Florida Gators in the NFL: Six advance to 2015-16 Conference Championship games

The 2015-16 NFL season has been an exciting one for former Florida Gators in the league, and it will continue during Conference Championship game action next week with six Gators representing three of the four teams hoping for an opportunity to play in Super Bowl 50.

Overall, 11 former Florida players were on the rosters of teams that played in Divisional Round games over the weekend. That’s down from the 18 that started the postseason on NFL rosters as seven were eliminated in the Wild Card Round.

Below is a look at the Gators moving on to the next round and those that have fallen along the way. Teams and players in blue have advanced to the Conference Championships.

Divisional Round

Arizona Cardinals
OT D.J. Humphries: Inactive – coach’s decision

Denver Broncos
WR Andre Caldwell: Reception for -1 yard (targets: 2)
C Max Garcia: Played as a reserve
LB Lerentee McCray: Played as a reserve

Kansas City Chiefs
DT Jaye Howard: Tackle
WR Frankie Hammond, Jr.: Reception for 2 yards; two punt returns for 27 yards (long: 19)

New England Patriots
LB Jon Bostic: Inactive – coach’s decision
DT Dominique Easley: Injured reserve – thigh

Pittsburgh Steelers
RT Marcus Gilbert: Started
WR David Nelson: Injured reserve – undisclosed
C Maurkice Pouncey: Injured reserve – ankle

Teams without Gators: Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks

Wild Card Round

Cincinnati Bengals
DE Carlos Dunlap: Started | three tackles (one solo), 0.5 sack, pass defense
S Reggie Nelson: Started | three solo tackles, sack

Kansas City Chiefs
DT Jaye Howard: Started | four tackles (three solo), sack
WR Frankie Hammond, Jr.: Reception for 3 yards; four punt returns for 34 yards (long: 14)

Minnesota Vikings
DT Sharrif Floyd: Started | three solo tackles (one for loss), sack
DE Justin Trattou: Played as a reserve

Pittsburgh Steelers
RT Marcus Gilbert: Started
WR David Nelson: Injured reserve – undisclosed
C Maurkice Pouncey: Injured reserve – ankle

Washington
CB Quinton Dunbar: Five solo tackles, two pass defenses
RB Matt Jones: Inactive – hip
TE Jordan Reed: Started | nine receptions for 120 yards (targets: 17, long: 24), touchdown [all team-highs]

Teams without Gators: Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks