Raiders In the National Football League (NFL)

MODERN DAY RAIDERS (1990-PRESENT)

Over the last 30 years, Raiders have suited up for the following National Football League (NFL) teams:

DL/LS · 6-4 · 270 · District Heights, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt

Rob Davis ’92 was hired Jan. 27, 2020 as an assistant head coach with the Dallas Cowboys.

Davis played for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears before retiring on Mar. 26, 2008. The first modern Red Raider to play in the NFL, Davis took over as the Packers' long snapper in 1997 and played 167 consecutive games – the third-longest streak in Green Bay history behind Brett Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187).

Davis was also the first Red Raider to play in a Super Bowl on Jan. 25, 1998 as the Packers were defeated by the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. Before making it in the NFL, Davis spent 1995 playing for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has the distinction of playing in a Super Bowl, Grey Cup and NCAA playoff game; Davis and the Stallions won the 1995 Grey Cup after defeating the Calgary Stampeders, 37-20.

After retiring as a player, Davis spent 11 seasons as the director of player development with the Green Bay Packers. He has also been a staunch advocate for community efforts in Wisconsin and worked as a life coach and motivational speaker.

Davis was a standout on the defensive line for Shippensburg from 1988-92. He was a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division selection, earning First Team honors in 1991. He is a two-time American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American who set the university record for most tackles by a lineman (353). He was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

A native of District Heights, Md. and a 1986 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George's County, Davis went on to receive his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2014.

DE · 6-2 · 255 · Baltimore, Md. · Carver

Joel Gamble ‘04 spent the 2010 preseason with the Cleveland Browns before he was waived at the end of training camp. He spent several weeks during the 2010 regular season on the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. In December 2009, Gamble was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and was with the Eagles through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Gamble was also a regular on the indoor football circuit: he played for the DC Armor of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) and also suited up for the Tennessee Valley Vipers (2007), Oklahama City Yard Dawgz (2007) and Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings (2008) of arenafootball2 (af2).

In his career at Shippensburg (2001-04), Gamble totaled 41 receptions for 631 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception. As a senior in 2004, Gamble helped Shippensburg to its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division championship since 1988 and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship. He totaled nine catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, the latter of which ranked second on the team.

In 2003, Gamble earned All-PSAC Western Division First Team honors at tight end. The strong blocker and sure-handed receiver had 20 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns on a team that went 8-3.

A native of Baltimore, Gamble graduated from Shippensburg in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice. He is now active in the Joel Gamble Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating and preparing young student-athletes in the Greater Baltimore area to have success in their future endeavors.

DB/RS · 5-10 · 175 · Philadelphia, Pa. · Northeast

Brent Grimes is currently a free agent who has played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2014 All-Pro Second Team performer who has totaled 575 tackles, 33 interceptions, 140 pass defenses and three defensive touchdowns in a distinguished career.

Grimes most recently suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016-18. He recorded a career-high 24 pass defense in 2016 and earned a 90.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus — the highest individual grade of his career — before battling injuries later on in his Tampa Bay tenure. In three seasons with the Buccaneers, Grimes intercepted seven passes, 137 tackles and two forced fumbles over the course of 42 games.

Grimes spent three seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 2013-15. The 2013 Miami Dolphins MVP, Grimes totaled 13 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 43 passes defensed and 166 tackles in a Dolphin uniform. He was an All-Pro Second Teamer in 2014 with five interceptions, 12 passes defensed, a forced fumble and 57 tackles.

In six seasons (2007-12) and 59 career games with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, Grimes totaled 254 tackles, 56 pass defenses and 13 interceptions. He capped off a breakthrough 2010 season by intercepting all-pro quarterback Peyton Manning in the Pro Bowl. His signature season in Atlanta included an NFC-best 23 passes defensed, five interceptions and 94 tackles.

Originally signed as a rookie free agent by Atlanta on May 16, 2006, Grimes spent part of training camp with the Falcons before being waived because of a groin injury. He was re-signed on Jan. 10, 2007 and allocated to NFL Europa where he eventually won a World Bowl trophy with the Hamburg Sea Devils.

In 43 career games at Shippensburg, Grimes was a six-time All-PSAC Western Division selection, including three as a defensive back and three as a return specialist. He was also a three-time All-American. Grimes ended his career with 27 interceptions, the most in PSAC history, He also boasts numerous school records for his work on special teams, including career punt return yardage (1,133).

WR · 6-3 · 205 · Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley

Trevor Harman ’14 entered the 2015 season looking to capture a roster spot with the Arizona Cardinals. He was signed as an undrafted free agent, attended rookie camp, and was one of 10 wide receivers in the team’s preseason camp.

Harman finished his Red Raider career following the 2014 season with career school records of 321 receptions, 4,249 receiving yards and 61 receiving touchdowns. He broke the all-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) records for career receptions and career receiving touchdowns, and ranks among the Top 5 all-time in NCAA Division II history for each statistic.

Overall, Harman set 17 school records — including career scoring (370 points, breaking John Kuhn’s record) — and caught at least one pass in all 46 of his games as a Red Raider. He had 21 career 100-yard receiving games. His most signature contest will remain the 18-catch, 288-yard, five-touchdown performance at Kutztown as a sophomore in 2012.

Harman graduated in December 2014 with a degree in finance.

DL · 6-5 · 265 · Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X

Ryan Hoffman played multiple seasons in NFL Europe but was not known to have been linked with a specific NFL team when he played overseas with three teams over the course of two seasons.

In November 2005, Hoffman signed a contract with the defending ArenaCup champion Memphis Xplorers of arenafootball2, but was then selected by the Cologne Centurions in the ninth round of the NFL Europe Free Agent Draft on Jan. 27, 2006.

Hoffman was in training camp with the Centurions in 2006, but did not see playing time in the regular season and was later picked up by the Berlin Thunder where he appeared in four games as a defensive tackle. He also started the final two games of the regular-season. In 2007, Hoffman played for the Rhein Fire after being selected in the eighth round of the NFL Europe Free Agent Draft.

Hoffman completed his career at Shippensburg with 159 total tackles, including 38 for loss and 14.5 sacks. A two-time All-PSAC Western Division selection, Hoffman earned first team honors as a senior as well as D2Football.com All-America Team Honorable Mention accolades in 2004.

Hoffman was also one of eight finalists for the inaugural Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award, presented to the top lineman, offensive or defensive, in Division II and was selected to play in the 2005 Whataburger Cactus Bowl, the annual NCAA Division II football all-star game.

Hoffman is now the president of Miller Bros. Solar based out of Conshohocken.

DE · 6-5 · 255 · York, Pa./York Catholic

Ron Johnson ’03 was signed as a rookie free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles and was promoted to Philly’s active roster after the first four weeks of the 2003 season. Johnson played in three games for the Eagles in 2003 after being elevated from the team’s practice squad.

A defensive lineman, Johnson remained on the Eagles’ active roster before suffering a career-ending back injury in the final game of the 2004 preseason.

Johnson worked hard in his rehabilitation. In 2005, Johnson was the No. 1 draft pick by the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europe, but his NFL doctors did not clear him to play in the league and recommended surgery for his previous injuries.

In 2007, Johnson signed with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League but was eventually forced to retire from football after sustaining another injury.

In four seasons with Shippensburg (1999-2002), Johnson finished his career with 158 total tackles, including 35 for loss and 18.0 sacks while earning All-PSAC Western Division First Team honors as a senior in 2002. He was also named All-PSAC Western Division Second Team in 1999 and 2000. Johnson remains eighth in school history for career sacks.

Johnson earned his degree from Shippensburg in speech communication in 2003. He remains active in football as the owner and director of Ron’s Rising Stars LLC – an organization which provides football camps and mentoring services. Johnson teaches youth to be better football players and to inspire them to follow their dreams and focus on education. He travels across the country to schools and universities and is also a keynote speaker and facilitator for CoolSpeak, a youth engagement company.

His primary football camp, held every summer in Shippensburg, teaches children the basic concepts and fundamentals of football, in addition to providing advanced training about the importance of doing well in school and being a respectable and well-rounded individual. Johnson was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

FB · 6-0 · 240 · York, Pa./Dover

John Kuhn ’04 retired in March 2019 after a 13-year National Football League (NFL) career in which he was a two-time Super Bowl Champion (Xl, XLV), three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro (2014 First Team, 2011 Second Team). Kuhn appeared in 165 regular-season games and 15 playoff games. He currently works for the Green Bay Packers as a sports analyst for the team's digital broadcast operations.

Kuhn, the first SU player to score a touchdown in the NFL, totaled 658 rushing yards, 642 receiving yards and scored 28 touchdowns (19 rushing) in the regular season from 2006-17. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. In 15 playoff games with the Packers, Kuhn scored seven touchdowns (four rushing) and totaled 115 receiving yards and 28 rushing yards.

After spending the 2005 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, the year in which he earned his first Super Bowl ring, Kuhn earned the call up in 2006 – playing in nine games either as a fullback or on special teams.

Kuhn joined the Green Bay Packers in 2007 and spent nine seasons with the team. He was a key member of teams that won Super Bowl XLV and five division titles. He served as a backfield protector for MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers – his block of Julius Peppers in the final game of the 2013 regular season was widely recognized in allowing the quarterback the proper time to throw the winning touchdown that clinched the NFC Central Division title.

In 2016, Kuhn signed with the New Orleans Saints. A torn biceps ended his 2017 prematurely. In 17 games with the Saints, Kuhn totaled 39 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards and five total touchdowns.

At Shippensburg, Kuhn totaled 4,685 rushing yards, 910 carries, 53 touchdowns, 5,300 all-purpose yards and 26 games with at least 100 yards rushing. All of those accomplishments set school records. Kuhn was the 2003 PSAC Western Division Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-PSAC Western Division First Team selection and a three-time NFCA All-American.

Kuhn was also standout in the classroom, graduating with a 3.3 quality-point average in chemistry. He was a two-time Academic All-American and became the first male athlete in school history to win multiple PSAC Top 10 awards for academic excellence.

DL · 6-7 · 255 · Harleysville, Pa./Souderton

Jake Metz '18 signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) in April 2017. He spent the entire 2017 preseason with the Bills. It was his second NFL contract, as Metz appeared in the final game of the 2016 preseason for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Metz exceled with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL), where he was named the 2016 AFL Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the league with eight sacks and helping the Soul to the Arena Bowl XXIX Championship. Earlier in 2016, Metz played football for the Qingdao Clipper of the China Arena Football League (CAFL).

The 2013 Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award finalist finished his storied collegiate career as Shippensburg University's all-time career sacks leader with 30.5 and all-time career tackles-for-loss leader with 55. He broke the single-season school record for sacks in 2012 with 11.5 and finished with 11 in 2013. The 2013 Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year, Metz was named to five different All-America teams (four First-Team selections) as a senior -- including recognition by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and by the Associated Press (AP) on its Little All-America Team. In total, he was named an All-America eight times in his career by various organizations.

QB · 6-1 · 205 · Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley

Zach Zulli '13, the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy winner, attended rookie mini-camp in May 2014 with the Seattle Seahawks. He also briefly spent time with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Zulli's storied career includes numerous school records, including 10,988 passing yards and 123 touchdowns. He also totaled 675 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Zulli ranks second in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) history in career touchdown passes, fourth in total offense (11,663 yards) and passing yards and fifth in completions (862) and pass attempts (1,410) despite just three seasons as a starting quarterback.

In 2012, Zulli's Harlon Hill Trophy winning campaign, he led all divisions of college football this season with 54 touchdown passes, which tied the Division II single-season record. He also paced Division II with 4,747 passing yards, ranking second among all divisions. His numerous accomplishments also included NCAA single-season records for points responsible for in a season (344) and touchdowns responsible for in a season (57). More information on Zulli's Harlon Hill career is here.

ADDITIONAL RAIDERS WITH NFL TEAMS (1920-89)

BOB ‘TINY’ ADAMS

Robert ‘Tiny’ Adams ’54 remains one of the greatest to ever suit up in a Red Raider uniform. He was drafted in the ninth round of the 1954 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Baltimore Colts with the 101st pick. Adams was with the team during the preseason but did not participate in an NFL game.

Adams, though standing 6-3 and weighing 265 pounds, was nicknamed “Tiny.” He was the first football player in Shippensburg history to earn first team All-American honors, as he was selected as a tackle in 1953 by the Associated Press. Shippensburg’s 1953 team led the country in total defense, rushing defense and passing defense, the only team in NCAA history to lead the nation in all three categories the same season.

At Shippensburg, Adams was a star for the famed teams of Vinton Rambo from 1950-53. He helped Shippensburg go undefeated in 1952 and 1953, his junior and senior years. The team went 7-0 and 8-0 and was not defeated until the year after Adams graduated. The Red Raiders set the Pennsylvania Conference record for the longest winning streak (20 games), a streak that remains to this day.

Later in life, Adams earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from Seton Hall. In 1968, he became Principal at Roosevelt/Eisenhower Middle School in Roxbury Township, N.J. and served until his retirement in 1988.

BOB CHUBB

Bob Chubb ’51 was drafted in the 25th round of the 1951 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Washington Redskins. He was with the team during the preseason but did not make the team.

Chubb was a key lineman for the Red Raider teams of Vinton Rambo from 1949-51. He was most known at Shippensburg for his prowess in basketball. A 6-8 center, Chubb helped Shippensburg put together four straight winning seasons. He led Shippensburg in scoring his junior and senior years with averages of 14.4 and 17.9 points per game. He also averaged 15.0 points per game his sophomore season.

Chubb’s best year was his senior year. He scored 325 points in 19 games and became the first Shippensburg player in school history to score 40 or more points in a game. He tallied 41 points in Shippensburg’s 62-57 win over Lock Haven. He led team in scoring in nine games and scored 20 or more points, five times.

Following graduation Chubb played for the Washington Generals while touring with the Harlem Globetrotters for the 1952-53 season. Chubb retired to Lansdale after teaching at North Penn High School until 1985. He was chair of the business department and later assistant principal at North Penn. He also was head football and basketball coach there for many years.

STEVE ECKER

Steve Ecker ’66 was a punter, kicker and quarterback at Shippensburg University who was drafted in the 14th round of the 1966 National Football League (NFL) draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He was the 201st pick overall. Ecker was with the team in the preseason through July, but did not make the team.

In 1965, his senior season at Shippensburg, Ecker averaged 49.1 yards per punt to set an NCAA Division II record. The year before, he averaged 42.7 yards per punt. His career mark of 46.2 yards per punt remains a long-standing school record that is unlikely to be broken.

Ecker, however, did more than punt. Under head coach Dave Dolbin, Ecker was the quarterback of the 1964 team – the first true passing team in school history. He was the first Red Raider to ever pass for more than 1.000 yards in a single season, completing 74 passes in 138 attempts for 1,241 yards and nine touchdowns.

In the final game of the 1964 season at Hillsdale, Ecker set a school record that lasted for 19 years – passing for 398 yards and gaining 423 yards in total offense. As a senior in 1965, Ecker was elected a team captain and completed 81-of-168 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns.

Ecker played for the Harrisburg Capitals after graduation. After coaching football for seven years and baseball for five, Ecker became a teacher in the South Middleton School District. Ecker also became a PIAA official in football, basketball, and baseball.

HOMER GILBERT

Homer Gilbert played for the SU Normal School football team in 1924 and 1925 while he was enrolled in the Normal high school. He later attended the New York Military Academy and Albright College.

Gilbert played professional football for 12 years using the nickname “Knuckles Boyle.” He used the nickname because he could not be enrolled in Albright College (1935-1936) and play pro football at the same time.

In 1934, Gilbert played in one National Football League (NFL) game for the New York Giants against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Forbes Field. According to the game program, he was listed as the second-biggest player on the Giants. In subsequent years, Gilbert played for the Reading Keys in 1935 and the Pittsburgh Americans (AFL II) in 1936.

He also played baseball in the New York-Pennsylvania League, served as the freshman football coach for Franklin & Marshall in 1938, and was working in the Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Police Department at the time of his death in 1943.

Gilbert had a brother, Sherrod, who was the captain of the 1923 team. He also had a much older brother, Levi, who served as the Shippensburg State Normal School’s Dean of Men in the 1920s and later its President from 1945-48. Gilbert Hall is named after Levi Gilbert.

AVERELL HARRIS

Averell Harris ’78 was signed by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) following his senior season at Shippensburg in 1976. He lasted until the final cut of the preseason. In 1978, Harris had a tryout with the Buffalo Bills.

For his Shippensburg career, Harris had 99 catches for 1,677 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was an honorable mention All-American and a first team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division player in 1976.

As a sophomore in 1974, Harris finished the season with 14 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown. In 1975, he led the team with 49 catches and set records for the most receiving yards in a single game (172), in a season (954), and most touchdown catches (9).

Shippensburg went 8-2-1 in 1976 and won the PSAC Western Division. The tie occurred at the State Game when Shippensburg ended Eastern Division champion East Stroudsburg’s 19-game winning streak with a 14-14 deadlock. Harris finished the year with 36 catches for 525 yards and one touchdown.

Harris played minor league football for the Chambersburg Cardinals for several seasons, and helped the Cardinals win a national championship in 1979 and 1980. He has recently established a scholarship through the SU Foundation that is intended for an incoming freshman student-athlete who hopes to become a member of Shippensburg University’s Football team.

STEVE HATFIELD

Steve Hatfield ’49 was drafted in the 17^th round of the 1950 National Football League (NFL) draft by the New York Giants and signed to a contract.

In a 1950 exhibition game against the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL), Hatfield scored three touchdowns for the Giants. He did not make the Giants, however, as he was released in the final round of cuts from the preseason.

Because of his performance against them, however, the Ottawa Rough Riders signed Hatfield to a contract. He was a star in Ottawa, named Mr. Football as the CFL’s MVP, as he guided Ottawa to a Grey Cup championship.

In 1951, Hatfield signed with the Chicago Cardinals and made the team. Unfortunately, during a film publicity shoot commissioned by the team that was intended to showcase the versatility of the athletes performing other sports, Hatfield was injured when jumping over a hurdle. He was unable to play after the injury and never suited up for the Cardinals.

At Shippensburg, Hatfield earned the nickname “The Big Train.” He was an overpowering fullback in Shippensburg’s single-wing offenses of 1948 and 1949 and a rugged tackler on defense. In track & field, Hatfield won four individual Pennsylvania Conference championships – two each in the long jump and the pole vault.

LOU ORNDORFF

Lou Orndorff ’69 was signed by the Washington Redskins and spent the 1970 preseason with the team in its preseason camp.

At Shippensburg, Orndorff was a four-year letter-winner for the Red Raiders who received Honorable Mention All-State and First Team All-PSAC honors as a senior. He thrived as a running back along with Ed Hammers for the teams of Dave Dolbin in the late 1960s. His junior season in 1968 was cut short by injury.

Orndorff was a long-time college coach at Lebanon Valley College, specializing in linebackers, on the staff of his former teammate Jim Monos ’72.

DAN SEARER

Dan Searer ’74 had a tryout with the Washington Redskins following his career at Shippensburg State College. He was with the team during the preseason but was cut in August.

During his senior year, in the fall of 1974, Searer earned honorable mention All-American honors as a defensive back. He was also a first team All-PSAC selection and a third team Associated Press All-Pennsylvania player.

In addition to leading Shippensburg in interceptions with four in 1974, Searer was second in the nation in punt returns and kickoff returns. He averaged 17.4 yards per punt return (13 for 226) and 28.1 yards per kickoff return (18 for 506). He came close to becoming the first player to ever lead the country in both categories the same season.

Searer had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and also blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for another touchdown. At the time of his induction into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, Searer held the university record for blocked kicks in a season (4, accomplished in both 1973 and 1974.)

JOHN SELL

John Sell ’81 would go on to sign a professional contract with the Philadelphia Eagles after his graduation in 1981 – attending training camp with legendary coach Dick Vermeil.

Sell was an All-American offensive lineman and four-year letter winner for the Red Raider football team from 1977-1980. He started three years for the Red Raiders either as a guard or center, and is one of the best offensive lineman to suit up for the team.

Recruited to Shippensburg as a Top 5 “Blue Chip” state lineman from Littlestown High School, Sell’s best year came as a senior in 1980, a season for which he earned Associated Press “Little All-America” honorable mention honors in addition to All-PSAC and All-ECAC First Team honors. Sell’s exploits resulted in earning the football team’s prestigious Vinton Rambo award as the outstanding senior lineman.

In 1980 his senior year, Shippensburg set a team record for most plays per game on total offense with 80.1 plays per game. It was the first time that the Red Raiders averaged better than 80 plays per game during a season. SU also set a team record for most rushing attempts in a game with 74 against Bloomsburg in 1980 (284 yards), and highest average number of rushing attempts per game for a season with 55.9.