was all over the field for the Falcons in week one as his team earned a 26-24 win over the Eagles. Moore was second on the team with nine tackles while intercepting Eagles QB Sam Bradford and picking up a pass breakup. Moore is entering his sixth season in the NFL and has posted 246 tackles, 15 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in 66 games. He was one of nine #MizzouMade starters in week one.
Mitch Morse – C – Kansas City Chiefs
A second-round draft pick by the Chiefs last spring, Morse impressed the Kansas City coaching staff so much that he earned the starting center job in week one against Houston. Not only did he play, but Morse played very well. According to Pro Football Focus, Morse rated as the top NFL center in week one which is quite an impressive feat for the rookie, who was going up against five-time Pro-Bowler and former NFL First Team performer Vince Wilfork for much of the game. He was one of nine #MizzouMade starters in week one.
C.J. Mosley – DT – Miami Dolphins
One of Mizzou's most tenured NFL players, Mosley is entering his 11th season in the NFL playing for the Miami Dolphins. He played week one, netting a tackle in the Dolphins 17-10 win over Washington. In his career, he has 14 sacks and 188 tackles in his 10-plus seasons.
Marcus Murphy – RB/PR – New Orleans Saints?One of the most exciting players to ever wear black and gold, Murphy turned a seventh-round draft selection into an opening day roster spot with the Saints due to his big-play ability on special teams. As the team's punt returner, he got just one crack at it on Sunday, netting two yards in a 31-19 loss to the Cardinals. Look for him to be a big factor in the return game all season for Sean Payton's club. He was the week one starter at punt returner, one of nine #MizzouMade starters.
Shane Ray – DE – Denver Broncos
Ray was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the NFL Draft last spring after posting one of the best seasons by a linebacker in Mizzou history. The 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year didn't notch any statistics but played Sunday in Denver's 19-13 win over Baltimore. Ray returns to The Show Me State this Thursday night as the Broncos take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Aldon Smith – LB – Oakland Raiders
Now in his fifth NFL season, Smith joined the Oakland Raiders just days before Sunday's season opener but still played, tallying two tackles in his Oakland debut. A former first-round selection, Smith has 44 sacks since entering the league in 2011.
Jacquies Smith – DE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming off a tremendous 2014 campaign in which he notched 6.5 sacks, Smith had two tackles and a sack in Tampa Bay's 42-14 loss to Tennessee on Sunday. An undrafted free agent in 2012, Smith spent time with three different teams and made a stop in the Canadian Football League before catching on with Tampa Bay last season. He was one of nine #MizzouMade starters in week one.
Sean Weatherspoon – LB – Arizona Cardinals
Weatherspoon made two tackles in his first game with the Arizona Cardinals after spending the previous four seasons in Atlanta. A first-round draft pick in 2010, Weatherspoon has started 41 games and made 218 tackles in his six seasons as a professional.