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A lot of Maryland players move on to the NFL, but not all can say that they were to be in a position to compete for a Lombardi trophy. In the 2016 playoffs, these Maryland alumni are on a quest to play in Super Bowl 50. Will there be a Maryland player to win a Super Bowl ring this year? The amount of collective talent that these alumni have surrounding them can get them just that. In this year's list of alumni, there are rookies, veterans and guys who are in the middle of their careers.
#1. Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
2015 Season Stats: 52 receptions, 720 yards (13.8 yards per reception) and four touchdowns
Diggs declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season in 2014 and he earned an All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches) honor and an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media that same season. He also received an All-ACC honorable mention by coaches and media in 2013 as well.
General Role: Diggs was a healthy scratch the first four weeks of the season and started one game (at Tennessee) before the bye week. He's started every game since and played very well, making highlight play after highlight play. He was able to be the Stefon Diggs that Maryland fans knew. Even though he was only able to gain over 100 receiving yards twice this season, he did have 15 catches longer than 10 yards. Ten of his long yardage catches were 20 yards or more. Big time players make big plays. Diggs is only a rookie but already has made his mark with the Vikings.
How can fans see him play?: Sunday, January 10 at 1:05 p.m. ET vs Seattle Seahawks (NBC)
#2. Shaun Hill, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
2015 Season Stats: 2 for 7, 15 yards (2.1 yards per attempt)
General Role: Hill is the backup to second-year Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He came to the Vikings in 2002 as an undrafted free agent, playing for them from 2002-2005. He also spent a season with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe. The 14-year veteran spent time with San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and St.Louis Ramsbefore coming back to Minnesota this season. He has completed 62 percent of his passes over his career, thrown for 8,053 yards, 49 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.
How can fans see him play?: Sunday, January 10 at 1:05 p.m. ET vs Seattle Seahawks (NBC)
#3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
2015 Season Stats: 21 receptions, 314 yards (15 yards per reception) and two touchdowns
In his redshirt freshman season at Maryland he earned a number of honors, including Sporting News and Rivals.com first-team freshman All-America, second team All-ACC at wide receiver, Sporting News first-team All-Freshman ACC and he earned the team's freshman of the year award. He broke the school record for longest play with a 96-yard touchdown catch from Sam Hollenbach vs the Miami Hurricanes.
As a sophomore (2007) and junior (2008), he received these awards: Pro Football Weekly All-America honorable mention choice at wide receiver,earned the team's most valuable offensive player award, member of the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, consensus preseason All-ACC choice and a preseason first-team All-ACC selection by Athlon, Lindy's and The Sporting News.
In his last season with Terps (2008), He was named an AP/ACSMA all-ACC honorable mention and a Sporting News preseason All-America honorable mention. He also was named preseason second team All-ACC by Athlon and Lindy's, member of the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award and Maxwell Award and named the team's offensive MVP.
He declared for the NFL Draft in 2009.
General Role: Heyward-Bey is the backup to Markus Wheaton and he came into the league with the Oakland Raidersas their 2009 first round pick (seventh overall).
Where can fans see him play?: Saturday, January 9 at 8:15 p.m. ET vs Cincinnati Bengals (CBS)
#4. Nick Novak, Kicker, Houston Texans
2015 Season Stats: 18 for 21 on field goals, with a long of 51 yards
Novak came to the Terps in 2000 and in his redshirt freshman season the next year, He started in 11 games as kicker including the Orange Bowl and received All-ACC honorable mention and Sporting News second-team freshman All-America honors. He finished one field goal shy of the Maryland single-season record of 17, his 41 PATs set a new single-season record at Maryland and led the team in scoring with 89 points, the highest total ever by a Terp freshman kicker.
In his sophomore (2002) and junior (2003) seasons, he was a first team All-ACC selection, led the ACC in kicking percentage (85.7), set Maryland records with 24 field goals and 125 points and as a junior she received first team All-ACC honor.
He went undrafted in 2005 and was picked up by the Washington Redskins. He spent five games with them and five games with the Arizona Cardinals his rookie year.
General Role: He is the active placekicker for the Houston Texans. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers before joining the Houston Texans.
How can fans see him play?: Saturday, January 9 at 4:35 p.m. ET vs Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN)
#5. A.J. Francis, Defensive Tackle, Seattle Seahawks
2015 Season Stats: one solo tackle
A.J. Francis came to the Terps in 2008 from Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. After redshirting that year, He received a freshman All-America honorable mention honor from College Football News, a Sporting News freshman All-ACC honor and an Academic All-ACC honor in 2009, his redshirt freshman season. He led all Maryland defensive linemen tackles with 31 in his 10 starts in all 12 games.
Francis became a three time All-ACC Academic honoree while at Maryland. He went undrafted in 2013 and was picked up by the Miami Dolphins. He has gone back and forth between the Dolphins and Seahawks in his three year career but know has found a home in Seattle.
General Role: He is the backup to left defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.
How can fans see him play?: Sunday, January 10 at 1:05 p.m. ET vs Minnesota Vikings (NBC)
#6. Vernon Davis, Tight End, Denver Broncos
2015 Season Stats: 20 receptions, 201 yards (10 yards per reception)
Vernon Davis was another local guy that came to the Terps by way of Washington D.C. in the 2003 recruiting class. Over his career, Davis improved in these three statistical categories: receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. His best year was his junior year where he had these numbers: 51 receptions, 871 yards (17.1 yards per receptions) and six touchdowns. He finished in the top five in the ACC that season in these statistical categories: receiving yards (second), receiving yards per reception (fourth), and receiving touchdowns (third).
He declared for the 2006 NFL Draft after his junior year and was drafted in the first round, sixth overall by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent his first nine seasons in the NFL with them plus six games this season before being traded to the Denver Broncos.
General Role: Davis is the backup to Owen Daniels but still sees playing time. He started nine games in 2015.
How can fans see him play?: Sunday, January 17 at 4:35 p.m. ET vs winner of Chiefs/Texans (CBS)
#7. Darius Kilgo, Nose Tackle, Denver Broncos
2015 Season Stats: Six tackles (five solo)
Kilgo was a three year starter on Maryland's defensive line, received an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2014 and was drafted by the Broncos in 2015 in the the sixth round 203rd overall.
General Role: Kilgo is the backup to Sylvester Williams.
How can fans see him play?: Sunday, January 17 at 4:35 p.m. ET vs winner of Chiefs/Texans (CBS)
Will a Maryland player will get a Super Bowl ring? Fans won't have to wait long to find out.