Southeast Missouri State's Quiet NFL Legacy

Strategic Insights -

Southeast Missouri State University's football program may not have the reputation of major powerhouses like Alabama or Ohio State, but it has a rich history of producing skilled and tough players who go on to play in the National Football League. Over the decades, the Redhawks have sent several professionals to the NFL, where they have carved out a niche for themselves in the sport. From the 1950s to the present day, SEMO's alumni have played in the league, with some even earning awards and accolades.

Key Takeaways:

  • The first SEMO standout was John Wittenborn, a jack-of-all-guards and kicker drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1958, who played 10 years in the league, including 30 games as a starter.
  • Ken Iman, a center, played 14 years from 1960 until 1974, earning three NFL championships with the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.
  • SEMO's NFL legacy continued into the 1970s, with Eddie Moss, a running back, spending five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and Mike Wood, a Minnesota Viking kicker, playing five solid years in the league.
  • The 1980s and early 1990s saw SEMO continue to send players to the NFL, with Ted Banker playing six years as an offensive lineman, and Tony Walker playing three seasons as a linebacker.
  • In recent years, Eugene Amano set himself up as arguably the best SEMO lineman of the contemporary era, playing eight years with the Tennessee Titans.
  • New York Giants' wide receiver Willie Ponder played four years around this period of time, and defensive end Edgar Jones played seven years as a rotational player.
  • Currently, three Redhawks are active in the NFL: Mike Ford, a defensive back with seven seasons of experience; Mark Robinson, a linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Ryan Flournoy, a wide receiver drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round in 2024.
  • Flournoy's draft selection was a source of pride for the Redhawks program, showing that SEMO is still able to produce NFL talent.

Statistics:

  • 10 years in the league: John Wittenborn
  • 14 years in the league: Ken Iman
  • 140 games played: Ken Iman
  • 3 NFL championships: Ken Iman (with the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles)
  • 83 games played as a starter: Eugene Amano (with the Tennessee Titans)
  • 8 years in the league: Eugene Amano
  • 40 games played as a starter: Dan Connolly (with the New England Patriots)
  • 7 seasons in the league: Mike Ford (as a defensive back)
  • 2022: Mark Robinson drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 2024: Ryan Flournoy drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round

Sources:

  • [Blake Schowalter] (photo credit)
  • [Southeast Missouri State University] (institution mentioned)
  • [National Football League] (organization mentioned)
  • [San Francisco 49ers] (team mentioned)
  • [Los Angeles Rams] (team mentioned)
  • [Philadelphia Eagles] (team mentioned)
  • [Buffalo Bills] (team mentioned)
  • [Minnesota Vikings] (team mentioned)
  • [Tennessee Titans] (team mentioned)
  • [New York Giants] (team mentioned)
  • [Pittsburgh Steelers] (team mentioned)
  • [Dallas Cowboys] (team mentioned)