Long Island in the pros: NFL edition

LYLE ALZADO
High school: Lawrence (1967)
NFL: Broncos (1971-78), Browns 1979-81), Raiders (1982-85)
Alzado was a dominant force on the defensive line for 15 NFL seasons. He recovered 20 fumbles in his career, and totaled 23 sacks during his four seasons with the Raiders (NFL began counting sacks in 1982). Alzado died in 1992 from brain lymphoma, which he attributed to his years of steroid abuse.

BOB AVELLINI
High school: New Hyde Park (1971)
NFL: Bears (1975-84)
Avellini started at quarterback from 1976-78, with 1977 being his best season: 9-5 record, 2,004 yards, 11 TDs. For his career, Avellini had 33 touchdown passes and 69 interceptions.

BRIAN BALDINGER
High school: Massapequa (1977)
NFL: Cowboys (1982-87), Colts (1988-91), Eagles (1992-93)
Baldinger, shown here as a freshman at Nassau CC, played 12 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman. In 1988, with the Colts, Baldinger had one catch for 37 yards.

GARY BALDINGER
High school: Massapequa (1982)
NFL: Chiefs (1986-88), Colts (1990), Bills (1990-92)
He was All-Long Island as a dominant two-way lineman. Baldinger had an outstanding career at Wake Forest and played six NFL seasons as a defensive end and nose tackle.

RICH BALDINGER
High school: Massapequa (1978)
NFL: Giants (1982-83), Chiefs (1983-1992), Patriots (1993)
One of three brothers to play in the NFL, Rich Baldinger started 107 of 157 games on the offensive line for 12 seasons. He had four fumble recoveries.

ROY BARKER
High school: Central Islip (1987)
NFL: Vikings (1992-95, 2000), 49ers (1996-98), Packers (1999), Browns (1999)
All-Long Island, he played at North Carolina and went on to have a nine-year NFL career. He had 12.5 sacks for San Francisco in 1996 and 12 in 1998.

JOVAN BELCHER
High school: West Babylon (2004)
NFL: Chiefs (2009-2012)
Belcher was signed by the Chiefs in 2009 as a rookie free agent out of Maine. has a starting linebacker. In his first two seasons. He totaled 132 tackles in his first two seasons, including a team-leading 17 on special teams in 2009. He took his own life on Dec. 1, 2012.

ADAM BERGEN
High school: Seaford (2001)
NFL: Cardinals (2005-06)
He was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and played in all 16 games that season and scored one touchdown as their tight end.

HANK BJORKLUND
High school: North Shore (1968)
NFL: Jets (1972-74)
After graduating from Princeton, he played 30 games at running back for the Jets from 1972-74.

STEPHEN BOYD
High school: Valley Stream Central (1990)
NFL: Lions (1995-2001)
The two-time All-Long Island linebacker won the Thorp Award in 1989 before going to Boston College. Boyd played seven seasons with the Detroit Lions and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and 2000. He now coaches at Chaminade High School.

STEPHEN BOWEN
High school: Half Hollow Hills West (2002)
NFL: Cowboys (2006-10), Redskins (2011-present)
After graduating from Hofstra in 2006, he signed with the Cowboys, played in 63 games and recorded 5 1/2 sacks and 72 total tackles. Bowen signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Redskins in 2011.

DONNY BRADY
High school: Mepham (1990)
NFL: Browns (1995), Ravens (1996-98)
A cornerback out of Wisconsin, Brady (pictured, left) started 13 games for the Ravens in 1996. He played in 47 games over four seasons and totaled 105 tackles, 11 1/2 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

GARY BROWN
High school: Brentwood
NFL: Packers (1994-96), 49ers (1998)
Brown played in 25 games in his NFL career. He was on the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI but he was inactive and did not play.

JIM BROWN
High school: Manhasset (1953)
|| NFL: Cleveland Browns (1957-65)
Many say he was the greatest running back in NFL history. It is hard to debate whether anyone loomed larger on Long Island playing fields. Brown earned the Thorp Award presented to Nassau's top player and was an All-American in football and lacrosse at Syracuse. He had a Hall-of-Fame career for the Cleveland Browns (inducted along with Vince Lombardi in 1971) and still owns the highest rushing average (5.2 yards per carry) of any player in NFL history. At the time he retired in 1965 (at age 29), his 12,312 rushing yards was an NFL record.

MIKE BUCK
High school: Sayville (1986)
NFL: Saints (1991-93), Cardinals (1995)
A sixth-round draft pick out of Maine in 1990, Buck played in 12 games as a quarterback, including one start with New Orleans. For his career, Buck was 55-for-92 passing (59.8 percent) for 790 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

ROB BURNETT
High school: Newfield (1985)
NFL: Browns (1990-95), Ravens (1996-2001), Dolphins (2002-03)
He was a one-man wrecking crew as an All-Long Island linebacker. He went on to Syracuse and played 14 seasons in the NFL for three teams, and was a starting DT on the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl championship team in 2000.

CARL CAPRIA
High school: Carey (1969)
NFL: Lions (1974), Jets (1975)
An All-American defensive back at Purdue in 1973, Capria appeared in 13 NFL games and returned one punt for 12 yards.

ROB CARPENTER
High School: Amityville (1986)
NFL: Bengals (1991), Patriots (1991), Jets (1992-94), Eagles (1995)
All-Long Island selection transferred from Notre Dame to be a standout wide receiver at Syracuse. He played five seasons in the NFL.

JOE CHETTI
High school: North Babylon (1981)
NFL: Bills (1987)
Chetti, a running back, appeared in two games for the Buffalo Bills and caught one pass for 9 yards. Chetti was a standout at C.W. Post.

CANUTE CURTIS
High school: Farmingdale (1992)
NFL: Bengals (1997-2002)
Curtis, a linebacker, appeared in 70 games in six seasons with Cincinnati, including 15 starts. He totaled 66 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. All-LI in leading Farmingdale to Rutgers Cup as Newsday's top Nassau County team.

LOUIS D'AGOSTINO
High school: Lawrence (1991)
NFL: Jets (1996)
The 1990 Thorp Award winner as the best player in Nassau, D'Agostino, a running back, appeared in nine games for the Jets.

ED DANOWSKI
High school: Riverhead (1930) || NFL: Giants (1934-41)
The speedy halfback was a two-time All-American at Fordham before joining the Giants and winning two titles. In the 1934 NFL championship game, also known as the "Sneakers” game, Danowski, playing on both sides of the ball, ran for a score, passed for a score, and intercepted a pass in a 30-13 win over the Bears. After the pros, he came back to his LI roots, where he coached high school football for many years.

CHRIS DIETERICH
High school: Ward Melville (1976)
NFL: Lions (1980-86)
Dieterich, the 1975 Hansen Award as Suffolk’s top player, played on the offensive line for the Detroit Lions for seven seasons and started every game at left tackle in 1983.

RICK DONNELLY
High school: Miller Place (1980)
NFL: Falcons (1985-88), Seahawks (1990-91)
In 1987, Donnelly led the NFL with a 44-yard average per punt. In 1988, he led the NFL in total number of punts with 98. For his career, Donnelly had a 42.1 yard average with a long of 71.

TOM DONOVAN
High school: Holy Family (1975)
NFL: Saints (1980)
Donovan played at Penn State and appeared in five games at wide receiver and special teams for the New Orleans Saints.

SEAN DOWLING
High school: Oyster Bay (1983)
NFL: Bills (1987)
Dowling started three games on the offensive line for Buffalo.

QUINN EARLY
High school: Great Neck South (1984)
NFL: Chargers (1988-1990), Saints (1991-95), Bills (1996-98), Jets (1999)
Played at the University of Iowa before a 12-year NFL career with four different teams as a wide receiver. In 1995, he had 81 receptions and eight touchdowns for the Saints.

LARRY EISENHAUER
High school: Chaminade (1957)
AFL: Boston Patriots (1961-69)>
A defensive end for nine seasons in the AFL, Eisenhauer (second from the left) played in 115 games and was a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro.

JOHN “JUMBO” ELLIOTT
High school: Sachem (1983)
NFL: Giants (1988-95), Jets (1996-2002)
Elliott played his entire career as an offensive tackle in New York and won Super Bowl XXV with the Giants. Perhaps Elliott’s most famous play, though, came as a Jet in 2000 against the Dolphins in a game dubbed the “Monday Night Miracle” when he caught a tackle-eligible pass for a touchdown to send the game into overtime.

BOOMER ESIASON
High school: East Islip (1979) || NFL: Bengals (1984-92, ‘97), Jets (1993-95), Cardinals (1996)
Esiason played 14 seasons in the NFL and was the 1988 MVP. That same season, he led the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 20-16. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and threw for 37,920 career yards. He still holds NFL career records for left-handed quarterbacks, including most TD passes (247), passing yards and completions (2,969).

SEAN FARRELL
High school: Westhampton (1978)
NFL: Buccaneers (1982-86), Patriots (1987-89), Broncos (1990-91), Seawhawks (1992)
A two-time All-American at Penn State, Farrell (above, right) played in 123 games over eight seasons in the NFL as a guard.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson was the New York Jets' first-round draft pick in 2006. Ferguson became the first left tackle to start every game of his rookie season for the Jets since Chris Ward in 1978. The three-time Pro Bowler and children's author also helps his hometown, Freeport, and surrounding communities through his non-profit, the D?Brickashaw Ferguson Foundation, which focuses on schools, churches and food banks.

JAY FIEDLER
High school: Oceanside (1990)
NFL: Vikings (1988), Jaguars (1999), Dolphins (2000-04), Jets (2005)
Fiedler was a two-time Ivy player-of-the-year while at Dartmouth. He played nine season in the NFL and threw for 11,844 yards, 69 touchdowns and 66 interceptions.

MARLON FORBES
High school: Central Islip (1990)
NFL: Bears (1996-98), Browns (1999) Forbes appeared in 63 games at defensive back (four starts) and had 74 combined tackles in his career.

ELLIOTT FORTUNE
High school: Roosevelt (1991)
NFL: Ravens (1996)
Devastating run-blocker and an All-LI pick. Played at Georgia Tech and a year in the NFL with Baltimore, where he recorded one sack in 14 games.

J.P. FOSCHI
High school: Chaminade (2000)
NFL: Raiders (2005-06), Chiefs (2008), Bengals (2009)
The tight end played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he was one of the team’s captains in 2003. He played 33 games in the NFL and scored two touchdowns.

MELVIN FOWLER
High school: Half Hollow Hills West (1997)
NFL: Browns (2002-04), Vikings (2005), Bills (2006-08)
Fowler was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2002 draft out of the University of Maryland. The offensive lineman played 87 games in eight NFL seasons.

JAMES SCOTTY GRAHAM
High school: Long Beach (1987)
NFL: Jets (1992), Vikings (1993-96), Bengals (1997)
Rushed for 1,267 yards and seven touchdowns in six NFL seasons. The running back was drafted by the Steelers out of Ohio State.

MORLON GREENWOOD
High school: Freeport (1996)
NFL: Miami Dolphins (2001-04), Houston Texans (2005-08)
After finishing as the runner-up for both the Thorp and Martone awards as a senior, Greenwood went on to record 682 tackles over a eight-year NFL career. His best season came in 2007, when he finished with 118 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble for the Texans.

TED GREGORY
High school: East Islip (1983)
NFL: Saints (1988)
Gregory won the Zellner Award in 1982 as Suffolk’s most outstanding lineman. A first-round draft pick (No. 26 overall) by Denver in 1987, Gregory appeared in three games at nosetackle the next season with New Orleans. He had one sack -- against John Elway -- before a knee injury ended his career.

JON HARRIS
High school: Kellenberg (1992)
NFL: Eagles (1997-98)
Harris, a first-round draft pick (No. 25 overall) in 1997, played in 24 games (eight starts) over two seasons with Philadelphia. A defensive end, Harris had 59 combined tackles and two sacks in his career.

LLOYD HARRISON
High school: Sewanhaka (1995)
NFL: Redskins (2000), Chargers (2001), Dolphins (2002)
Harrison, who played his college ball at North Carolina State (above), had his most productive NFL season in San Diego. The cornerback appeared in 12 games, had 19 tackles, 1 sack and 1 pass defended.

RON HELLER
High school: Farmingdale (1980)
NFL: Buccaneers (1984-87), Eagles (1988-92), Dolphins (1993-95)
A star in both football and wrestling at Farmingdale, Heller played 12 years in the NFL at offensive tackle and missed just one game during his tenure with Philadelphia. He was traded traded twice in his career, first from Tampa Bay to Seattle (where he never played), then from Seattle to Philly.

JASEN ISOM
High school: Half Hollow Hills West (1995)
NFL: 49ers (2003-04)
In high school, Isom helped lead the Colts to their best season up to that point. He played parts of two seasons with the 49ers in the NFL, appearing in six games.

DAVE JENNINGS
High school: Garden City (1970)
NFL: Giants (1974-84), Jets (1985-87)
Jennings was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro punter. His 44.8 yards per punt average in 1980 led the NFL that season. It was also a career-best. Here's the kicker: Jennings never played high school football.

DAN JIGGETTS
High school: Westhampton (1972)
NFL: Bears (1976-82)
A devastating two-way player in high school, Jiggetts moved to offensive line full-time while at Harvard and then with the Bears. He played in 98 games over his seven-year NFL career, including three 16-game seasons.

ANDRE JOHNSON
High school: Southampton (1992)
NFL: Lions (1997-98)
Johnson, an offensive tackle drafted out of Penn State in the first round and No. 30 overall by the Redskins in 1996, appeared in three NFL games in his career.

PETE JOHNSON
High school: Long Beach (1973) || NFL: Bengals (1977-83), Chargers (1984), Dolphins (1984)
Johnson began his high school career in the seventh grade in Georgia and moved to Long Beach as a senior. Johnson started at fullback for the Bengals for seven seasons. Four times in his career he scored 12 or more TDs. In 1981, he ran for 1,077 yards. For his career, Johnson totaled 6,960 total yards from scrimmage and 82 TDs.

CLARENCE JONES
High school: Central Islip (1986)
NFL: Giants (1991-93), Rams (1994-95), Saints (1996-98), Panthers (1999-2000)
Jones played both left and right tackle in 111 NFL games, including 88 starts.

CARL KARILIVACZ (pictured standing far left)
High school: Glen Cove
NFL: Detroit Lions (1953-57), Giants (1958), Los Angeles Rams (1959-1960)
Karilivacz was drafted out of Syracuse in the 23rd round of the 1953 NFL draft. The defensive back had 13 career interceptions. Karilivacz had two touchdowns in his career -- one on an interception return and one on a fumble return. |

PETE KOCH
High school: New Hyde Park (1980) || NFL: Bengals (1984), Chiefs (1985-87), Raiders (1989)
Drafted in the first round, No. 16 overall, by the Bengals, the defensive lineman totaled eight sacks in 58 games. In 1986, Koch started all 16 games for the Chiefs. Koch also got into acting and played "Swede" Johanson opposite Clint Eastwood in "Heartbreak Ridge." He was also the bodybuilder husband of Carrie Fisher's character in the '80s movie "Loverboy."

WARREN KOEGEL
High school: Seaford (1967)
NFL: Raiders (1971), Cardinals (1973), Jets (1974)
A center, Koegel led Seaford to a 7-1 season as a senior, winning the Thorp Award. He’d go on to play 21 games in the NFL, including all 16 games with the Raiders in the 1971 season.

PAUL LANKFORD
High school: Farmingdale (1977)
NFL: Dolphins (1982-91)
A versatile athlete, Lankford, a defensive back, played 10 seasons with the Dolphins in the NFL, including a pair of Super Bowls. He started at cornerback for Miami from 1985-89, and finished his career with 13 interceptions and three sacks.

PHIL LAPORTA
High school: Valley Stream Central (1970)
NFL: Saints (1974-75)
Laporta won the Thorp Award in 1969 as a two-way lineman, though he also was used as a back in short-yardage situations. He played in 20 games, starting six, during his tenure with New Orleans.

BOB LEAHY
High school: Lindenhurst (1965)
NFL: Steelers (1971)
Leahy, a third-string quarterback behind Terry Bradshaw and Terry Hanratty, appeared in one game for Pittsburgh, completing 3 of 11 passes for 18 yards and one interception.

JOHN MACKEY
High school: Hempstead (1959) || NFL: Baltimore Colts (1963-71), Chargers (1972)
Mackey won the Thorp Award in 1958 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He also has a major award named in his honor: the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the best collegiate tight end by the Nassau County Sports Commisssion. Mackey was both an end and a halfback at Hempstead and went on to redefine the tight end position in the NFL.

GARY MARANGI
High school: Elmont (1970)
NFL: Bills (1974-76)
Marangi appeared in 19 games at quarterback for the Bills and went 0-7 as a starter in 1976. He threw 12 touchdowns for his career and finished with a 36.7 completion percentage.

DON McCAULEY
High school: Garden City (1967)
NFL: Colts (1971-81)
He played for the University of North Carolina and led the nation in all-purpose yardage in 1970. He was a first-round draft choice and played halfback for 11 years with the Baltimore Colts. He finished his career with 2,627 yards and 40 touchdowns.

CRAIG McEWEN
High school: Northport (1983)
NFL: Redskins (1987-88), Chargers (1989-91)
A tight end/running back for five seasons in the NFL, McEwen caught 108 passes for 1,310 yards and six touchdowns.

DON McPHERSON
High school: West Hempstead (1983)
NFL: Eagles (1988-89)
McPherson, a quarterback and defensive back, won the Thorp Award in 1982 as Nassau's best player then was a runner-up to Tim Brown for the Heisman Trophy in 1987. McPherson was on the Eagles for two seasons but never appeared in a game.

IFEANYI MOMAH
High school: Glenn (2006)
NFL: Cardinals (2016-present)
Momah bounced around several practice squads before being promoted to Arizona's active roster during the 2016 season. The 6-7 receiver recorded his first catch on Oct. 23, 2016 against the Seattle Seahawks.

BRANDON MOORE
High school: Baldwin (1997)
NFL: 49ers (2002-07), Chargers (2010)
Moore played linebacker for seven seasons in the NFL and totaled 245 tackles, 15 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 1 interception.

ROB MOORE
High school: Hempstead (1986)
NFL: Jets (1990-94), Cardinals (1995-99)
Two-time Pro bowler, Moore had 97 receptions and led NFL receivers with 1,584 yards in 1997. In his 10-year career with the Jets and Cardinals, he had 628 catches for 9,368 yards.

JOHN NILAND
High school: Amityville (1962)
NFL: Cowboys (1966-74), Eagles (1975)
he played college ball at the University of Iowa, where he was a two-time All-American. He was a powerful offensive lineman during his 10-year career in the NFL and went to the Pro Bowl six times, making the All-Pro first team twice.

VICTOR OCHI
High school: Valley Stream Central (2010)
NFL: Jets (2016-present)
Ochi, Stony Brook University's career leader in sacks and tackles for loss, was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent after the 2016 NFL draft, but was cut after training camp. The Jets signed him a week later, and he made his NFL debut on Oct. 23, 2016 -- ironically, against the Ravens.

RICH OHRNBERGER
High school: East Meadow (2004)
NFL: Patriots (2009-10), Cardinals (2012), Chargers (present)
Became the third player in Nassau history to win the Thorp and Martone Awards. Was a two-time All-Big 10 selection for Penn State and was drafted by the New England Patriots.

SHANE OLIVEA
High school: Lawrence (2000)
NFL: Chargers (2004-07)
As an All-LI pick, Olivea won the Martone Award and was a finalist for the Thorp Award. A three-year starter at Ohio State and twice a second team All-Big Ten pick, the offensive tackle played four seasons with San Diego.

RALPH PERRETTA
High school: Holy Trinity (1970)
NFL: Chargers (1975-80), Giants (1980)
He was All-Long Island and led the Titans to their first CHSFL title. Perretta attended Purdue, then played with the San Diego Chargers and the second half of the 1980 season with the Giants.

DICK POILLON
High school: Valley Stream Central (1938)
NFL: Redskins (1942, 1946-49)
Poillon caught passes, threw passes, ran the ball, returned punts and kicks, punted and kicked field goals for Washington. He amassed 874 total yards from scrimmage and scored four touchdowns for his career.

ANDREW QUARLESS
High School: Holy Trinity (2006)
NFL: Packers (2010-present)
In his rookie year out of Penn State, Quarless caught 21 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown for the Green Bay Packers. Quarless (above, while at Uniondale High School) also had one catch for 5 yards in the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV victory.

BOB REIFSNYDER
High school: Baldwin (1956)
AFL: Titans (1960-61)
Reifsnyder won the Thorp Award in 1954 before playing for the Naval Academy where he was an All-American. Reifsnyder played two seasons with the New York Titans, the forerunners of the Jets. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

MARCO RIVERA
High school: Elmont (1991)
NFL: Packers (1996-2004), Cowboys (2005-06)
The All-LI pick played at Penn State before being drafted by the Packers. The three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman was a member of the Packers Super Bowl XXXI championship team. Rivera (No. 62, above) played 125 games with the Packers and is a member of their hall of fame.

JOE RIZZO
High school: Glen Cove
NFL: Denver Broncos (1974-80)
The linebacker played 81 games for Orange Crush in his seven-year NFL career. Rizzo, a Kings Point graduate, had nine interceptions in that span. |

PAUL ROCHESTER
High school: Sewanhaka (1956) || AFL: Texans (1960-62), Chiefs (1963), Jets (1964-69)
Paul "Rocky" Rochester earned the Thorp Award in 1955 and went on to play for Michigan State. He played defensive tackle for the AFL Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and then the Jets. He was an AFL all-star team selection in 1961 for Lamar Hunt's Texans and recorded two sacks in the Jets' Super Bowl victory in 1969. He is one of only 20 players who played the entire 10 years of the AFL's existence as a separate league.

TODD SAUERBRUN
High school: Ward Melville (1991)
NFL: Bears (1995-99), Chiefs (2000), Panthers (2001-04), Broncos (2005-06, 2007), Patriots (2006)
Holds the New York state record for longest field goal - 62 yards. All-LI pick, and All-American punter at West Virginia. Played for six teams in 13-year NFL career, making all-pro three times.

JOHN SCHMITT
High school: Seton Hall in Patchogue (1960)
NFL: Jets (1964-73), Packers (1974)
Schmitt was the starting center on the Jets' Super Bowl III winning team in 1969.

JOHN SCULLY
High school: Holy Family (1976)
NFL: Falcons (1981-90)
He was All-Long Island and became an outstanding center and All-American at Notre Dame. He played his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons.

CLIFTON SMITH
High school: Freeport (1999)
NFL: Washington Redskins (2003), Cleveland Browns (2006)
Won Thorp Award as a senior and was two-time winner of Piner Award (Nassau's top linebacker). The two-time All-LI pick played college ball at Syracuse before playing in two NFL games during his brief career.

MATT SNELL
High school: Carle Place (1960)
NFL: Jets (1964-72)
Snell, who earned the Thorp Award in 1959, was Woody Hayes' MVP in 1963, and was later named to the Ohio State all-century team as a defensive end. But to Jets fans, he'll always be the guy who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl III.

KURT SOHN
High school: Huntington (1975)
NFL: Jets (1981-88)
A wide receiver, Sohn totaled 79 catches for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Jets. He also averaged 18.5 yards per return on kickoffs and 7.6 yards on punts.

JOHN TICE
High school: Central Islip (1978)
NFL: Saints (1983-92)
Tice caught 158 passes for 1,603 yards and 15 touchdowns as a tight end for 10 seasons in New Orleans. In 1987, he caught just 16 passes, but six were for touchdowns.

MIKE TICE
High school: Central Islip (1977)
NFL: Seahawks (1981-88, 1990-91), Redskins (1989), Vikings (1992-95)
Tice played 177 games in his 14 year career in the NFL as a tight end and scored 11 touchdowns. After his playing career ended in 1995 he joined the Vikings’ coaching staff. He became the organization’s sixth head coach in 2001. He’s currently a coach with the Bears.

VINNY TESTAVERDE
High school: Sewanhaka (1981)
NFL: 7 teams from 1987-2007, including Jets (1998-2003, ‘05)
Started only one season at QB in high school, but was so outstanding, he was named All-Long Island and All-American. Testaverde was a wide receiver as a junior. At Miami, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1986 (the only Long Islander to win it). He played 20 years in the NFL, passing for 46,233 yards and 275 touchdowns.

ERIC UNVERZAGT
High school: Central Islip (1991)
NFL: Seahawks (1996-97)
Unverzagt, a three-year starter at Wisconsin, appeared at linebacker in nine games over two seasons with Seattle.

GREG VAN ROTEN
High School: Chaminade (2008)
NFL: Packers (2012)
Van Roten made his season debut for the Packers on Nov. 18, appearing on the kickoff return team. The lineman graduated from Penn in 2012 and was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent.

WANDY WILLIAMS
High school: Malverne (1964)
|| NFL: Broncos (1969-70)
Well before he coached basketball at Long Beach, Williams was a kick returner and running back for two seasons with Denver. In 1969, while appearing in 11 games, he averaged 25 yards per return. He also had 10 rushes for 18 yards and a touchdown, plus five receptions for 56 yards. While at Kansas University, Williams broke all of Gale Sayers' freshman rushing records.

JOHN WITKOWSKI
High school: Lindenhurst (1980) || NFL: Lions (1984, 1988)
Witkowski, shown above in college at Columbia, was a quarterback who played in five games for Detroit. He went 0-1 as a starter, and for his career was 13-for-35 for 210 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. He also spent the 1986 and '87 seasons with the Houston Oilers but did not appear in a game.

JAMES WYCHE
High school: Roosevelt (2001)
NFL: Jaguars (2006-09), Rams (2009), Texans (2010), Seahawks (2010)
Led Roosevelt to the Long Island Class IV championship twice and had 17 sacks as a senior. He attended Syracuse, and has since been on four NFL teams totaling one tackle in three games.

DARREL YOUNG
High school: Amityville (2005)
NFL: Redskins (2010-present)
The 2004 Collotta Award winner as Suffolk’s top linebacker, Young went to Villanova and caught on with the Washington Redskins as a running back. In 2010-11, Young has totaled 201 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

AMOS ZEREOUE
High school: Mepham (1995)
NFL: Steelers (1999-2003), Raiders (2004), Patriots (2005)
Zereoue is the only two-time winner of Thorp Award and rushed for 5,360 career yards and 59 TDs at Mepham. He was the first Nassau player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. In 84 games over seven NFL seasons, the 5-foot-8 running back totaled 3,417 all-purpose yards (2,137 rushing) and 11 touchdowns.