Eight Pro Hilltoppers Represented in 2018 NFL Playoffs

Eight of the nine former Hilltoppers currently signed with NFL teams qualified for the 2018 Playoffs...

TYLER HIGBEE & DARRELL WILLIAMS, JR., Los Angeles Rams
The Rams went 13-3 to win the NFC South and earn the No. 2 seed in the conference. They will host the highest remaining seed following the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 12 at 7:15 p.m. CT. Higbee started all 16 games, making 24 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He brings a 10-game catch streak into the postseason. Meanwhile, Williams has been on the practice squad for the majority of the 2018 season.

GEORGE FANT, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks went 10-6 and earned the No. 5 seed in the NFC. They will travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 5 at 7:15 p.m. CT. Fant played in all 16 games and started seven, including the final six of the season to lead the team to a 5-1 record down the stretch. Fant saw the majority of his playing time in 2018 as a sixth offensive lineman or blocking tight end, but played right tackle down the stretch with D.J. Fluker out win an injury.

JOEL IYIEGBUNIWE, Chicago Bears
The Bears went 12-4 to win the NFC North and earn the No. 3 seed in the conference. They will host the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday, January 6 at 3:40 p.m. Iyiegbuniwe was a special teams stud, making nine tackles on the season while playing in all 16 games.

FORREST LAMP, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers went 12-4 and earned the No. 5 seed in the AFC. They will travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday, January 6 at 12:05 p.m. CT. In a 23-9 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 17, Lamp was active and saw his first game action since Oct. 14 at Cleveland.

JACK DOYLE, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts went 10-6 and earned the No. 6 seed in the AFC. They will travel to Houston to play the Texans in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 5 at 3:35 p.m. CT. Doyle's 2018 season ended when he was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 26, following a kidney injury sustained the day before vs. Miami. The tight end started six games, making 26 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

DEON YELDER, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs went 12-4 to win the AFC West and earn the No. 1 seed in the conference. They will host the lowest remaining seed following the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 12 at 3:35 p.m. CT. Yelder played in three consecutive games from Week 8-10, all wins, and was inactive for the final six contests of the season.

MIKE WHITE, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys went 10-6 to win the NFC East and earn the No. 4 seed in the conference. They will host the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 5 at 7:15 p.m. CT. White has not seen field action this season with starting quarterback Dak Prescott playing every snap under center.

TAYWAN TAYLOR, Tennessee Titans
After 16 receptions for 231 yards and one score in 2017, Taylor doubled his rookie season output with 37 receptions for 466 yards and one touchdown in 13 games played, including five starts. The Titans just missed out on the NFL Playoffs, finishing the 2018 campaign with a 9-7 record.

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