NJCAA alumni ready for Super Bowl LVII
Charlotte, NC – Five NJCAA football alumni will be a part of the action of Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, AZ, this Sunday, February 12, at 6:30 PM ET. The list of alumni consists of 5 players between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
| Name | Pos. | NJCAA Program | NCAA Program | NFL Team |
| Lane Johnson | T | Kilgore (TX) | University of Oklahoma | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Gardner Minshew | QB | Northwest Mississippi | Washington State | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Darius Slay | CB | Itawamba (MS) | Mississippi State | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Kyzir White | LB | Lackawanna College (PA) | West Virginia | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Jody Fortson | TE | Erie (NY) | Valdosta State | Kansas City Chiefs |
In his sole season at Kilgore College (TX), Lane Johnson played both quarterback and tight end during the 2008 season. As a Ranger, Johnson accumulated 584 passing yards for seven touchdowns and a completion rate of 52.4%. Johnson went on to play at the University of Oklahoma where he would land the positions of starting left tackle and starting right tackle during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Johnson was selected as the No. 4 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. In his tenth season with the franchise, Johnson has earned four Pro Bowl selections and was a member of the Super Bowl LII champion team in 2018.
Gardner Minshew started his collegiate career at Troy University but soon transferred to Northwest Mississippi Community College. Minshew quickly claimed the starting quarterback position in Senatobia. Minshew earned Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) Offensive Player of the Week after his college debut and would later go on to become the sixth Ranger to throw for 2,500 yards in a single season. While in the NJCAA, Minshew earned numerous accolades including MACJC All-State Football First Team and NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America. After defeating Mississippi Gulf Coast 34–24 in the MACJC Football Championship, Minshew led Northwest Mississippi to claim the 2015 NJCAA Football Championship by defeating Rochester (MN) 66-13. Minshew finished his lone season at the two-year level as the second-leading passer with 3,288 yards. Minshew finished his collegiate career at Washington State before being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Darius Slay played for two seasons at Itawamba Community College (MS). After competing in just five games during his freshman season, Slay received first-team Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State and NJCAA All-Region 23 honors. Returning for his second and final season with the Indians, Slay earned MACJC First-team All-State honors on defense and special teams with a recorded 32 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Slay concluded his collegiate career at Mississippi State from 2011-2012. Slay was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Slay is in his third season with the Eagles.
After one season at Erie Community College (NY), Jody Fortson went on to continue his football career at Valdosta State where he garnered 37 receptions for 477 yards and seven touchdowns in a total of 19 games played. During his senior season at Valdosta State, Fortson endured an injury that led to his season being cut short but was later chosen to play in both the Tropical Bowl and the College Gridiron Showcase. Fortson is now in his second season with the Chiefs.
Kyzir White played two seasons at Lackawanna College (PA) before transferring to West Virginia. During his time at West Virginia, White recorded 152 total tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions with nine passes defended and four forced fumbles. He is now in his first season with the Eagles but fifth season overall in the NFL.
