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Jason Trusnik, ONU DE 2002-06
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  Signed by the New York Jets on May 1, 2007 ... Signed to Jets practice squad on Sept. 3 ... ONU - While at Ohio Northern, Trusnik was a two-time AFCA All-American defensive end and was named the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... He is Ohio Northern’s all-time leader in sacks (43.0) and Tackles For Loss (85.0) ... Represented Ohio Northern at the 2006 Aztec Bowl ... Was named one of four captains for Team USA ... Had 7 tackles as Team USA defeated Mexico 28-7 in Aguascalientes, Mexico ... Represented ONU in the inagural Texas vs. The Nation Bowl in El Paso, Tex. ... Had 6 tackles as The Nation topped Texas 24-20 in the game televised on ESPN. |
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Jamal Robertson, ONU RB 1997-2000
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  Spent five seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers ... Played with Atlanta after singing as a free agent on Dec. 12, 2006 ... Spent 1 1/2 seasons with Carolina after 2 1/2 seasons with the 49ers ... Made his mark as a special teams player, specifically as a kickoff return specialist ... Has rushed for 248 yards on 62 attempts in 33 career NFL games ... 2007 - Was released by the Falcons on Aug. 8, 2007 ... 2006 - Signed as a free agent on Dec. 12 with the Atlanta Falcons ... Played in one game (vs. Dallas, 12/16/06) ... Was in training camp with the Carolina Panthers, before being one of the last men cut ... 2005 - Was the feature back in the second half of the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks ... Rushed for 19 yards on four carries and caught five passes for 37 yards in the game ... Gained 41 yards on 14 carries and scored one touchdown in the regular season ... Led the team in kickoff returns, averaging 21.4 yards on 16 attempts ... 2004 - Scored one touchdown and rushed for 71 yards ... 2003 - Rushed for 136 yards on 32 carries while playing for the 49ers ... 2002 - Was Offensive MVP of NFL Europe while playing for the Rhein Fire ... Rushed for 792 yards and scored a league-high eight touchdowns during his MVP season ... set a then-NFL Europe record with a 90-yard touchdown run against Frankfurt on 5/11/2002 ... 2001 - Started his professional career on the practice squad of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League ... ONU - While at Ohio Northern, Robertson was a two-time Hewlett Packard All-American running back and the 2000 Ohio Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Year ... He is Ohio Northern’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,169), all-purpose yards (5,388), and scoring (56 touchdowns, 338 points). |
Robertson’s Professional Career
- Atlanta Falcons - NFL - 2006
- Carolina Panthers - NFL -2004-2005
- San Francisco 49ers - NFL - 2002-04
- Rhein Fire - NFL Europe - 2002
- Calgary Stampeders - CFL - 2001
Visit Jamal Robertson's Web site.
- www.jamalrobertson.com
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Robertson's NFL Career Statistics
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|
Year
|
Team
|
GP
|
Rsh
|
Yds
|
TD
|
Rec
|
Yds
|
KOR
|
Yds
|
|
2006
|
Atlanta |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2005
|
Carolina |
6
|
14
|
41
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
343
|
|
2004
|
San Francisco/ Carolina |
12
|
16
|
71
|
1
|
4
|
34
|
31
|
740
|
|
2003
|
San Francisco |
9
|
32
|
136
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2002
|
San Francisco |
6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
242
|
|
Totals
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|
34
|
62
|
248
|
2
|
4
|
34
|
58
|
1325
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|
|
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Rusty Midlam, ONU DB 2002-05
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  2007 - Was a member of the Louisville Fire of AFL2 ... Led team with 93 tackles (71 solo) ... Also had 4 interceptions ... Had a season-high and AF@ rookie record 11 tackles against the Quad City Steamwheelers ... Was named the AF2 Defensive Player of the Week that week ... 2006 - Was on the roster for final four games of season with Memphis Xplorers of AF2, but did not see action ... ONU - Earned All-OAC First Team, D3Football.com First Team All-North Region and D3Football.com Third Team All-America honors during his senior campaign ... Holds the ONU career interception lead with 22 ... His nine intereceptions in 2005 were the second most by any Polar Bear.
Midlam's Professional Career
- Louisville Fire - AFL2 - 2007
- Memphis XPlorers
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Midlam's AF2 Career Statistics
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|
Year
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Team
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GP
|
T
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Solo
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Ast.
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Int
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Yds
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|
2007
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Louisville Fire |
18
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93
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71
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22
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4
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60
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|
2006
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Memphis XPlorers |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Totals
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|
18
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93
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71
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22
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4
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60
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Wes Hostetler, ONU DB/KR 2002-05
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  2007 - Played ths 2007 season with the Rochester Raiders of the Continental Indoor Football League ... Helped the Raiders win the league title ... ONU - While at Ohio Northern, Hostetler was an AFCA All-American return specialist and was a D3Football.com All-American as a return man and as a defensive back ... Was also named Academic All-America ... Represented Ohio Northern at the 2005 Aztec Bowl ... Was named Aztec Bowl MVP, leading Team USA to a 53-15 victory in Toluca, Mexico ... Set Aztec Bowl records with 18 points and 226 all-purpose yards as he returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD, an interception 75 yards for a TD and a punt 54 yards for a score ... Represented ONU in the 2006 Hula Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii ... Helped the East defeat the West 10-7 in Aloha Stadium in the game televised on ESPN. |
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J.R. Cipra, ONU Kicker 1997-2000
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  2006 - Played for the Canton Legends of the American Indoor Football League ... Helped the Legends win the 2006 American Bowl in the AIFL league championship by scoring 19 points ... 2005 - Signed with the Erie Freeze of the AIFL ... Helped the Freeze win the AIFL regular season title ... Was one of 10 players nominated for the league's MVP award ... Was the league's top kicker ... 2002 - Signed by Peoria Pirates of Arena Football League 2 ... Part of Pirates' 2002 AFL2 Championship season ... ONU - Holds the record for most field goals in a game (3, 1999), season (9, 2000) and career (19) at Ohio Northern ... Owns nine other school kicking records ... Finished career going 19-for-25 on field goal attempts and 161-for-173 on PATs ... Earned Hewlitt-Packard Second Team honors and Football Gazette Second Team honors in 2000.
Cipra's Professional Career
- Canton Legends - AIFL - 2006
- Erie Freeze - AIFL - 2005
- Peoria Pirates - AFL2 - 2002
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Shane Franzer, ONU QB 1998-2000
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  2007 - Led the Port Huron Pirates to the Championship Game of the ... 2006 - Led the Port Huron Pirates of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League to a 12-0 championship season ... Finished the regular season completing 51.6% of his passes for 1,084 yards and 29 touchdowns ... Rushed for 242 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Named GLIFL All-Star game MVP, accounting for five touchdowns and an interception ... 2005 - Member of Memphis Xplorers in AFL2 ... 2004 - Passed for 1,596 yards, 35 touchdowns and scored five rushing touchdowns for the Ohio Valley GreyHounds who compete in the National Indoor Football League ... 2003 - Passed for 1,793 yards, 38 touchdowns and rushed for seven touchdowns in MVP campaign ... 2002 -Passed for five touchdowns and rushed for one touchdown in backup role for the GreyHounds ... ONU - Holds Ohio Northern's record for most yards of total offense in a game (493, 1999), season (2,862, 2000) and career (6,731) ... Also holds school record for most touchdown passes in a season (27, 2000) and a career (58).
Franzer’s Professional Career
- Port Huron Pirates - GLIFL - 2006-07
- Memphis Xplorers - AFL2 - 2005
- Ohio Valley GreyHounds - NIFL - 2002-04
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Steve Vagedes, ONU WR 1997-99
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  2004 - Caught 28 passes for 370 yards and six touchdowns during the 2004 season for the Ohio Valley GreyHounds who compete in the National Indoor Football League ... 2003 - Caught 42 passes for 733 yards and 16 touchdowns ... 2000-2002 - Has been signed to free agent deals and been to the training camps of the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons ... Also spent time with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe and the Detriot Fury of the Arena Football League ... Recorded two receptions for 30 yards and three tackles for the Fury ... ONU - Held Ohio Northern’s all-time lead in receptions upon graduating (145) ... Is ONU's leader in receiving yardage (3,036) and recieving touchdowns (43) ... Holds the NCAA III season punting average record (46.2, 1999) ... Kicked the longest punt in school history (88, 1999) ... Was a two time All-American (1998, 1999) as a reciever and a punter.
Vagedes' Professional Career
- Johnstown Riverhawks - AIFL - 2005-06
- Ohio Valley GreyHounds - NIFL - 2003-06
- Oakland Raiders - NFL - 2002
- Barcelona Dragons - NFL Europe - 2001, 2002
- Philadelphia Eagles - NFL- 2001
- Green Bay Packers - NFL - 2001
- Detriot Fury - AFL - 2001
- Atlanta Falcons - NFL - 2000
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Stacey Hairston, ONU DB 1985-88
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 1993-1995 - Spent three seasons with the Cleveland Browns as a defensive back and special teams player ... Saw action during nickel packages ... 1993 - Ranked fourth on team with 16 special teams tackles ... 1989-1992 - Excelled with the Sasketchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League as a defensive back ... 1992 - Registered 65 tackles, five interceptions and two sacks for Roughriders ... Led CFL in missed field goal return yardage with 62 yards on four attempts ... 1989 - Spent preseason with Dallas Cowboys ... Ran the second fastest 40-yard dash time (4.32) among defensive back prospects at the NFL scouting combine ... ONU - All-OAC wide reciever for ONU in 1987 and 1988 ... Caught 58 passes for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns during career ... Is a former Vice President of NFL Players Association ... Currently serves as head women’s golf coach and is an assitant coach for the football program at ONU.
Hairston’s Professional Career
- Cleveland Browns - NFL - 1993-95
- Sasketchewan RoughRiders - CFL - 1989-1992
- Dallas Cowboys - NFL - 1989
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J.C. Smith, ONU QB 1970-73
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Smith (#17) with George Blanda (#16)
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 1975-1976 - Signed contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL ... 1974 - First known ONU player to sign a professional football contract ... Signed by the Oakland Raiders of the NFL to a free agent contract ... Also spent time with the Chicago Fire of the WFL ... Coached by NFL Hall of Famer and renowned broadcaster John Madden while in Oakland ... Also played with NFL Hall of Famers TE Dave Casper and K/QB George Blanda ... ONU - Held nearly every ONU passing record upon his graduation including passing yards in a season (933 in 1972), career passing yards (2,317), career passing touchdowns (13), career completions (179) and career attempts (422).
Smith’s Professional Career
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL - 1975-76
- Oakland Raiders - NFL - 1974
- Chicago Fire - WFL - 1974
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Ben Snell, ONU RB 1994-97
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 2001 - Starting Fullback for the Las Vegas Outlaws of the now defunct, but highly publicized, XFL ... Scored one touchdown, rushed for 121 yards ... Was the blocking back for Rod Smart whose nickname, “He-Hate-Me” garnered much attention ... 1999-2000 - Spent time with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe ... 1998 - Signed to Baltimore Ravens where he was desiginated to the Claymores ... ONU - First Ohio Northern running back ever to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons (1996, 1997).
Snell’s Professional Career
- Las Vegas Outlaws - XFL - 2001
- Scottish Claymores - NFL Europe - 1999, 2000
- Baltimore Ravens - NFL - 1998,1999
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Nate Riles, ONU DB 1996-98
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 2001 - Signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and assigned to their practice squad ... Was active for six games during the season ... 2000 - Drafted by the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe ... 1999 - Attended Arizona Cardinals training camp ... ONU - Was an All-American defensive back his senior year ... Also was an All-American sprinter and school record holder in the 55-meter dash (6.37).
Riles’ Professional Career
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers - CFL - 2001
- Frankfurt Galaxy - NFL Europe - 2000
- Arizona Cardinals - NFL - 1999
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Kendall Knight, ONU DB 1996-99
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 2002 - Played in one game for the Rochester Brigade of Arena Football League 2 after suffering pulled hamstring in training camp ... ONU - Earned All-OAC Second Team as a defensive back during his senior year.
Knight’s Professional Career
- Rochester Brigade - AFL2 - 2002
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In the recent history of the Ohio Northern football program, ONU football players have signed contracts with a number of professional football teams.