CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - Two SEMO Redhawks made the cut, making their respective 53-man NFL rosters, along with a former Southern Illinois Saluki.
Mike Ford Jr. made the Atlanta Falcons Week 1 roster, for his 8th season in the NFL. Since graduating from SEMO, Ford has played for the Falcons, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans.
Another former Redhawk, Ryan Flournoy, made the Dallas Cowboys for his second-straight season with the team since being drafted by them in 2024.
Part of what helped Flournoy stay on the active roster, according to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was his commitment to and dominance on special teams.
What separated Ryan Flournoy from earning the last WR spot on the #Cowboys 53-man roster in Brian Schottenheimer's eyes?
"Over the past two or three weeks, I would say there's been no one that has played special teams more dominant than Ryan Flournoy." pic.twitter.com/AIMOrVSj31
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) August 26, 2025
Watch Ryan Flournoy give two Ravens players the okie doke, blowing past them like they're not even moving, and forcing a fair catch.
Sometimes it's the little things that matter. pic.twitter.com/r9usFzxxpA
— Dan Rogers (@DannyPhantom24) August 24, 2025
Another former SEMO wideout, Kristian Wilkerson was waived by the Buffalo Bills, Monday.
However, Buffalo has since signed Wilkerson to the team’s practice squad.
Former Saluki P.J. Jules made an active NFL roster for the first time in his career, Monday. Jules signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 and remained on the practice squad all season.
After making the roster, Jules took to X, thanking God and his late father. Jules’ father passed away when he was in 7th grade, on a family trip to Haiti.
Saluki Football retweeted Jules’ post, with the squad and many Saluki athletics outlets happy to see him make the team.
The NFL season kicks off Thursday, September 4, when Ryan Flournoy and the Dallas Cowboys head to Philadelphia to play the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles.
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