No doubt, with a 5-7 season, the Mizzou Tigers had a disappointing launch in the Southeast Conference (SEC). The inability to get six wins and earn a birth in a bowl game was painful.

Still, the Tigers have had rich and proud heritage, especially when earning post-season recognition and putting players into the National Football League.

Presently, the Tigers have three quarterbacks on active rosters: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville; Brad Smith, Buffalo (QB and wide receiver); and Chase Daniel, New Orleans.

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia, and Denario Alexander, San Diego, have become two premier receivers in the NFL. Sean Weatherspoon, linebacker for Atlanta, is a key member of the Falcons playoff-team defense.

Two Tigers are enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, the Chargers Kellen Winslow (1995) and the St. Louis Cardinals Roger Wehrli (2007).

Presently on NFL Rosters

• Danario Alexander - wide receiver, for the San Diego Chargers
• Tim Barnes - center for the St. Louis Rams
• Beau Brinkley - long snapper for the Tennessee Titans
• Colin Brown - offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills
• Chase Coffman - tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
• Chase Daniel - quarterback for the New Orleans Saints

• Michael Egnew - tight end for the Miami Dolphins
• Blaine Gabbert - quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Andrew Gachkar - linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
• Ziggy Hood - defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jeremy Maclin - wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
• William Moore - defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons
• C.J. Mosley - defensive tackle for Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kevin Rutland - defensive back for Jacksonville Jaguars
• Aldon Smith - defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
• Brad Smith - Quarterback/Return Specialist/Wide Receiver for Buffalo Bills
• Justin Smith - defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
• Sean Weatherspoon - Linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
• Martin Rucker - tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs

 Former Tigers in the NFL

• Victor Bailey — former wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
• Brandon Barnes - former linebacker for the Washington Redskins
• Ed Blaine - former offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles
• Dwayne Blakley — former tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
• Paul Christman — former quarterback for the Chicago Cardinals
• Gerry Ellis - former running back for the Green Bay Packers
• Mike Fink - former defensive back for the New Orleans Saints
• Justin Gage - former wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
• Tony Galbreath - former running back for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants
• Mel Gray - former wide receiver for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Jim Harrison - former fullback for the Chicago Bears
• Gary Lane - former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
• Leo Lewis - former wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
• Erik McMillan - former safety for the New York Jets
• Joe Moore - former running back for the Chicago Bears

• Damien Nash — former running back for the Denver Broncos
• Brock Olivo — former running back & special teams player, Detroit Lions
• Gus Otto — former linebacker for the Oakland Raiders
• Tony Palmer — former offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers
• Francis Peay - former offensive tackle of the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and the Kansas City Chiefs
• Johnnie Poe — former cornerback for the New Orleans Saints
• Tommy Reamon - former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs
• Johnny Roland — former running back for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Andy Russell — former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• George Seals - former lineman for the Chicago Bears
• Mike Jones - former linebacker for the L.A./Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Brian Smith — former linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Gordon Smith — former tight end for the Minnesota Vikings
• Jon Staggers - former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers
• Bruce Van Dyke - former offensive guard for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers.
• Russ Washington - former offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers
• Roger Wehrli — former cornerback for the St. Louis Cardinals — Pro Football Hall of Famer
• Kellen Winslow — former tight end for the San Diego Chargers — Pro Football Hall of Famer
• James Wilder — former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Eric Wright - former cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers

College Football Hall of Fame

Missouri boasts 12 inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame:

• Bill Roper, Coach (1951)
• Paul Christman, Quarterback (1956)
• Don Faurot, Coach (1961)
• Bob Steuber, Halfback (1971)
• Jim Phelan, Coach (1973)
• Ed Travis, Offensive Tackle (1974)
• Darold Jenkins, Center (1976)
• Frank Broyles, Coach (1983)

• Dan Devine, Coach (1985)
• Johnny Roland, Halfback (1998)
• Kellen Winslow, Tight End (2002)
• Roger Wehrli, Cornerback (2003)

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Two Missouri players have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

• Kellen Winslow, Tight End (1995)
• Roger Wehrli, Cornerback (2007)

Spring football is just around the corner for the Tiger faithful.