WNUR’s Ari Ross (@aross50) recaps the season for Northwestern Wildcats football alumni in the National Football League.

Northwestern had nine football alumni start or play in games this 2013 NFL season. Here’s how they performed this season in the NFL:

Offensive Players
Jeremy Ebert, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars (Northwestern Class of 2012)
Ebert played in five games for the Jaguars. He was targeted eight times and caught three passes for 18 yards, with a long of eight yards. He also had one special teams tackle.

Zach Strief, Offensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints (Northwestern Class of 2006)
Strief started and played in 15 games for the Saints. He only committed four penalties this season: two holding calls, one false start and one unnecessary roughness.

Defensive Players
Brian Arnfelt, Defensive End, Pittsburgh Steelers (Northwestern Class of 2013)
Arnfelt played in two games for the Steelers this season after being signed from the practice squad Week 15.

Corey Wootton, Defensive End, Chicago Bears (Northwestern Class of 2010)
Wootton started 15 of 16 games he played in for the Bears. He totaled 35 tackles (28 solo), 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, five passes defended and eight tackles for a loss of 20 yards. His tackles and passes defended were both career highs.

Corbin Bryant, Defensive Tackle, Buffalo Bills (Northwestern Class of 2010)
Bryant started 2 of 15 games he played in for the Bills. This season he totaled 14 tackles (7 solo), 1.0 sack and two tackles for a loss of four yards.

Barry Cofield, Nose Tackle, Washington Redskins (Northwestern Class of 2006)
Cofield started all 16 games for the Redskins at nose tackle. In the 16 games, he had 32 tackles (17 solo), 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one pass defended and five tackles for a loss of 10 yards.

Nick Roach, Linebacker, Oakland Raiders (Northwestern Class of 2007)
In his first season with the Raiders, Roach started all 16 games, totaling 112 tackles (83 solo), 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, three passes defended and five tackles for a loss of 11 yards.

Sherrick McManis, Cornerback, Chicago Bears (Northwestern Class of 2010)
The cornerback appeared in 15 and started one game for the Bears. McManis totaled 10 tackles (8 solo) and one pass defended.

Marquice Cole, Cornerback, New England Patriots (Northwestern Class of 2007)
Cole played in 13 games for the Patriots, totaling 15 tackles (10 solo), one fumble recovery, one interception, two passes defended and one tackle for a loss of one yard.

Northwestern NFL Player of the Year:
Nick Roach. For the season Roach totaled 112 tackles (83 solo), 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, three passes defended and five tackles for a loss of 11 yards in 16 games. His 112 tackles, 83 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and five tackles for a loss were all career highs. His interception of Case Keenum in the Raiders 28-23 win over the Texans was the first of his career. You can check out video of the interception here: http://on.nfl.com/1e0EHU8. In addtion Roach played every single defensive snap, 1,076 snaps according to Football Outsiders. Roach’s 112 tackles were tied for No. 29 in the NFL and his 83 solo tackles were good for No. 22 in the NFL. His tackles and sacks led all middle linebackers in the NFL. Roach also led the Raiders as well in tackles and sacks, and his career year helped turn around their defense as the middle linebacker. Roach was recently named Defensive Player of the Year by Raiders.com.

Northwestern also had two players on NFL practice squads:
Jordan Mabin, Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons (Northwestern Class of 2012)
Al Netter, Offensive Guard, San Francisco 49ers (Northwestern Class of 2012)