BOISE, Idaho – NFL rosters have been finalized for Week One of the 2025 season and 11 Boise State products represent the program at the game's highest level. Last year, 12 Boise State players saw action during the NFL regular season, with five helping their teams earn a spot in the playoffs. Khalil Shakir (Buffalo), John Bates (Washington) and Jeremy McNichols (Washington) led their franchises to a conference championship appearance.
ACTIVE
WR Khalil Shakir (Buffalo Bills)
Shakir returns for his fourth season with the Bills after signing a four-year extension with the franchise. In 2024, he led the team with 76 receptions and 821 yards, adding 18 catches for 174 yards in the playoffs. He caught an NFL-record 30 consecutive targets while ranking second among wide receivers in yards after catch (704) and missed tackles forced (23). In his three years with Buffalo, the team has a 27-13 record with three division titles. In four seasons with Boise State, Shakir compiled 208 receptions for 2,878 yards and 20 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 in program history in each category. He was a Pro Football Focus third team All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award Fan Vote.
S JL Skinner (Denver Broncos)
Skinner enters his third season with the Broncos after playing 44 games with Boise State. In 2024, he played 329 special teams snaps, second-most on the team. He totaled nine tackles and recovered one fumble, helping Denver snap an eight-year playoff drought. In three preseason games, he totaled eight tackles and forced a fumble. Skinner was named All-MWt twice during his time at Boise State. He earned MW Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 21, 2022, after totaling five tackles and two interceptions in the Broncos' win at Wyoming. In 44 career games, he notched 208 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and seven interceptions.
OL Ezra Cleveland (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Cleveland is set to begin his sixth professional season, playing the last year and half with Jacksonville after starting his career in Minnesota. He has started 69 of his 77 career games, including all 15 contests he appeared in last season. He has played every offensive snap in 62 of those starts. He started two preseason games for Jacksonville, totaling 29 snaps. In three seasons with Boise State, Cleveland started 40 games, earning All-MW first team twice. The Broncos had a 1,000-yard rusher all three years and won a pair of conference titles.
RB Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders)
Jeanty is slated to begin his NFL career with the Raiders after Las Vegas selected him sixth overall in the NFL Draft. The highest draft pick in school history, Jeanty produced one of the most prolific college football seasons of all-time, running for 2,601 yards and winning the Maxwell and Doak Walker awards. He was the first Bronco to be a unanimous All-America selection and finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up. A two-time MW Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty is the Boise State career record-holder in rushing yards (4,769), yards per carry (6.36), yards per game (119.2), 200-yard rushing games (8), 100-yard rushing games (22), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (14) and 200-yard all-purpose games (11). In three preseason games, he ran for 37 yards and one touchdown.
FB/DT Scott Matlock (Los Angeles Chargers)
Matlock enters his third season with the Chargers after starring as a two-way player in 2024. He played 362 offensive snaps, 137 defensive snaps and 231 special teams snaps, making him the only NFL player to play over 100 snaps in all three phases. He caught four passes for 28 yards while notching seven tackles, including his first career sack. Los Angeles finished with an 11-6 record, earning a playoff berth. Matlock earned All-MW honors three times at Boise State, totaling 41 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks and two touchdown receptions during his time with the Broncos. He appeared in three preseason games, playing 40 offensive snaps, 33 defensive snaps and 17 special teams snaps.
WR Cedrick Wilson (New Orleans Saints)
Wilson's second season in New Orleans will mark his seventh in the NFL. He will play for former Bronco Kellen Moore, who enters his first season at the helm of the Saints. Wilson has 121 receptions for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career. He is also 6-for-6 when passing, throwing for 132 yards and two touchdowns. In two seasons with Boise State, he earned a pair of All-MW honors and set the program's single-season records for receiving yards (1,511) and consecutive 100-yard games (4). He played in all three preseason games, catching six passes for 53 yards.
RB George Holani, DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Seattle Seahawks)
Holani begins his second NFL season with Seattle after appearing in five games as a rookie. He was a standout for the Seahawks in two preseason contests, totaling 130 yards and one touchdown on 13 scrimmage touches. He also added a team-high 73 kick return yards and made one special teams tackle. During his Boise State career, he was named MW Freshman of the Year and earned All-MW second team twice. Holani ranks sixth in program history in career rushing yards (3,569).
Lawrence signed with the Seahawks after spending 11 years with the Cowboys. The All-Pro is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and has 61.5 career sacks. In 141 games, he has 450 total tackles, including 97.0 TFLs. Lawrence also has 21 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He collected All-America honors and a pair of All-MW first team selections during his Boise State career. He notched 20.0 sacks and 33.5 TFLs in two seasons with the Broncos.
OL John Ojukwu (Tennessee Titans)
Ojukwu starts his third season with the Titans after earning three All-MW honors in his six-year Boise State career. He has appeared in 14 games for Tennessee, making seven starts. He saw action in all three preseason games, totaling 92 snaps. During his time with the Broncos, Ojukwu helped the team win a pair of conference titles. He played in 56 games for the Blue and Orange, starting 51.
TE John Bates, RB Jeremy McNichols (Washington Commanders)
Bates begins his fifth year with Washington, entering with 67 career games played. In those contests, he has 61 catches for 592 yards and two touchdowns. He appeared in all 17 games last season, helping the Commanders finish 12-5, their highest win total since 1991. Bates caught 47 passes for 579 yards and two touchdowns in his Boise State career, earning All-MW honorable mention twice. The Broncos won a pair of conference titles during his five-year career.
McNichols enters his second season with the Commanders after rushing for a career-high 261 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. He has been in the NFL since 2017, appearing in 54 games and totaling 1,142 all-purpose yards. Last season, he helped Washington advance to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1991, running for a touchdown in the Divisional Round win over Detroit. He was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and two-time All-MW selection at Boise State, finishing his career with 55 total touchdowns. His career average of 142.6 all-purpose yards per game remains the program record. In three preseason games, he totaled 41 scrimmage yards on 11 touches, scoring one rushing touchdown and making a special teams tackle.