WILLIAM GHOLSTON

The NFL playoffs began over the weekend with seven former Michigan State players on active postseason rosters. Among the six who played in wild-card games, only two are on teams that advanced to the divisional round. Cornerback Josiah Scott is in his second season with the Eagles, who had a bye after landing the top seed in the NFC and will host the Giants on Saturday. He logged 16 snaps on special teams and didn’t record any statistics in Sunday’s win against Baltimore. Related Michigan State football stories:Former Michigan State RB Elijah Collins transferring to Oklahoma StateOhio State long snapper transferring to Michigan StateFormer Michigan State WR Terry Lockett Jr. transferring to Eastern MichiganFormer Michigan State DE Chase Carter announces transfer destinationHow ex-Spartans fared in the NFL this season

The NFL regular season is over and the playoffs start this weekend with the wild-card round. Michigan State will be represented in the postseason as seven of the 17 former Spartans who appeared in at least one game this season are on playoff teams. CB Josiah ScottTeam: Philadelphia EaglesUp next: ByeA third-year pro, Scott is in his second season with the Eagles, who also reached the playoffs last year. Related Michigan State football stories:Former Michigan State WR Terry Lockett Jr. transferring to Eastern MichiganFormer Michigan State DE Chase Carter announces transfer destinationHow ex-Spartans fared in the NFL this seasonMichigan State starting LG J.D. Duplain returning for final seasonFormer Michigan State safety Tate Hallock transferring to Western Michigan

Tom Brady overcame two interceptions to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an overtime 19-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota VikingsCousins returned from the COVID-19 list to go 14-for-22 for 250 yards with three touchdowns in the Vikings’ season-ending win over the Bears. Andrew Dowell, LB, New Orleans SaintsDowell played 18 special teams snaps in the Saints’ season-ending 30-20 win over the Falcons. Brian Hoyer, QB, New England PatriotsHoyer did not appear in the Patriots’ season-ending loss to the Dolphins. Malik McDowell, DT, Cleveland BrownsMcDowell had one tackle in 39 defensive spans in his team’s win over Cincinnati. Willis had 63 tackles, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 11 games in his third NFL season.

He also left the Rams’ Dec. 5 game due to a knee injury but played the team’s entire Dec. 21 game against the Seahawks. The game was his sixth this season with 300 yards or more passing, and came after he recorded just 87 yards last week against the Bears. William Gholston, DL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGholston recorded 2.5 sacks in the, marking a new single-game career-high in his ninth NFL season. He did it in a game when the Buccaneers won the NFC South with a 32-6 win over the Panthers. Josiah Scott, CB, Philadelphia EaglesScott saw 25 defensive snaps, his highest total of the season, plus 17 special teams snaps in the Eagles’ 34-10 win over the Giants.

Joe Bachie, Cincinnati BengalsBachie tore his ACL in the Bengals’ 15-10 win over the Broncos, ending his second NFL season. Bachie had made his second straight start amid injuries to Cincinnati’s defense and had recorded six tackles on 30 plays before suffering the injury. William Gholston, DL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGholston recorded six tackles, tied for his season-high, in the Buccaneers’ loss to the Saints. Justin Layne, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersLayne saw action on 14 special teams plays in the Steelers’ 19-13 win over the Titans. Cody White, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersWhite did not record a statistic while playing on eight special teas plays in the Steelers’ win over the Titans.

Joe Bachie, Cincinnati BengalsBachie saw an expanded role amid injuries on the Bengals defense, as he started and recorded a season-high 47 defensive snaps. Brian Hoyer, QB, New England PatriotsHoyer and the Patriots had a Week 14 bye. Cody White, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersWhite’s participation was limited to five special teams snaps in the Steelers’ 36-28 loss to the Vikings. He played on more than 40 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps, plus on special teams, while recording one tackle in the Vikings’ win. Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis ColtsWillis and the Colts had a Week 14 bye.

Joe Bachie, Cincinnati BengalsBachie had the biggest game of his NFL career, recording nine total tackles, including six solo (his previous career-high for tackles was five). Injuries to two other Bengals linebackers helped Bachie play on 60 percent of defensive snaps and 80 percent of special teams snaps. He recorded two tackles on those nine defensive snaps, both in the first quarter. Josiah Scott, CB, Philadelphia EaglesScott saw action on 12 special teams plays in the Eagles’ 33-18 win over the Jets. Cody White, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersWhite saw just one offensive snap and eight special teams snaps in the Steelers’ win over the Ravens.

Joe Bachie, Cincinnati BengalsBachie played 20 specials teams plays while making one tackle in his third game of the season since getting called up from the practice squad. Andrew Dowell, LB, New Orleans SaintsDowell played on 23 special teams plays as the Saints beat the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, 36-27. William Gholston, DL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGholston played 42 defensive snaps without recording a statistic in the Buccaneers’ loss to the Saints. He made three tackles while playing 16 defensive plays and 13 special teams plays, marking the first time this year that Scott has gotten time with the Eagles’ defense since returning from injury. Cody White, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersWhite saw action on just three special teams plays in the Steelers’ win over the Browns.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared to have all of the advantages when Saints quarterback Jameis Winston went down with a second-quarter knee injury.

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William Gholston, DL, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGholston played 34 defensive snaps in Tampa Bay’s 38-3 win over Chicago. Malik McDowell, DT, Cleveland BrownsMcDowell had three tackles in the Browns’ 17-14 win over the Broncos. Josiah Scott, CB, Philadelphia EaglesScott played on 19 special teams plays in the Eagles’ loss to the Raiders. Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis ColtsWillis helped seal the game in the Colts’ 30-18 win over the 49ers, when he intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo with two minutes left. The interception, the second of the season for Willis, came along with six tackles and a pass deflection.

Jack Conklin, OT, Cleveland BrownsConklin left Sunday’s game during the fourth quarter and didn’t return due to a knee injury. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota VikingsCousins went 25-for-34 for 275 yards with a touchdown and interception in the Vikings’ home win over the Lions. Andrew Dowell, LB, New Orleans SaintsDowell played on 24 special teams plays and recorded one tackle in the Saints’ 33-22 in over Washington. Justin Layne, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersLayne played on 12 special teams plays and was flagged once for an illegal block in the Steelers’ 27-19 win over the Broncos. His role, though, was significantly reduced, with only 19 snaps on defense and six on special teams.

Jack Conklin, OT, Cleveland BrownsConklin played his usual role as starting left tackle in the Brown’s win over the Bears. He played in 23 special teams plays for the Saints but didn’t appear with the team’s defense in its 28-13 win over the Patriots. Justin Layne, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersLayne played solely on special teams, recording one tackle in 12 plays in the Steelers’ 24-10 loss to the Bengals. Malik McDowell, DT, Cleveland BrownsMcDowell recorded one tackle while starting and playing two thirds of the team’s defensive snaps. Cody White, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersWhite was called up from the Steelers’ practice squad ahead of the team’s game against the Bengals.

Twenty-four former Michigan State players spent at least one day with an NFL team during training camp this fall. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota VikingsCousins is starting his 10th NFL season and fourth as the starter for the Vikings. Taybor Pepper, LS, San Francisco 49ersPepper is set for his second season with the 49ers and fourth NFL season overall. He made it through training camp and is now set to start his second NFL season with his second team. He was claimed off of waivers in May by the Bengals and made it to final cuts but didn’t earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)TAMPA, Fla. – Seconds after linebacker Devin White intercepted a pass in the end zone, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians started doling out hugs. Arians unplugged his headset, slipped on a Super Bowl championship hat and braced for the traditional Gatorade shower. Together, Arians and the 43-year-old Brady helped Tampa Bay win its first championship in 18 years and cemented their spot in the franchise history books. He took a year off and worked in television before returning to the NFL with Tampa Bay — joining a young team he saw as full of potential. His biggest coup was landing Brady, who engineered yet another masterpiece and won his seventh Super Bowl after six titles with the Patriots.

Many young men play football their whole lives and sometimes never get a shot at the Super Bowl. “He never touched a football other than me and him tossing it around in the yard,” said Danna’s father Vaughn Danna. Mike Danna was a natural despite breaking his leg and missing five games his senior year. AdMike Danna is now in the NFL playing defensive end for the Chiefs, one win away from a Super Bowl championship. “I would tell Mike before every game ‘Let’s get a quarterback today.’ I would say to Mike, ‘Get Tom Brady,’” said Vaughn Danna.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)Tampa Bay Buccaneer cornerback and Macomb Township native Sean Murphy-Bunting is one win away from a Super Bowl championship because he always bet on himself. Sean Murphy-Bunting met with new head coach John Bonemego, who offered him a gray shirt on the spot. When he has his mind set on something, he works hard at it,” said Kim Murphy-Bunting. Kim Murphy-Bunting will be in the stand as always, as his biggest fan.

Detroiter William Gholston honoring men who helped him get to the topDETROIT – The excitement for Super Bowl LV is unlike any other with masks, social distancing and other COVID precautions in place. It’s the first time the stadium won’t be full for the big game, and it’s the first time the Super Bowl will go ticketless and cashless. Bucs defensive end William Gholston believes playing when he was a student at Southeastern High School in Detroit made him who he is. AdAs a sophomore in high school, he was deemed “too tall,” needed to fill out and realize he wasn’t a wide receiver, but bust as a defender. “He donated to the high school.

The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. When Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers (14-3) host Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) in the NFC championship game Sunday, it will be just the fourth time they’ve squared off as starting quarterbacks, and first in the playoffs. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play against him one more time.”The Bucs trounced the Packers 38-10 in Tampa on Oct. 18. A win at Lambeau Field clinches their first Super Bowl berth since their 2002 championship season. “We play the Packers in the NFC championship game.

Raequan Williams began the season on the practice squad and ended it with a career first. Joe Bachie, LB, Philadelphia EaglesBachie didn’t record any statistics while playing 18 snaps on special teams for the Eagles in their loss to Washington. The rookie had two tackles in four games this season. He played 11 snaps on special teams and didn’t record a statistic. Gholston has 44 tackles, including eight for a loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery in 16 games this season.

Brady’s impressive performance came a day after the Buccaneers signed quarterback and former Michigan State standout Drew Stanton to the practice squad. The rookie had two tackles while playing 18 snaps of defense and 18 snaps on special teams as the Eagles (4-10-1) lost 37-17 to the Cowboys. Justin Layne, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersLayne made two tackles while playing 16 snaps on special teams as the Steelers (12-3) beat the Colts 28-24. He played 13 snaps on special teams. Raequan Williams, DT, Philadelphia EaglesWilliams had one tackle while playing 19 snaps on defense and eight on special teams for the Eagles in their loss against the Cowboys.

Le’Veon Bell had his most productive game since joining the Chiefs in October. The veteran running back and former Michigan State star began the season with the Jets before being released and signing with the defending Super Bowl champions. Bell has 56 carries for 224 yards and two touchdowns and 12 receptions for 90 yards in eight games since joining the Chiefs this season. Joe Bachie, LB, Philadelphia EaglesA week after making his NFL debut, Bachie played as Philadelphia (4-9-1) lost 33-26 to Arizona. Now in his 15th NFL season, Peko has 12 tackles in four games since being signed by Arizona last month.

Former Spartans linebacker Joe Bachie became the latest member of that club this weekend, when he made his professional debut with the Philadelphia Eagles. Bachie played on six special teams plays while not recording a stat, days after being signed by the Eagles off of the Saints’ practice squad. He’s now one of two former Spartans to make their debut with the Eagles after going undrafted. For two straight weeks he’s played upwards of 60 defensive snaps in an increased role on the team’s defense. Josiah Scott, CB, Jacksonville JaguarsScott saw his role shrink significantly, down to five defensive plays in a loss to the Titans.

A pair of former Michigan State players made the highlight reels on Sunday for a pair of very different plays. Former Spartans safety Khari Willis, meanwhile, delivered a hard hit to Titans running back Derrick Henry to break up a pass in the Colts’ loss to Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/edFkXULTry — Barstool Spartans (@BarstoolMSU) November 29, 2020Willis recorded six tackles, a quarterback hit and a pass deflection in the game. In the Falcons’ 43-6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Dennard had four tackles while playing about half of his team’s defensive snaps. Layne has seen his role increase in recent weeks, including playing a season-high 18 defensive snaps last week against Jacksonville.

It’s been a slow start for Le’Veon Bell in his four games with the Kansas City Chiefs since being cut by the Jets and signing with the defending Super Bowl champs. But the former Spartans star running back has finally found the end zone, at least. Bell recorded his first touchdown in a Chiefs uniform on Sunday, when he took a pitch and ran to the right pylon in the third quarter against the Raiders. His touchdown caused one of five second-half lead changes in Kansas City’s eventual 35-31 win. Josiah Scott, CB, Jacksonville JaguarsWhile Layne was seeing increased action due to injury, Scott also saw the most action he’s seen all year: four defensive snaps against the Steelers.

Former Michigan State defensive lineman Raequan Williams made his NFL debut on Sunday with the Philadelphia Eagles. Williams played in 16 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps. And while his team came up big, winning 35-9 against the Jets, Bell had a quiet day on the ground, recording seven yards on six carries. Calhoun had played 25 or more defensive snaps in the last four games, including 54 two weeks ago. Justin Layne, CB, Pittsburgh SteelersLayne had two tackles while playing on 11 defensive plays and 14 special teams plays in the Steelers' 28-24 win over the Ravens.

Khari Willis had a standout performance for the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s 31-27 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. A fourth-round pick from the 2019 NFL draft, Willis is in his second season with the Colts. The third-year player started the first nine games last season before suffering a torn MCL, meniscus and fractured tibia. He had 16 tackles, including one for a loss, and one interception in the first three games this season. Fowler has two catches for 11 yards and recovered a fumbled kickoff return in five games this season.

After spending the last three weeks on the injured reserve list, Le’Veon Bell returned to the field. Jets coach Adam Gase on Monday said he hadn’t talked to Bell yet about the issue. The third-year player started the first nine games last season before suffering a torn MCL, meniscus and fractured tibia. Calhoun has nine tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in four games this season for the Patriots (2-2). Willis, in his second season in the NFL, has 20 tackles, one sack and an interception in five games this season.

Kirk Cousins' third season with the Vikings was off to a rocky start. Cousins was 16-for-22 passing for 260 yards and one touchdown in Minnesota’s 31-23 win against Houston on Sunday. He has nine tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in four games for New England (2-2) this season. Gholston has 13 tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack in four games this season for the Buccaneers (3-1). Khari Willis, S, Indianapolis ColtsWillis had three tackles in the Colts' 19-11 win against the Bears on Sunday.