Michigan State University Athletics
Jayden Reed set a Packers rookie record with his 64 receptions during the regular season. (Photo courtesy of Green Bay Packers)
Former Spartans Preparing for NFL Playoffs
1/12/2024 2:43:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Six former Michigan State Spartans – Rams center Brian Allen, Buccaneers defensive lineman William Gholston, Steelers tight end Connor Heyward, 49ers long snapper Taybor Pepper, Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed and Eagles linebacker Ben VanSumeren – are preparing for the NFL Playoffs, which start this weekend (Jan. 13-15) with the Super Wild Card round.
In addition, Rams offensive tackle AJ Arcuri, Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler, Bills offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis and Eagles cornerback Josiah Scott are on the practice squad for their respective teams.
A total of 15 former Spartans saw action on NFL rosters this season.
Super Wild Card Weekend Schedule (games involving former Spartans)
Sunday, Jan. 14
No. 7 Pittsburgh (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo (11-6), 1 p.m. (CBS)
Former Spartans: TE Connor Heyward (Steelers)
No. 7 Green Bay (9-8) at No. 2 Dallas (12-5), 4 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: WR Jayden Reed (Cowboys)
No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at No. 3 Detroit (12-5), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: C Brian Allen (Rams)
Monday, Jan. 15
No. 5 Philadelphia (11-6) at No. 4 Tampa Bay (9-8), 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Former Spartans: DL William Gholston (Buccaneers), LB Ben VanSumeren (Eagles)
Bye – NFC
No. 1 San Francisco (12-5)
Former Spartans: LS Taybor Pepper (49ers)
Former Spartans on active NFL rosters entering the NFL Playoffs (as of Jan. 12, 2024)
C Brian Allen – Los Angeles Rams (fifth season)
Battled injuries throughout the season but still played in five games . . . is making his third NFL Playoffs appearance, all with the Rams . . . won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams during the 2021 season . . . has played in two Super Bowls with the Rams (LIII, LVI) . . . has played in 50 career games, including 32 starts . . . four-year letterwinner (2014-17) played in 51 career games for the Spartans, including 38 starts . . . 2017 team captain . . . was a member of the 2015 Big Ten Champion Spartans.
DL William Gholston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11th season)
Eleven-year NFL veteran is making his fourth appearance in the NFL Playoffs for the NFC South Champion Buccaneers . . . was on the Super Bowl LV Champion team with Tampa Bay . . . has played in seven career NFL Playoff games with the Bucs . . . played in 16 games during the regular season, including one start . . . has 19 tackles this season and also recorded his first career interception (at Buffalo) . . . has played in 169 career regular-season games, including 88 starts, totaling 420 tackles (58 for loss), 77 quarterback hits, 19.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks . . . his 169 games played are sixth-most in Buccaneers history . . . three-year letterwinner (2010-12) was a member of the 2010 Big Ten Champion Spartans.
TE Connor Heyward – Pittsburgh Steelers (second season)
Second-year tight end is making his first career appearance in the NFL Playoffs . . . played in all 17 regular-season games, including seven starts . . . had 23 receptions for 167 yards . . . has played in 34 regular-season games his first two seasons with 35 receptions for 318 yards and one TD . . . four-year letterwinner (2017-18; 20-21) played in 49 career games for the Spartans and helped MSU to a No. 9 national ranking and a win in the Peach Bowl during the 2021 season.
LS Taybor Pepper – San Francisco 49ers (sixth season)
Starting long snapper will be making his third consecutive playoff appearance with the 49ers . . . six-year NFL veteran is in his fourth season with the 49ers . . . played in 54 games from the Spartans from 2012-15 and was a member of two Big Ten Championship teams (2013, 2015).
WR Jayden Reed – Green Bay Packers (rookie season)
Second-round pick set a Packers rookie reception record with 64 catches, breaking Sterling Sharpe's previous mark of 55 in 1988 . . . led the Packers in receptions (64) and receiving yards (793) and tied for team lead with eight TD catches . . . also had 11 carries for 119 yards and two rushing TDs . . . had 11 punt returns for 94 yards . . . played in 16 games, with 13 starting assignments . . . had four catches for season-high 112 yards in win over the Bears on Jan. 7 that clinched a playoff berth for the Packers . . . had six catches for 89 yards and two scores in win over Minnesota (Dec. 31) . . . three-year letterwinner was a 2021 first-team All-American for the Spartans as an all-purpose player; named Offensive MVP of the 2021 Peach Bowl.
LB Ben VanSumeren – Philadelphia Eagles (rookie season)
Undrafted free agent made the practice squad for the Eagles and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 4 . . . played in nine regular-season games, including one start (vs. New York Giants on Dec. 25) . . . has 13 tackles . . . had a season-high six tackles against the Giants on Dec. 25 . . . played 179 snaps on special teams and 50 snaps on defense . . . two-year letterwinner (2021-22) played in 24 games for the Spartans.
Additional former Spartans in the NFL in 2023:
LB Joe Bachie – Cincinnati Bengals (fourth season)
Played in a career-high 16 games for the Bengals, primarily on special teams . . . had three tackles . . . has played in 39 career games with 45 career tackles during his four seasons in the NFL (2020-23) . . . four-year letterwinner (2016-19) was named team MVP in 2017 and was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2018.
P Bryce Baringer – New England Patriots (rookie season)
Sixth-round NFL Draft pick punted in all 17 games for the Patriots . . . averaged 46.9 yards per punt . . . placed 38 of his 98 punts inside the 20 . . . had a season-long 79-yard punt vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 12 . . . earned first-team All-America honors for the Spartans in 2022 and is the program's all-time leader in punting average (46.0 avg.).
QB Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings (12th season)
Twelve-year NFL veteran started the first eight games of the season for the Vikings before suffering a season-ending injury against Green Bay on Oct. 29 . . . was 216-of-311 passing (.695) for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns . . . four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 39,471 yards (24th in NFL history) and 270 touchdowns (20th in NFL history) in his NFL career . . . three-time MSU captain (2009-11) owns MSU school records for pass completions (723) and passing efficiency (146.1 rating), while ranking second in passing yards (9,131) and touchdown passes (66).
QB Brian Hoyer – Las Vegas Raiders (15th season)
Fifteen-year NFL veteran started against Chicago on Oct. 22 and played in three games overall for the Raiders . . . was 23-of-42 passing for 231 yards . . . played in 79 career games, including 41 starts.
DT Naquan Jones – Arizona Cardinals/Tennessee Titans (third season)
Third-year player appeared in eight games for the Titans, including one start . . . after getting released by the Titans, was signed by Arizona in November to the practice squad and elevated to the active roster in December . . . played in four games, including one starting assignment, for the Cardinals . . . totaled 17 tackles on the season (eight with Tennessee; nine with Arizona) . . . has 62 tackles in 36 career NFL games.
WR Jalen Nailor – Minnesota Vikings (second season)
Played in six games for the Vikings, including one start . . . had three catches for 29 yards . . . has 12 catches for 208 yards in 21 games in his first two seasons (2022-23) with the Vikings . . . spent a majority of the season on injured reserve.
CB Josiah Scott – Philadelphia Eagles (fourth season)
Played in four games for the Eagles during the 2023 season . . . finished the season on the practice squad . . . has played in 39 career games his first four seasons (6 with Jacksonville in 2020; 33 with Philadelphia in 2021-23) . . . has 51 career tackles and two interceptions.
CB Ameer Speed – New England Patriots/Indianapolis Colts (rookie season)
Sixth-round NFL Draft pick by New England played in five games and had three tackles for the Patriots . . . was then signed by Indianapolis in October and played in eight games for the Colts the rest of the season . . . played in 13 games overall his rookie season with nine total tackles.
RB Kenneth Walker III – Seattle Seahawks (second season)
Led the Seahawks for the second straight season with 905 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns . . . started all 15 games he played in . . . ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing (905 yards; 60.3 ypg) and tied for 13th in rushing TDs (8) . . . was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2022 after rushing for 1,050 yards and nine TDs . . . has rushed for 1,955 yards and 17 TDs in his two seasons (30 games) with the Seahawks . . . in his lone season at MSU, won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award after rushing for 1,636 yards and 18 TDs in 2021.
Practice squad: TE Matt Sokol (Patriots), DL Raequan Williams (Panthers)
Injured reserve: OL Jack Conklin (Browns), LB Andrew Dowell (Saints)
In addition, Rams offensive tackle AJ Arcuri, Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler, Bills offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis and Eagles cornerback Josiah Scott are on the practice squad for their respective teams.
A total of 15 former Spartans saw action on NFL rosters this season.
Super Wild Card Weekend Schedule (games involving former Spartans)
Sunday, Jan. 14
No. 7 Pittsburgh (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo (11-6), 1 p.m. (CBS)
Former Spartans: TE Connor Heyward (Steelers)
No. 7 Green Bay (9-8) at No. 2 Dallas (12-5), 4 p.m. (FOX)
Former Spartans: WR Jayden Reed (Cowboys)
No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at No. 3 Detroit (12-5), 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Former Spartans: C Brian Allen (Rams)
Monday, Jan. 15
No. 5 Philadelphia (11-6) at No. 4 Tampa Bay (9-8), 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Former Spartans: DL William Gholston (Buccaneers), LB Ben VanSumeren (Eagles)
Bye – NFC
No. 1 San Francisco (12-5)
Former Spartans: LS Taybor Pepper (49ers)
Former Spartans on active NFL rosters entering the NFL Playoffs (as of Jan. 12, 2024)
C Brian Allen – Los Angeles Rams (fifth season)
Battled injuries throughout the season but still played in five games . . . is making his third NFL Playoffs appearance, all with the Rams . . . won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams during the 2021 season . . . has played in two Super Bowls with the Rams (LIII, LVI) . . . has played in 50 career games, including 32 starts . . . four-year letterwinner (2014-17) played in 51 career games for the Spartans, including 38 starts . . . 2017 team captain . . . was a member of the 2015 Big Ten Champion Spartans.
DL William Gholston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11th season)
Eleven-year NFL veteran is making his fourth appearance in the NFL Playoffs for the NFC South Champion Buccaneers . . . was on the Super Bowl LV Champion team with Tampa Bay . . . has played in seven career NFL Playoff games with the Bucs . . . played in 16 games during the regular season, including one start . . . has 19 tackles this season and also recorded his first career interception (at Buffalo) . . . has played in 169 career regular-season games, including 88 starts, totaling 420 tackles (58 for loss), 77 quarterback hits, 19.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks . . . his 169 games played are sixth-most in Buccaneers history . . . three-year letterwinner (2010-12) was a member of the 2010 Big Ten Champion Spartans.
TE Connor Heyward – Pittsburgh Steelers (second season)
Second-year tight end is making his first career appearance in the NFL Playoffs . . . played in all 17 regular-season games, including seven starts . . . had 23 receptions for 167 yards . . . has played in 34 regular-season games his first two seasons with 35 receptions for 318 yards and one TD . . . four-year letterwinner (2017-18; 20-21) played in 49 career games for the Spartans and helped MSU to a No. 9 national ranking and a win in the Peach Bowl during the 2021 season.
LS Taybor Pepper – San Francisco 49ers (sixth season)
Starting long snapper will be making his third consecutive playoff appearance with the 49ers . . . six-year NFL veteran is in his fourth season with the 49ers . . . played in 54 games from the Spartans from 2012-15 and was a member of two Big Ten Championship teams (2013, 2015).
WR Jayden Reed – Green Bay Packers (rookie season)
Second-round pick set a Packers rookie reception record with 64 catches, breaking Sterling Sharpe's previous mark of 55 in 1988 . . . led the Packers in receptions (64) and receiving yards (793) and tied for team lead with eight TD catches . . . also had 11 carries for 119 yards and two rushing TDs . . . had 11 punt returns for 94 yards . . . played in 16 games, with 13 starting assignments . . . had four catches for season-high 112 yards in win over the Bears on Jan. 7 that clinched a playoff berth for the Packers . . . had six catches for 89 yards and two scores in win over Minnesota (Dec. 31) . . . three-year letterwinner was a 2021 first-team All-American for the Spartans as an all-purpose player; named Offensive MVP of the 2021 Peach Bowl.
LB Ben VanSumeren – Philadelphia Eagles (rookie season)
Undrafted free agent made the practice squad for the Eagles and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 4 . . . played in nine regular-season games, including one start (vs. New York Giants on Dec. 25) . . . has 13 tackles . . . had a season-high six tackles against the Giants on Dec. 25 . . . played 179 snaps on special teams and 50 snaps on defense . . . two-year letterwinner (2021-22) played in 24 games for the Spartans.
Additional former Spartans in the NFL in 2023:
LB Joe Bachie – Cincinnati Bengals (fourth season)
Played in a career-high 16 games for the Bengals, primarily on special teams . . . had three tackles . . . has played in 39 career games with 45 career tackles during his four seasons in the NFL (2020-23) . . . four-year letterwinner (2016-19) was named team MVP in 2017 and was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2018.
P Bryce Baringer – New England Patriots (rookie season)
Sixth-round NFL Draft pick punted in all 17 games for the Patriots . . . averaged 46.9 yards per punt . . . placed 38 of his 98 punts inside the 20 . . . had a season-long 79-yard punt vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 12 . . . earned first-team All-America honors for the Spartans in 2022 and is the program's all-time leader in punting average (46.0 avg.).
QB Kirk Cousins – Minnesota Vikings (12th season)
Twelve-year NFL veteran started the first eight games of the season for the Vikings before suffering a season-ending injury against Green Bay on Oct. 29 . . . was 216-of-311 passing (.695) for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns . . . four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 39,471 yards (24th in NFL history) and 270 touchdowns (20th in NFL history) in his NFL career . . . three-time MSU captain (2009-11) owns MSU school records for pass completions (723) and passing efficiency (146.1 rating), while ranking second in passing yards (9,131) and touchdown passes (66).
QB Brian Hoyer – Las Vegas Raiders (15th season)
Fifteen-year NFL veteran started against Chicago on Oct. 22 and played in three games overall for the Raiders . . . was 23-of-42 passing for 231 yards . . . played in 79 career games, including 41 starts.
DT Naquan Jones – Arizona Cardinals/Tennessee Titans (third season)
Third-year player appeared in eight games for the Titans, including one start . . . after getting released by the Titans, was signed by Arizona in November to the practice squad and elevated to the active roster in December . . . played in four games, including one starting assignment, for the Cardinals . . . totaled 17 tackles on the season (eight with Tennessee; nine with Arizona) . . . has 62 tackles in 36 career NFL games.
WR Jalen Nailor – Minnesota Vikings (second season)
Played in six games for the Vikings, including one start . . . had three catches for 29 yards . . . has 12 catches for 208 yards in 21 games in his first two seasons (2022-23) with the Vikings . . . spent a majority of the season on injured reserve.
CB Josiah Scott – Philadelphia Eagles (fourth season)
Played in four games for the Eagles during the 2023 season . . . finished the season on the practice squad . . . has played in 39 career games his first four seasons (6 with Jacksonville in 2020; 33 with Philadelphia in 2021-23) . . . has 51 career tackles and two interceptions.
CB Ameer Speed – New England Patriots/Indianapolis Colts (rookie season)
Sixth-round NFL Draft pick by New England played in five games and had three tackles for the Patriots . . . was then signed by Indianapolis in October and played in eight games for the Colts the rest of the season . . . played in 13 games overall his rookie season with nine total tackles.
RB Kenneth Walker III – Seattle Seahawks (second season)
Led the Seahawks for the second straight season with 905 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns . . . started all 15 games he played in . . . ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing (905 yards; 60.3 ypg) and tied for 13th in rushing TDs (8) . . . was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2022 after rushing for 1,050 yards and nine TDs . . . has rushed for 1,955 yards and 17 TDs in his two seasons (30 games) with the Seahawks . . . in his lone season at MSU, won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award after rushing for 1,636 yards and 18 TDs in 2021.
Practice squad: TE Matt Sokol (Patriots), DL Raequan Williams (Panthers)
Injured reserve: OL Jack Conklin (Browns), LB Andrew Dowell (Saints)
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ FootballPat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Mar. 31, 2026
Tuesday, March 31
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Mar. 17, 2026
Tuesday, March 17
Pat Fitzgerald | Signing Day Press Conference | Feb. 4 2026
Wednesday, February 04
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03