Alumni Spotlight: ISU Athletes in the NFL
August 6, 2026
The 2026 Bengal Football fall training camp is in full swing, with athletes and fans gearing up for an exciting 2026 season.
With seven home games scheduled in the ICCU Dome, there are plenty of chances to see the Bengals in action this fall. But it wasn’t so long ago, before the dome, and before ISU was officially a four-year institution, that Bengal football looked a little bit different. Football at the Academy of Idaho began in September 1902, when the school was barely one year old. The football team took the field against Pocatello High School and Idaho Falls High School for five games and completed their inaugural season 5-0. The Academy’s baseball team decided to call themselves the “Tigers” in 1908, but it wasn’t until 1927 that football Coach Ralph Hutchinson, a Princeton alumnus, established Princeton's orange and black and the Bengal Tiger as the school’s official colors and mascot. As we look back at ISU’s 125 years as an institution, we are inspired by the players, coaches and staff who devoted their talent to our Bengal nation through the years. Among those who call Idaho State University their alma mater are a small group of individuals who took their athleticism and strength to the highest halls - the NFL.
These are the athletes and coaches who made it all the way to the NFL after getting their start here at ISU. We are proud of our football heritage and each of these individuals.
For a full fan experience highlighting all of ISU’s football Sports Hall of Fame inductees, visit the website and select football.
| Name | ISU Class of | NFL Career | NFL Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jim Wagstaff |
1959 |
1959-1961 |
Chicago Cardinals, Buffalo Bills |
|
Ed Bell |
1970 |
1970-1976 |
New York Jets, San Diego Chargers |
|
Tom Toner |
1973 |
1973-1977 |
Green Bay Packers |
|
Mike Hancock |
1973 |
1973-1974 |
Washington Redskins |
|
Brian Vertefeuille |
1974 |
1974 |
San Diego Chargers |
|
John Roman |
1976 |
1976-1982 |
New York Jets |
|
Will Grant |
1978 |
1978-1987 |
Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks |
|
Joe Moreino |
1978 |
1978 |
New York Jets |
|
Marvin Lewis |
1981 |
1996-2018 |
Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins/Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals |
|
Dirk Koetter |
1981 |
2007-2020 |
Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Case deBruijn |
1982 |
1982 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
|
Mike Machurek |
1984 |
1984 |
Detroit Lions |
|
Kevin Hudgens |
1986 |
1986 |
Atlanta Falcons |
|
Bob Otto |
1986 |
1986-1987 |
Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers |
|
Mike Busch |
1987 |
1987 |
New York Giants |
|
Merril Hoge |
1987 |
1987-1994 |
Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears |
|
Matt Courtney |
1987 |
1987 |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
Ken O'Neal |
1987 |
1987 |
New Orleans Saints |
|
Jamie Fitzgerald |
1987 |
1987 |
Minnesota Vikings |
|
Dan MacDonald |
1987 |
1987 |
Denver Broncos |
|
Shawn Beals |
1988 |
1988 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Donald Miller |
1990 |
1990 |
Seattle Seahawks |
|
Eddie Johnson |
2003 |
2003 |
Minnesota Vikings |
|
Mark Weivoda |
2004 |
2004 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Jared Allen |
2004 |
2004-2015 |
Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers |
|
Pago Togafau |
2007 |
2007-2009 |
Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals |
|
Matt Gutierrez |
2007 |
2007-2009 |
New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs |
|
Jeff Charleston |
2007 |
2007-2011 |
Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints |
|
Evan Dietrich-Smith |
2009 |
2009-2018 |
Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Josh Hill |
2018 |
2018-2020 |
New Orleans Saints |
|
Tanner Conner |
2022 |
2022-Pres. |
Miami Dolphins |
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