Photo by: Courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Former Spartans Preparing for NFL Playoffs
1/6/2021 9:09:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Seven former Michigan State Spartans – Rams offensive lineman Brian Allen, Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell, Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin, Saints linebacker Andrew Dowell, Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston, Steelers cornerback Justin Layne and Colts safety Khari Willis – are preparing for the NFL Playoffs, which start this weekend (Jan. 9-10) with the Wild Card round.
In addition, Buccaneers quarterback Drew Stanton and Steelers wide receiver Cody White are on practice squads for playoff teams.
Super Wild Card Weekend Schedule (games involving former Spartans)
Saturday, Jan. 9
No. 7 Indianapolis (11-5) at No. 2 Buffalo (13-3), 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
Former Spartans: S Khari Willis (Colts)
No. 6 Los Angeles (10-6) at No. 3 Seattle (12-4), 4:40 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: OL Brian Allen (Rams)
No. 5 Tampa Bay (11-5) at No. 4 Washington (7-9), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: DE William Gholston (Buccaneers)
Sunday, Jan. 10
No. 7 Chicago (8-8) at No. 2 New Orleans (12-4), 4:40 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: LB Andrew Dowell (Saints)
No. 4 Cleveland (11-5) at No. 3 Pittsburgh (12-4), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: OT Jack Conklin (Browns), CB Justin Layne (Steelers)
Bye – AFC
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
Former Spartans: RB Le'Veon Bell (Chiefs)
Former Spartans on active NFL rosters entering the NFL Playoffs (as of Jan. 4, 2020)
OL Brian Allen – Los Angeles Rams (third season)
Allen is in his third year on the active roster for the Rams, although he has yet to see game action this season . . . he played in 22 career games his first two seasons (2018-19), including Super Bowl LIII against New England.
RB Le'Veon Bell – Kansas City Chiefs (seventh season)
A two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Steelers, Bell was traded from the Jets to the Chiefs during midseason and helped Kansas City to a 14-2 record, the AFC West Division title and the No. 1 AFC seed in the playoffs . . . . played 11 games total (nine with the Chiefs, two with the Jets) . . . had 82 carries for 328 yards and two rushing TDs in 2020 . . . also hauled in 16 receptions for 138 yards . . . finished third on the Chiefs in rushing with 254 yards on 63 carries in nine games . . . had a season-high 62 yards rushing on 15 carries, including a touchdown, in the Week 15 victory over the Saints . . . Bell has previously played in four NFL Playoff games with the Steelers (81 carries for 424 yards and three TDs; 13 catches for 91 yards and one TD) . . . in 88 career regular-season games, including 81 starts, Bell has rushed for 6,453 yards and 40 touchdowns and has 394 receptions for 3,259 yards and eight TDs.
OT Jack Conklin – Cleveland Browns (fifth season)
Conklin started 15 games in his first season with the Browns as he earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the second time in his career . . . he signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2020 after playing four seasons in Tennessee . . . the former first-round pick (No. 8 overall in 2016) has started 72 career games in his first five seasons and was also a first-team All-Pro selection as a rookie with the Titans in 2016 . . . will be making his third appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
LB Andrew Dowell – New Orleans Saints (second season)
Dowell is in his second year with the Saints and made his NFL debut in the Week 17 win over Carolina . . . was on the practice squad for New Orleans in 2019 and most of this season before playing against the Panthers.
DE William Gholston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (eighth season)
Veteran defensive end, now in his eighth season with the Buccaneers, will be making his first playoff appearance . . . tied his career high with three sacks and recorded 44 tackles overall, the third-highest output of his career and most since 2016 . . . also had eight tackles for loss, ranking sixth on the Bucs . . . has played in 119 career games, including 68 starts, all with Tampa Bay . . . has 316 career tackles, including 47 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
CB Justin Layne – Pittsburgh Steelers (second season)
Second-year player recorded 22 tackles in 16 games . . . had a career-high seven tackles in Week 13 vs. Washington . . . has played in 26 career games and will be making his first appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
S Khari Willis – Indianapolis Colts (second season)
Second-year player had a breakout season for the Colts, ranking third on the team in tackles (85 total; 65 solo, 20 assists) in 14 games, all starting assignments at safety . . . ranked fourth in the NFL with 93 interception return yards, including a 50-yard return for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14 . . . tied for second on the Colts with two interceptions . . . also had one forced fumble, two sacks, three tackles for loss and six passes defended . . . had a career-high 10 stops vs. Cincinnati in Week 6 . . . has played in 28 regular-season games, including 23 starts, in his first two seasons and will be making his first appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
Spartans on active NFL rosters for the 2020 season:
LB Joe Bachie – Philadelphia Eagles (first season)
Bachie began the season on the practice squad for the Saints but was signed by the Eagles to their active roster in December . . . played in the final four games of the regular season for Philadelphia . . . made his NFL debut in Week 14 against New Orleans . . . had two tackles in Week 16 vs. Dallas.
QB Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings (ninth season)
Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed his ninth season in the NFL and his third as the starting quarterback of the Vikings . . . ranked sixth in the NFL with a career-best 35 TD passes and eighth with 4,265 passing yards . . . threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season for the fifth time in his career . . . completed 68 percent of his passes (349-of-516) . . . started all 16 games for the Vikings . . . has 104 starts in 109 career regular-season games . . . ranks 55th in NFL history with 190 career TD passes and 60th all-time with 28,372 passing yards.
DE Shilique Calhoun – New England Patriots (fifth season)
Played in 10 games during his second season with the Patriots and fifth overall in the NFL . . . had a career-high 18 tackles, including a career-best two sacks, and two forced fumbles . . . has 56 tackles in 51 career games.
CB Darqueze Dennard – Atlanta Falcons (seventh season)
Former first-round pick played in his seventh NFL season, his first with the Falcons . . . played in eight games, with six starts, for Atlanta . . . had 36 tackles, five passes defended, two tackles for loss and one interception . . . in 85 career games, including 30 starts, has 310 tackles with seven TFLs and three sacks . . . also has four interceptions and 27 passes defended in his career.
WR Bennie Fowler – New Orleans Saints (seventh season)
Former Super Bowl Champion with the Broncos played in the first five games of the season with the Saints, but was placed on injured reserve . . . has played in 68 career games, including 12 starts, and has 97 catches for 1,101 yards and six TDs.
QB Brian Hoyer – New England Patriots (12th season)
Veteran quarterback completed his 12th season in the NFL . . . has spent six of his 12 seasons with the Patriots . . . started in Week 4 against the Chiefs, completing 15-of-24 passes for 130 yards in his only appearance of the 2020 season . . . has played in 70 career games, including 39 starts . . . has completed 888-of-1,501 passes for 10,404 yards and 52 TDs in his career.
DT Domata Peko – Arizona Cardinals (15th season)
Veteran defensive tackle signed with Arizona late in the season and played in six games overall, including five starts . . . recorded 16 tackles . . . has played in 214 career games and his 194 career starts rank 120th all-time in NFL history and 13th among active players.
LS Taybor Pepper – San Francisco 49ers (third season)
Playing for his third different NFL team, Pepper appeared in 12 games for the 49ers . . . Pepper previously played in 16 games for the Dolphins in 2019 and four games with the Packers in 2017.
CB Josiah Scott – Jacksonville Jaguars (first season)
Rookie cornerback who was drafted in the fourth round played in six games and recorded 11 tackles . . . made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Chargers.
TE Matt Sokol – Los Angeles Chargers (second season)
Sokol signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spent time on the practice squad last season . . . he was also on the practice squad in 2020 before making his NFL debut in Week 16 against the Broncos . . . he also appeared in Week 17 vs. Kansas City.
DT Raequan Williams – Philadelphia Eagles (first season)
Signed as a rookie free agent with Philadelphia and played in three regular-season games for the Eagles . . . made his NFL debut in Week 13 against Green Bay, tallying three tackles . . . recorded his first career sack in Week 17 against Washington.
Spartans on practice squads during 2020 season:
DT Mike Panasiuk (Carolina Panthers)
QB Drew Stanton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
WR Cody White (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Spartans on injured reserve for 2020 season:
CB Trae Waynes (Cincinnati Bengals)
DE Kenny Willekes (Minnesota Vikings)
Spartans on reserve/opt-out list for 2020 season:
DT Joel Heath (Denver Broncos)
In addition, Buccaneers quarterback Drew Stanton and Steelers wide receiver Cody White are on practice squads for playoff teams.
Super Wild Card Weekend Schedule (games involving former Spartans)
Saturday, Jan. 9
No. 7 Indianapolis (11-5) at No. 2 Buffalo (13-3), 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
Former Spartans: S Khari Willis (Colts)
No. 6 Los Angeles (10-6) at No. 3 Seattle (12-4), 4:40 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: OL Brian Allen (Rams)
No. 5 Tampa Bay (11-5) at No. 4 Washington (7-9), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: DE William Gholston (Buccaneers)
Sunday, Jan. 10
No. 7 Chicago (8-8) at No. 2 New Orleans (12-4), 4:40 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: LB Andrew Dowell (Saints)
No. 4 Cleveland (11-5) at No. 3 Pittsburgh (12-4), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: OT Jack Conklin (Browns), CB Justin Layne (Steelers)
Bye – AFC
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
Former Spartans: RB Le'Veon Bell (Chiefs)
Former Spartans on active NFL rosters entering the NFL Playoffs (as of Jan. 4, 2020)
OL Brian Allen – Los Angeles Rams (third season)
Allen is in his third year on the active roster for the Rams, although he has yet to see game action this season . . . he played in 22 career games his first two seasons (2018-19), including Super Bowl LIII against New England.
RB Le'Veon Bell – Kansas City Chiefs (seventh season)
A two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Steelers, Bell was traded from the Jets to the Chiefs during midseason and helped Kansas City to a 14-2 record, the AFC West Division title and the No. 1 AFC seed in the playoffs . . . . played 11 games total (nine with the Chiefs, two with the Jets) . . . had 82 carries for 328 yards and two rushing TDs in 2020 . . . also hauled in 16 receptions for 138 yards . . . finished third on the Chiefs in rushing with 254 yards on 63 carries in nine games . . . had a season-high 62 yards rushing on 15 carries, including a touchdown, in the Week 15 victory over the Saints . . . Bell has previously played in four NFL Playoff games with the Steelers (81 carries for 424 yards and three TDs; 13 catches for 91 yards and one TD) . . . in 88 career regular-season games, including 81 starts, Bell has rushed for 6,453 yards and 40 touchdowns and has 394 receptions for 3,259 yards and eight TDs.
OT Jack Conklin – Cleveland Browns (fifth season)
Conklin started 15 games in his first season with the Browns as he earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the second time in his career . . . he signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2020 after playing four seasons in Tennessee . . . the former first-round pick (No. 8 overall in 2016) has started 72 career games in his first five seasons and was also a first-team All-Pro selection as a rookie with the Titans in 2016 . . . will be making his third appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
LB Andrew Dowell – New Orleans Saints (second season)
Dowell is in his second year with the Saints and made his NFL debut in the Week 17 win over Carolina . . . was on the practice squad for New Orleans in 2019 and most of this season before playing against the Panthers.
DE William Gholston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (eighth season)
Veteran defensive end, now in his eighth season with the Buccaneers, will be making his first playoff appearance . . . tied his career high with three sacks and recorded 44 tackles overall, the third-highest output of his career and most since 2016 . . . also had eight tackles for loss, ranking sixth on the Bucs . . . has played in 119 career games, including 68 starts, all with Tampa Bay . . . has 316 career tackles, including 47 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.
CB Justin Layne – Pittsburgh Steelers (second season)
Second-year player recorded 22 tackles in 16 games . . . had a career-high seven tackles in Week 13 vs. Washington . . . has played in 26 career games and will be making his first appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
S Khari Willis – Indianapolis Colts (second season)
Second-year player had a breakout season for the Colts, ranking third on the team in tackles (85 total; 65 solo, 20 assists) in 14 games, all starting assignments at safety . . . ranked fourth in the NFL with 93 interception return yards, including a 50-yard return for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14 . . . tied for second on the Colts with two interceptions . . . also had one forced fumble, two sacks, three tackles for loss and six passes defended . . . had a career-high 10 stops vs. Cincinnati in Week 6 . . . has played in 28 regular-season games, including 23 starts, in his first two seasons and will be making his first appearance in the NFL Playoffs.
Spartans on active NFL rosters for the 2020 season:
LB Joe Bachie – Philadelphia Eagles (first season)
Bachie began the season on the practice squad for the Saints but was signed by the Eagles to their active roster in December . . . played in the final four games of the regular season for Philadelphia . . . made his NFL debut in Week 14 against New Orleans . . . had two tackles in Week 16 vs. Dallas.
QB Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings (ninth season)
Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed his ninth season in the NFL and his third as the starting quarterback of the Vikings . . . ranked sixth in the NFL with a career-best 35 TD passes and eighth with 4,265 passing yards . . . threw for more than 4,000 yards in a season for the fifth time in his career . . . completed 68 percent of his passes (349-of-516) . . . started all 16 games for the Vikings . . . has 104 starts in 109 career regular-season games . . . ranks 55th in NFL history with 190 career TD passes and 60th all-time with 28,372 passing yards.
DE Shilique Calhoun – New England Patriots (fifth season)
Played in 10 games during his second season with the Patriots and fifth overall in the NFL . . . had a career-high 18 tackles, including a career-best two sacks, and two forced fumbles . . . has 56 tackles in 51 career games.
CB Darqueze Dennard – Atlanta Falcons (seventh season)
Former first-round pick played in his seventh NFL season, his first with the Falcons . . . played in eight games, with six starts, for Atlanta . . . had 36 tackles, five passes defended, two tackles for loss and one interception . . . in 85 career games, including 30 starts, has 310 tackles with seven TFLs and three sacks . . . also has four interceptions and 27 passes defended in his career.
WR Bennie Fowler – New Orleans Saints (seventh season)
Former Super Bowl Champion with the Broncos played in the first five games of the season with the Saints, but was placed on injured reserve . . . has played in 68 career games, including 12 starts, and has 97 catches for 1,101 yards and six TDs.
QB Brian Hoyer – New England Patriots (12th season)
Veteran quarterback completed his 12th season in the NFL . . . has spent six of his 12 seasons with the Patriots . . . started in Week 4 against the Chiefs, completing 15-of-24 passes for 130 yards in his only appearance of the 2020 season . . . has played in 70 career games, including 39 starts . . . has completed 888-of-1,501 passes for 10,404 yards and 52 TDs in his career.
DT Domata Peko – Arizona Cardinals (15th season)
Veteran defensive tackle signed with Arizona late in the season and played in six games overall, including five starts . . . recorded 16 tackles . . . has played in 214 career games and his 194 career starts rank 120th all-time in NFL history and 13th among active players.
LS Taybor Pepper – San Francisco 49ers (third season)
Playing for his third different NFL team, Pepper appeared in 12 games for the 49ers . . . Pepper previously played in 16 games for the Dolphins in 2019 and four games with the Packers in 2017.
CB Josiah Scott – Jacksonville Jaguars (first season)
Rookie cornerback who was drafted in the fourth round played in six games and recorded 11 tackles . . . made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Chargers.
TE Matt Sokol – Los Angeles Chargers (second season)
Sokol signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and spent time on the practice squad last season . . . he was also on the practice squad in 2020 before making his NFL debut in Week 16 against the Broncos . . . he also appeared in Week 17 vs. Kansas City.
DT Raequan Williams – Philadelphia Eagles (first season)
Signed as a rookie free agent with Philadelphia and played in three regular-season games for the Eagles . . . made his NFL debut in Week 13 against Green Bay, tallying three tackles . . . recorded his first career sack in Week 17 against Washington.
Spartans on practice squads during 2020 season:
DT Mike Panasiuk (Carolina Panthers)
QB Drew Stanton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
WR Cody White (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Spartans on injured reserve for 2020 season:
CB Trae Waynes (Cincinnati Bengals)
DE Kenny Willekes (Minnesota Vikings)
Spartans on reserve/opt-out list for 2020 season:
DT Joel Heath (Denver Broncos)
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
CB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DT
/ Football
S
/ FootballJonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 29 2025
Monday, September 29
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | USC
Sunday, September 21
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Sep. 15 2025
Monday, September 15
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | YSU | Sep. 13 2025
Saturday, September 13