Mike Hilton, Trae Elston among former Ole Miss players on NFL rosters

Published 5:43 pm Sunday, September 3, 2017

Eighteen former Ole Miss players, including a pair of undrafted defensive backs, will begin the NFL season on active rosters after final cuts came and went Saturday.

Cornerback Mike Hilton and safety Trae Elston made the roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, respectively. Teams had to trim their rosters to 53 players by Saturday afternoon.

It’s the first time making the 53-man roster for Hilton and Elston, who played together in the Rebels’ secondary from 2012-15. Hilton was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2016 but was cut by the Jaguars and the New England Patriots before being signed to the Steelers’ practice squad in December.

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Elston was cut by the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns before sticking with the Bills after being claimed off waivers in April.

Each Ole Miss player drafted this year also made the cut. First-rounder Evan Engram is primed to play a significant role for the New York Giants while nose tackle D.J. Jones (fifth round) and cornerback Derrick Jones (sixth round) stuck with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, respectively.

Quarterback Chad Kelly, this year’s Mr. Irrelevant after the Denver Broncos drafted him with the final pick, won’t play this season because of an injury.

Here are other former Ole Miss players on 53-man rosters:

WR Cody Core (Cincinnati Bengals)

OL John Jerry (New York Giants)

QB Eli Manning (New York Giants)

OL Bobby Massie (Chicago Bears)

WR Donte Moncrief (Indianapolis Colts)

DT Robert Nkemdiche (Arizona Cardinals)

WR Laquon Treadwell (Minnesota Vikings)

OL Laremy Tunsil (Miami Dolphins)

OL Jeremy Parnell (Jacksonville Jaguars)

WR Damore’ea Stringfellow (New York Jets)

OL Bradley Sowell (Chicago Bears)

WR Mike Wallace (Baltimore Ravens)

DE Channing Ward (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)