Troy University Athletics
Three Former Trojans Head to NFC Divisional Playoffs
1/14/2012 12:00:00 PM | Football
This weekend, three former Trojans will carry the torch of Troy football into the NFC Divisional Playoffs as the New York Giants travel to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.
Former Trojans Osi Umenyiora, Lawrence Tynes, and Jerrel Jernigan will a suit up for the Giants this weekend as they head to Lambeau Field for their matchup with the Packers. Despite only playing nine games due to preseason knee surgery and a high ankle sprain suffered during the regular season, Umenyiora recorded 25 tackles and nine sacks in 2011.
Lettering at Troy from 1999-2002, Umenyiora was a two-time All-American as a Trojan and currently sits second in school single-season history with 20.5 tackles for loss during the 2002 season. He also holds the record for the most sacks in a game by a Troy player with four which occurred in 2002 against Florida A&M.
The newest Trojan to the NFL, former wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan, has seen his playing time increase as the season progressed. A third round draft pick in 2011, Jernigan played in eight games during the regular season. Last week, in the NFC Wild Card round against the Atlanta Falcons, Jernigan saw action as a punt returner and kick returner, returning one kickoff for 28 yards.
Jernigan is the all-time leader in school history in all-purpose yardage (5,985) and is tied for sixth all-time in touchdowns scored with 25. He is also the all-time leader for receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,128) in Troy history.
Former Trojan Lawrence Tynes returns to a Lambeau Field, the site of one of the biggest kicks in his career. With the Giants tied, 20-20, with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game in 2008, Tynes hit a 47-yard field goal to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. Two weeks later, Tynes and the Giants would go on to upset the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
This season, Tynes is has made 19 of 24 field goals this season for the Giants. Last week against the Falcons in the NFC Wild Card round, Tynes knotched four touchbacks on kickoffs and hit a 22-yard field goal in the 24-2 win over Atlanta. Tynes, who is third in career field goals made as a Trojan, lettered at Troy from 1997-2000.
All three former Trojans are looking to take New York back to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years.
The Giants and Packers are set to kickoff 3:30 p.m. CST on Sunday. The game will be televised by FOX.
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