Three Tech Alums headed to Super Bowl LII with Eagles

Eagles franchise eyes first Super Bowl win, season review for other NFL Hokies

January 19, 2018

Eagles 38, Vikings 7

The No. 1 seeded Philadelphia Eagles defeated the No. 2 seed Minnesota Vikings 38-7 Sunday night at Lincoln Financial Field. With the win, the Eagles secured their third Super Bowl appearance. They will be facing the New England Patriots who are going to an NFL record setting 10th appearance and their eighth in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. This will also be the second time that these two franchises have met in the Super Bowl; the first being a 24-21 Patriots win in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Three former Hokies will be on the sidelines for the Eagles on Super Bowl Sunday. Eugene Chung serves as assistant offensive line/tight ends coach for the Eagles. Chung became the initial Tech offensive lineman to earn first-team All-America honors, doing so as a senior in 1991. He allowed just a single sack on 730 snaps that season. The 13th overall selection in the 1992 NFL Draft by New England, Chung also spent time with Jacksonville and Indianapolis during his playing career before embarking on a coaching career. This will be Chung’s first Super Bowl appearance as a coach or as a player. His son, Kyle, currently serves as an offensive lineman for the Hokies.

Two other Tech alums are also members of Philadelphia’s football staff. Keith Gray works as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Eagles after working for Tech in 1994. Chris Peduzzi, who lettered for the Hokies from 1992-94, serves as Philadelphia’s Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer.

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Keith Gray (Left) Chris Peduzzi (Middle) Eugene Chung (Right)

Here’s a look at Hokies who are currently active in the NFL …

Chicago Bears
Kyle Fuller
CB Kyle Fuller had a breakout year for the Bears after missing the entire 2016 season recovering from a knee injury. Fuller tied for first in the team with two interceptions. He also set career highs in tackles with 69 (62 solo), which was good for fourth on the team and passes defended (22) which led the team and tied for in second in the NFL. Based on rankings from Pro Football Focus, only Darius Slay (22) of Detroit had more combined pass breakups and INTs than Fuller (19).

Buffalo Bills
Tyrod Taylor & Logan Thomas
QB Tyrod Taylor guided the Bills to 9-7 regular season record and their first playoff appearance since 1999. Taylor finished the season throwing for 2,799 yards 14 touchdowns and a career low four interceptions on a 62.6 completion percentage. He also added 427 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season. TE Logan Thomas was a reliable target for Taylor when giving the opportunity, catching seven of his nine targets for 67 yards and one touchdown.

Washington Redskins
Kendall Fuller & DeAngelo Hall
CB Kendall Fuller had a stellar sophomore campaign setting career highs in tackles (55), passes defensed (10) and interceptions (4). His four interceptions tied for first on the redskins and for fourth in the NFL. Based on grades compiled by Pro Football Focus, he was the highest-graded Washington defensive player in 2017.

S DeAngelo Hall started the season on the PUP list as he was rehabbing a torn ACL suffered last season. He didn’t missed a beat when he re-entered the lineup in Week Eight at Seattle recording five tackles and two passes defensed, one of which sealed the game. Hall finished the season with 14 tackles and passes defensed in five games played

Baltimore Ravens
Chuck Clark
S Chuck Clark, a sixth-round pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, was a key component on special teams for the Ravens, eventually earning more favor with head coach John Harbaugh leading him to see more time on defense. Clark finished the season with13 tackles (12 solo) and two passes defensed.

New Orleans Saints
Trey Edmunds
Edmunds was a steady contributor this season for the Saints, in large part due to his willingness and ability to play special teams. He tallied six special teams tackles and returned three kickoffs for 65 yards, good for a 21.7 average. Edmunds had his best game of the season in Week 10 against the Bills where he recorded nine carries for 48 yards that was highlighted by a 41-yard touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers
Antone Exum, Jr.
S Antone Exum Jr. signed a one-year deal with the 49ers following their week 20-10 loss to the Cardinals. Exum finished the season with three tackles in two games played.

Seahawks
Kam Chancellor & Duane Brown
S Kam Chancellor kept up the tradition of excellent defensive back play by NFL Hokies, racking up 49 tackles (34 solo) one forced fumble and two passes defensed before suffering a neck injury in week nine that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. T Duane Brown was traded from the Houston Texans to the Seahawks Prior to the trade deadline. With the addition of Brown the overall play of Seattle’s line improved greatly increasing their pass block efficiency from 30th to 10th in the NFL.

L.A. Rams
Sam Rogers
FB Sam Rogers spent the 2017 season as a member of the Rams practice squad. His willingness to help his team better was rewarded him with a one-year contract to remain with the team in 2018.

N.Y. Giants
Laurence Gibson & Nick Becton
T Laurence Gibson and T Nick Becton both spent time on the practice squad for the Giants. Becton was later promoted to the 53-man roster, while Gibson has signed a reserve/future contract to remain with the team in 2018.

Houston Texans
Ryan Malleck
TE Ryan Malleck began the season as a member of the Ravens before getting picked up by the Texans. He played in two games logging one catch for three yards.

Miami Dolphins
Isaiah Ford
WR Isaiah Ford spent the 2017 season on Injured Reserve for the Dolphins but has been cleared medically to return to the field in 2018.

Kansas City Chiefs
Dadi Nicolas
LB Dadi Nicolas spent the entire 2017 on the PUP List after suffering a ruptured patella tendon in Week 17 of the 2016 season.

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