With former Illini and current New Orleans Saints Pierre Thomas and Martez Wilson opening up the NFL season tonight in Green Bay (7:30 p.m. CDT, NBC), I thought this might be a good time to take a roll call of all former Illini on NFL opening week rosters. In all, 19 Illini made active 53-man rosters for the opening weekend. That does not count rookie Lions' RB Mikel Leshoure, who is on IR for the season with an Achilles injury, or the three former Illini that were named to practice squads (Nate Bussey, J Leman and Eddie McGee).
Former Illini on 2011 Opening Day NFL Rosters (19)
Jon Asamoah, OG, Kansas City Chiefs
Alan Ball, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Brent, DT, Dallas Cowboys
Jeff Cumberland, TE, New York Jets
Vontae Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
David Diehl, OT, New York Giants
Kelvin Hayden, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Hoomanawanui, TE, St. Louis Rams
Corey Liuget, DL, San Diego Chargers
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brit Miller, FB, St. Louis Rams
Brandon Moore, OG, New York Jets
Tony Pashos, OG, Cleveland Browns
Neil Rackers, PK, Houston Texans
Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
Steve Weatherford, P, New York Giants
Martez Wilson, LB, New Orleans Saints
Former Illini on Injured Reserve/Practice Squad
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions - Injured Reserve
Nate Bussey, LB, New Orleans Saints - Practice Squad
J Leman, LB, Oakland Raiders - Practice Squad
Eddie McGee, WR, Oakland Raiders - Practice Squad
Jon Asamoah, OG, Kansas City Chiefs
Alan Ball, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Brent, DT, Dallas Cowboys
Jeff Cumberland, TE, New York Jets
Vontae Davis, CB, Miami Dolphins
David Diehl, OT, New York Giants
Kelvin Hayden, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Hoomanawanui, TE, St. Louis Rams
Corey Liuget, DL, San Diego Chargers
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brit Miller, FB, St. Louis Rams
Brandon Moore, OG, New York Jets
Tony Pashos, OG, Cleveland Browns
Neil Rackers, PK, Houston Texans
Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
Steve Weatherford, P, New York Giants
Martez Wilson, LB, New Orleans Saints
Former Illini on Injured Reserve/Practice Squad
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Detroit Lions - Injured Reserve
Nate Bussey, LB, New Orleans Saints - Practice Squad
J Leman, LB, Oakland Raiders - Practice Squad
Eddie McGee, WR, Oakland Raiders - Practice Squad
Watched this and loved it. Com'on new orleans!