Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
After graduating from Texas in 2011, Justin Tucker went undrafted in 2012. That same year, Tucker was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent and has been in Baltimore since then. He then went on to win the Super Bowl in his rookie season.
With 382 made field goals to date, Tucker is the most accurate placekicker in NFL history, but this isn’t the only record the former Longhorn holds. Regarded as one of the greats in his position, Tucker holds the record for the longest field goal with 66 yards against the Detroit Lions in 2021, and he became the fastest kicker to reach 1,000 points in 2019 and the fastest to reach 300 career field goals in 2021.
In 2022, Tucker signed a fourth-year extension with the Ravens worth $24 million, becoming the highest-paid kicker in the league.
Jordan Hicks, Minnesota Vikings
Another former Longhorn with a Super Bowl ring, Jordan Hicks was a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The linebacker debuted for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played until 2018. Hicks signed for the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, where he stayed until 2021 before moving to his current team. In his debut season for the Vikings, Hicks started all 17 games for the division champion team and recorded the second most tackles and passes deflected on the roster.
Hicks earned the title of Week 6 NFC Defensive Player of the Week in the current season after recording 10 tackles, an interception and a 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Vikings’ win over the Chicago Bears. His season was put on break when he suffered a leg contusion against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 12, and currently sits on the injured reserve list.
Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Picked up by then-Texas head coach Charlie Strong at a coaching program designed to help aspiring punters and kickers in Australia make it to American football, Michael Dickson played for the Longhorns from 2015 to 2017, when he chose to forgo his senior season in favor of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Australian was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round and has been with the team ever since. In November of his rookie season, Dickson was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
The punter is well known for his “double punt” in 2021. During a game against the Los Angeles Rams, Dickson had a punt blocked. He would then chase down the ball behind the line of scrimmage, picking it up with one hand and finally punting for a second time on the run, on a play similar to Australian rules football. This would end up being his longest punt of the season at 68 yards.
Connor Williams, Miami Dolphins
Connor Williams was the 50th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, starting his career at the Dallas Cowboys. During his time in Dallas, Williams played as a left guard and played as a fullback once, but was switched to center in 2022 as he signed with the Miami Dolphins. In his first season in Miami, Williams was named the starter in his position, replacing Michael Deiter, and started all 17 games. Williams began the 2023 season as the first-string center for the Dolphins, but after suffering a groin injury during Week 3, he was marked as inactive. Williams has since returned to the field.
