Update on Gophers in professional sports

Other Gopher Sports

With baseball starting to wrap up its season, football in full swing, and hockey right around the corner, here is a look at how some former Gopher athletes are doing in the professional ranks.

NFL

Player Pos. Team Notes
Marion Barber RB Dallas Cowboys Currently a backup to Julius Jones, has rushed 25 times for 125 yds & 3 TD’s, also caught 3 passes for 35 yds.
Laurence Maroney RB New England Patriots Starting running back, has rushed for 149 yds on 35 carries, no TD’s.
Thomas Tapeh FB Philadelphia Eagles Starting Fullback, has only rushed the ball once for 4 yds and has caught 3 passes for 22 yds.
Gary Russell RB Pittsburgh Steelers Long shot to make the team out of training camp, Russell is listed as third string and has not yet carried the ball.
Ben Utecht TE Indianapolis Colts Although he has not found the end zone yet, Utecht has caught 6 passes for 50 yds in the first two games.
Matt Spaeth TE Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie has only caught 3 passes but has scored a touchdown in each of his first two games.
Ben Hamilton OG Denver Broncos Hamilton has not played yet this year as he is out with a concussion. He had started every game for the Broncos since ’02.
Mark Setterstrom OG St. Louis Rams Has started both games.
Anthony Montgomery DT Washington Redskins Has started both games for Redskins, recorded 2 tackles Monday against Eagles.
Darrell Reid DT Indianapolis Colts Backup Tackle has 4 tackles in two games and a fumble recovery.
Tyrone Carter SS Pittsburgh Steelers Backup SS, has recorded 1 tackle in 2 games
Michael Lehan CB Miami Dolphins Has started one game this year for Dolphins.
Derek Rackley LS Seattle Seahawks Seahawk Long snapper.
Greg White DE Tampa Bay After several strong seasons in Arena League, White is now a backup DE for the Bucs and had 2 tackles and his first sack against New Orleans.
Greg Eslinger C Denver Broncos Is currently on Broncos practice squad.
Logan Payne WR Seattle Seahawks Rookie is on Seattle’s practice squad.
Rhys Lloyd K Baltimore Ravens Has not kicked yet this year. Was 3 for 3 in preseason including a 55 yarder. Is backing up 39 year old Matt Stover.
Tony Dungy HC Indianapolis Colts Head coach of the Indianapolis Colts

Canadian Football League

Player Pos. Team Notes
Arland Bruce WR Toronto Argonauts 7 games, 28 rec. 383 yds. 4 TD’s
Jerome Davis OT Hamilton Tiger Cats
Ryan Thelwell WR Calgary Stampeders 9 games, 22 rec. 400 yds. 2 TD’s

Major League Baseball

Player Pos. Team Notes
Robb Quinlan 1B Anaheim Angels 73 games, .248 3 HR 21 RBI
Glen Perkins P Minnesota Twins 13 games, 0-0 3.65 ERA 24.2 innings. Missed most of the season with Muscle strain in left shoulder.
Jim Brower P New York Yankees 3 games, 0-0 3.1 innings, 13. 50 E.R.A., was 4-1 with 20 saves and a 1.65 E.R.A at AAA Scranton. Released by Yankees on 8-31.
Jack Hannahan IF Oakland Athletics Was traded on 8-14 from Detroit’s AAA team Sacramento. Has played 31 games for A’s, batting .280 3 HR, 17 RBI, 7 doubles 14 runs, 30 hits.

Minor League Baseball

Player Pos. Team Notes
Luke Appert IF AA Midland (Oak.) 79 games .246 5 HR 45 RBI
Craig Molldrem P AA Carolina (FL.) 5-4 4.84 ERA 47 games. Was called up to AAA Albuquerque for 6 games where he had a 3.00 ERA in 9 innings.
Reid Mahon P AA Mobile (Ariz.) 4-4 1.77 ERA 11 saves 32 games
Cole DeVries P A Beloit (MN.) 9-5 3.41 ERA 108 K’s in 25 starts.
Jon Mueller P A Daytona (Cubs) 5-2 5.27 ERA, made one appearance at AAA Iowa.
John Gaub P GCL Rookie League (Clev.) coming off two year recovery for shoulder injury, appeared in 4 games with a 2.25 ERA.
Mike Mee IF A Yakima (Ariz.) 54 games .304 0 HR 27 RBI 58 hits
Dan Lyons SS A Vermont (Wash.) 72 games .208 0 HR 21 RBI 39 Runs 32 BB 17 SB
Gary Perinar P GCL Rookie League (Det.) injured

WNBA

Player Pos. Team Notes
Lindsey Whalen G Conneticut Sun 34 games 13.4 pts. 4.8 reb. 5 assists, 3 playoff games, 13.3 pts. 7 reb.
Janel McCarville C NY Liberty 32 games 10.4 pts. 4.8 reb, 3 playoff games, 14 pts. 5.7

National Hockey League

List of Gopher Hockey players who are on training camp rosters:

Keith Ballard Phoenix
Kris Chucko Calgary
Ben Clymer Washington
Alex Goligoski Pittsburgh
Danny Irmen Minnesota
Erik Johnson St. Louis
Phil Kessel Boston
Jordan Leopold Colorado
Paul Martin New Jersey
Jim O Brien Ottawa
Johnny Pohl Toronto
Grant Potulny Washington
Ryan Potulny Philadelphia
Barry Tallockson New Jersey
Jeff Taffe Pittsburgh
Jake Taylor New York Rangers
Thomas Vanek Buffalo
Mike Vanelli Philadelphia

Talk about former Gopher greats on the GopherHole message boards.

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