Lions in the Pros

Lions in the Pros

Former Lion defensive back Janoris Jenkins completed his first season with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. It was his tenth full season in the NFL. 

FORMER UNA LIONS IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

19 • NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT PICKS
49 • NFL FREE AGENT SIGNEES
5 • LIONS HAVE PLAYED IN THE SUPER BOWL

UNA'S PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HONORS
National Football League
 Rookie of the Year
1954 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
National Football League Most Valuable Player
(Jim Thorpe Trophy)
1955 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
National Football League All-Pro
1954 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
1955 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
1956 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
2016 Janoris Jenkins CB New York Giants
National Football League Pro Bowl
1955 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
1956 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
1957 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
National Football League Championship Game
1956 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Participants
XIII Robert Steele WR Dallas Cowboys
XXIV Lewis Billups DB Cincinnati Bengals
XXIV Daryl Smith DB Cincinnati Bengals
XXVI Stevie Hobbs* WR Washington Redskins
XXIX Shawn Lee DT San Diego Chargers
* - team captain

(Billups started in secondary for Cincinnati,  while Smith and Hobbs started on specialty teams. Steele played as a reserve receiver. Lee started at defensive tackle)

UNA LIONS HAVE GONE ON TO PLAY IN:
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NFL - EUROPE
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ARENA2 LEAGUE
NATIONAL INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
EXTREME FOOTBALL LEAGUE
UNITED STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE

UNA'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT CHOICES - By Year
Draft Player Pos       Team League Round Pick
1954 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears NFL 15th
1961 Sammy Smith HB Denver Broncos AFL 27th
1980 Curtis Sirmones RB San Diego Chargers NFL 8th 219
1980 William Bowens LB Oakland Raiders NFL 5th 128
1980 Marcene Emmett DB Washington Redskins NFL 12th 327
1981 Jerry Hill WR Washington Redskins NFL 11th 284
1985 Daryl Smith DB Denver Broncos NFL 9th 250
1986 Lewis Billups DB Cincinnati Bengals NFL 2nd 38
1986 Bruce Jones DB Chicago Bears NFL 7th 194
1986 Billy Witt DE Buffalo Bills NFL 11th 282
1987 Chris Goode RB Indianapolis Colts NFL 10th 253
1988 Shawn Lee DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL 6th 163
1988 Wendell Phillips DB San Diego Chargers NFL 12th 324
1996 Israel Raybon DE Pittsburgh Steelers NFL 5th 163
1996 Marcus Keyes DT Chicago Bears NFL 7th 233
1996 Jarius Hayes TE Arizona Cardinals NFL 7th 212
1999 Bobby Collins TE Buffalo Bills NFL 4th 122
1999 Tyrone Bell DB San Diego Chargers NFL 6th 178
2012 Janoris Jenkins DB St. Louis Rams NFL 2nd 39

UNA'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DRAFT CHOICES - By Highest Selection
Draft Player Pos       Team League Round Pick
1986 Lewis Billups DB Cincinnati Bengals NFL 2nd 38
2012 Janoris Jenkins DB St. Louis Rams NFL 2nd 39
1999 Bobby Collins TE Buffalo Bills NFL 4th 122
1980 William Bowens LB Oakland Raiders NFL 5th 128
1988 Shawn Lee DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL 6th 163
1996 Israel Raybon DE Pittsburgh Steelers NFL 5th 163
1999 Tyrone Bell DB San Diego Chargers NFL 6th 178
1986 Bruce Jones DB Chicago Bears NFL 7th 194
1996 Jarius Hayes TE Arizona Cardinals NFL 7th 212
1980 Curtis Sirmones RB San Diego Chargers NFL 8th 219
1996 Marcus Keyes DT Chicago Bears NFL 7th 233
1985 Daryl Smith DB Denver Broncos NFL 9th 250
1987 Chris Goode RB Indianapolis Colts NFL 10th 253
1986 Billy Witt DE Buffalo Bills NFL 11th 282
1981 Jerry Hill WR Washington Redskins NFL 11th 284
1988 Wendell Phillips DB San Diego Chargers NFL 12th 324
1980 Marcene Emmett DB Washington Redskins NFL 12th 327
1954 Harlon Hill WR Chicago Bears NFL 15th
1961 Sammy Smith HB Denver Broncos AFL 27th

UNA'S OTHER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL DRAFT CHOICES
Draft Player Pos       Team League Round Pick
1984 Rusty Towery QB Jacksonville Bulls USFL 6th 127
1984 Chuck McCurley TE Jacksonville Bulls USFL 5th 126
1984 Rod Brooks DB Michigan Panthers USFL 16th 325
1985 Daryl Smith DB Portland Breakers USFL 2nd 22
1992 Bennie Jennings TE Sacramento Surge WLAF

653
Ronald McKinnon enjoyed a 10-year NFL career and finished with more than 1,000 tackles.

UNA'S NFL FREE AGENT SIGNEES
(year listed was their final season at UNA)
Senior
Year Player Pos Team League
1953 Alton "Monk" Romine FB Chicago Bears NFL
1958 Bill Lumpkin END New York Giants NFL
1962 Henry Prater END Denver Broncos AFL
1967 Ricky Lindsey WR Cincinnati Bengals NFL
1973 Danny Kimble WR Chicago Bears NFL
1977 Robert Steele WR Dallas Cowboys NFL
1978 Brad Hendrix DT Dallas Cowboys NFL
1979 Howard Ross LB Oakland Raiders NFL
1979 Marcene Emmett CB New York Jets NFL
1981 Lawson Fletcher  RB Seattle Seahawks NFL
1981 Sam Prater LB Denver Broncos NFL
1981 Emmanuel Young FS Denver Broncos NFL
1981 Steve Harris DB Denver Broncos NFL
1982 Melvin Brown WR Minnesota Vikings NFL
1983 Gary Davis DB Dallas Cowboys NFL
1984 Dean Sanders DT New England Patriots NFL
1984 Bobby Duncan QB Denver Broncos NFL
1986 Chris Evans SS New York Jets NFL
1987 David Smith DB New England Patriots NFL
1987 Marvin Marsh RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL
1987 Stevie Hobbs WR Kansas City Chiefs NFL
1990 Bennie Jennings TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL
1990 Mike Nord OT Arizona Cardinals NFL
1993 Tyrone Rush TB Washington Redskins NFL
1993 Brian Satterfield FB Washington Redskins NFL
1994 Marcus Hunter DE Washington Redskins NFL
1995 Ronald McKinnon LB Arizona Cardinals NFL
1998 Corey Harris DB New Orleans Saints NFL
1998 Marvin Coley DL New Orleans Saints NFL
2000 Larry Paul DL Tennessee Titans NFL
2001 Corey Harris DL Kansas City Chiefs NFL
2002 Chad Sears DB Buffalo Bills NFL
2004 Evan Oglesby DB Buffalo Bills NFL
2005 Blake Farris DB Cleveland Browns NFL
2005 Lee Vickers DL Pittsburgh Steelers NFL
2006 Anthony Merritt WR New Orleans Saints NFL
2008 Bobby Williams WR Minnesota Vikings NFL
2008 Mike McLendon RB Jacksonville Jaguars NFL
2008 Ed Gant WR Arizona Cardinals NFL
2009 Michael Johnson LB Kansas City Chiefs NFL
2009 Mico McSwain WR Tennessee Titans NFL
2009 Preston Parker WR Jacksonville Jaguars NFL
2010 Michael Johnson LB Seattle Seahawks NFL
2011 Marcus Dowtin LB New York Jets NFL
2011 Will Batson P Tennessee Titans NFL
2013 Tavarius Wilson LB St. Louis Rams NFL
2014 Taylor Pontius PK Indianapolis Colts NFL
2015 Darvell Harris DB Seattle Seahawks NFL
2015 Lamonte Thompson RB Baltimore Ravens NFL
2018 Chris Johnson S Houston Texans

1981 BoBo Lowe LB Memphis Showboats USFL
1982 Don Smith OL Birmingham Stallions USFL
1985 Harlow Fikes P Birmingham Stallions USFL
1983 Richard Porter LB Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL
1983 Mike Gilley WR Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL
1984 Germaine Young WR Montreal Concords CFL
2001 Marvin Coley DL Frankfurt Galaxy NFLE
2002 Marvin Coley DL Hamilton Tiger Cats CFL