Idaho ties in the NFL: 10 former Boise State standouts, 1 Idaho Vandal headed to playoffs
A dozen players with Idaho ties will compete in the NFL playoffs.
All but one of those players are on NFC rosters, including 10 former Boise State standouts, one Vandal and two who played their high school ball in the Gem State.
Below is a list of teams with an Idaho tie on either their active roster or practice squad:
NFC No. 2 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Wild-card game: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 11 a.m., Sunday, FOX)
- John Molchon, OG, Boise State: Having signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2020, Molchon is currently a member of the Bucs’ practice squad and has yet to play in a regular-season game.
NFC No. 3 seed: Dallas Cowboys
(Wild-card game: San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, CBS)
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State: The second-round pick in the 2014 draft is in his eighth year with the Cowboys. Despite missing a portion of the season with a broken foot, Lawrence has 14 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
- Darian Thompson, S, Boise State: Thompson has appeared in five games for the Cowboys this season, which is his fourth with the Cowboys. He has 151 career tackles, including 101 solo, over six NFL seasons.
- Leighton Vander Esch LB, Salmon River High and Boise State: The first-round pick in the 2018 draft has not missed a game for the Cowboys this season. He ranks third on the team with 77 total tackles.
- Cedrick Wilson, WR, Boise State: This has been Wilson’s most productive season yet with the Cowboys after being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. Wilson has career bests for receptions (45), receiving yards (602) and touchdowns (6).
NFC No. 4 seed: Los Angeles Rams
(Wild-card game: Arizona Cardinals at L.A. Rams, 6:15 p.m., Monday, ESPN/ABC)
- Dont’e Deayon, CB, Boise State: In his fifth NFL season — and fourth with the Rams — Deayon has split time between the practice squad and active roster. In eight regular-season games, he’s contributed 25 total tackles and two passes defended.
- Jonah Williams, DL, Rocky Mountain High: Williams started the season on the active roster and was later put on the practice squad, where he was briefly released before rejoining the team. He has been active for eight regular-season games, totaling four tackles.
NFC No. 5 seed: Arizona Cardinals
(Wild-card game: Arizona Cardinals at L.A. Rams, 6:15 p.m., Monday, ESPN/ABC)
- Marcus Henry, OL, Boise State: Henry signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent in 2016 before being cut. He has since spent time with Seattle, Houston and Dallas. Henry has appeared in four games for the Cardinals this season.
- Tanner Vallejo, ILB, Boise State: In his third season with the Cardinals, Vallejo has previously played for Washington, Cleveland and Buffalo. He has played in 10 games this season, including two starts, contributing nine tackles, one pass defended and a half-sack.
NFC No. 7 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
(Wild-card game: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 11 a.m., Sunday, FOX)
- John Hightower, WR, Boise State: In his second season, Hightower has spent the majority of his time on the Eagles’ practice squad after being selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He was called up for just one regular-season game this season, but he appeared in 13 games in 2020, including four starts. He has 10 career receptions for 167 yards.
- Christian Elliss, LB, Idaho: Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, Elliss is currently a member of the Eagles’ practice squad. The rookie has appeared in one regular-season game for Philadelphia, making two tackles in Week 18.
AFC No. 1 seed: Tennessee Titans
(Divisional playoffs: AFC lowest remaining seed at Tennessee Titans, TBD, Jan. 22 or Jan. 23)
- Jeremy McNichols, RB, Boise State: McNichols spent most of the season on the Titans’ active roster, but was waived before their regular-season finale. He was added to Tennessee’s practice squad on Wednesday and has 41 carries for 156 yards and 28 receptions for 240 yards and a TD this season.
Note: Below is a look at how players with Gem State ties fared in Week 18:
BOISE STATE
TE, John Bates, No. 87 Washington Football Team: Started at tight end and caught one pass for 5 yards while playing all 59 snaps on offense and four on special teams (17%) in Washington’s 22-7 win over the N.Y. Giants.
G, Ezra Cleveland, No. 72 Minnesota Vikings: Started at left guard and played all 48 snaps on offense and five on special teams (20%) in the Vikings’ 31-17 win over Chicago.
CB, Dont’e Deayon, No. 21 Los Angeles Rams: Came off the bench and made one tackle while playing 29 snaps on defense (41%) in the Rams’ 27-24 overtime loss to San Francisco.
OL, Marcus Henry, No. 53 Arizona Cardinals: Came off the bench but did not record any stats while playing three snaps on special teams (9%) in the Cardinals’ 38-30 loss to Seattle.
WR, John Hightower, No. 82 Philadelphia Eagles: Hightower is a member of the Eagles’ practice squad and was not called up for their 51-26 loss to Dallas.
DE, DeMarcus Lawrence, No. 90 Dallas Cowboys: Started at defensive end and racked up four total tackles, including a sack of Eagles QB Gardner Minshew for a 13-yard loss, plus a QB hurry and one pass defended. Lawrence played 29 snaps on defense (39%) as the Cowboys defeated Philadelphia 51-26.
OT, Charles Leno Jr., No. 72 Washington Football Team: Started at left tackle and played all 59 snaps on offense and four on special teams (17%) in Washington’s 22-7 win over the N.Y. Giants. Leno recently signed a three-year, $37.5 million extension with Washington. The deal includes $18.5 million guaranteed, according to The Athletic.
RB, Alexander Mattison, No. 25 Minnesota Vikings: Came off the bench and totaled 18 yards on five carries and caught one pass for 3 yards in the Vikings’ 31-17 win over Chicago. Mattison played 18 snaps on offense (38%) and five on special teams (20%).
RB, Jeremy McNichols, No. 28 Tennessee Titans: The Titans waived McNichols ahead of their 28-25 win over Houston. McNichols had caught 28 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown this season while adding 156 rushing yards.
DT, David Moa, No. 96 New York Giants: Moa is a member of the Giants’ practice squad and was not called up for their 22-7 loss to Washington. On Monday, Moa signed a reserve/futures contract with the Giants.
G, John Molchon, No. 75 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Molchon is a member of the Bucs’ practice squad and was not called up for their 41-17 win over Carolina.
C, Matt Paradis (Council High), No. 61 Carolina Panthers: Paradis is out for the season because of a torn ACL.
QB, Brett Rypien, No. 4 Denver Broncos: Rypien was on the active roster but did not play in the Broncos’ 28-24 loss to Kansas City.
S, Darian Thompson, No. 23 Dallas Cowboys: Thompson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday and missed the Cowboys’ 51-26 win over Philadelphia.
ILB, Tanner Vallejo, No. 51 Arizona Cardinals: Vallejo missed the Cardinals’ 38-30 loss to Seattle while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He was activated Monday.
LB, Leighton Vander Esch (Salmon River High), No. 55 Dallas Cowboys: Started at outside linebacker and tied for second on the team with six tackles. Vander Esch also grabbed his third career interception — and first since 2018 — on a Gardner Minshew pass in the fourth quarter. Vander Esch played 65 snaps on defense (88%) and four on special teams (13%) as the Cowboys defeated Philadelphia 51-26.
DE, Curtis Weaver, No. 59 Cleveland Browns: Weaver was elevated from the Browns’ practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement for the second time this season and this time he saw his first regular-season action. He recorded one tackle and one QB hurry while playing six snaps on defense (11%) in the Browns’ 21-16 win over Cincinnati. On Monday, Weaver signed a reserve/futures contract with Cleveland.
CB, Avery Williams, No. 35 Atlanta Falcons: Came off the bench and returned one punt for 12 yards and three kickoffs for 85 yards while adding a tackle on special teams. Williams played 23 snaps on special teams (85%) in Atlanta’s 30-20 loss to New Orleans.
WR, Cedrick Wilson, No. 1 Dallas Cowboys: Came off the bench and contributed a pair of touchdowns for his second career multiple-TD game. Wilson caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott in the first quarter and a 24-yarder in the second quarter. He totaled five receptions for a career-best 119 yards while playing 42 snaps on offense (68%) and one on special teams in the Cowboys’ 51-26 win over Philadelphia.
IDAHO
WR, Jeff Cotton, No. 88 Jacksonville Jaguars: Cotton is a member of the Jags’ practice squad and was not called up for their 26-11 win over Indianapolis. On Monday, Cotton signed a reserve/futures contract with Jacksonville.
G/T, Jesse Davis, No. 77 Miami Dolphins: Came off the bench and played seven snaps on offense (10%) and five on special teams (17%) in the Dolphins’ 33-24 win over New England.
LB, Christian Elliss, No. 53 Philadelphia Eagles: Elliss was elevated from the Eagles’ practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement and registered two tackles in the third quarter of their 51-26 loss to Dallas. Elliss played seven snaps on defense (11%) and 27 on special teams (87%).
LB, Kaden Elliss, No. 55 New Orleans Saints: Came off the bench and recorded one tackle on defense and one on special teams while playing seven snaps on defense (14%) and 19 on special teams (70%) in the Saints’ 30-20 win over Atlanta.
DE, Benson Mayowa, No. 10 Seattle Seahawks: Came off the bench but did not record any stats while playing 30 snaps on defense (39%) and six on special teams (19%) in Seattle’s 38-30 win over Arizona.
RB, Elijhaa Penny, No. 39 New York Giants: Started at fullback and contributed one tackle on special teams while playing 15 snaps on offense (25%) and 15 snaps on special teams (62%) in the Giants’ 22-7 loss to Washington.
HIGH SCHOOLS
DE, Porter Gustin (Emmett High), No. 94 Cleveland Browns: Came off the bench and played 14 snaps on defense (26%) and 13 on special teams (52%) but did not record any stats as the Browns defeated Cincinnati 21-16.
QB, Taysom Hill (Highland High), No. 7 New Orleans Saints: Started at quarterback and completed 7-of-9 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown while adding 18 yards on five carries. Hill played 26 snaps on offense (36%) as the Saints beat Atlanta 30-20. But Hill left with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot during the second quarter, according to ESPN.
OL, Tristen Hoge (Highland High), No. 69 Denver Broncos: Hoge is a member of the Broncos’ practice squad and was not called up for their 28-24 loss to Kansas City.
DT, Tommy Togiai (Highland High), No. 93 Cleveland Browns: Came off the bench and made three total tackles while playing 34 snaps on defense (63%) and two on special teams (8%) in the Browns’ 21-16 win over Cincinnati.
DL, Jonah Williams (Rocky Mountain High), No. 92 Los Angeles Rams: Williams is a member of the Rams’ practice squad and was not called up for their 27-24 overtime loss to San Francisco.
Note: There are currently no players from Idaho State listed on an NFL roster.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 8:43 PM.
