Frequently in the NFL, Barely in the NBA

I”m late in updating my list of Mormons in professional football. Its not because last year’s post was hijacked by those talking about playing sports on Sunday. But it may be in part because I’ve focused more on baseball recently. But, I’ve finally got my act together, and here’s the current list, along with the now due list of Mormons in professional basketball — including an additional Mormon playing in the NBA preseason

Recently 2008 NBA draft pick (#46 overall) Trent Plaisted was asked to join the L. A. Clippers for their preseason games after playing in Europe since 2009. He has appeared in 3 games so far, averaging just 5 minutes a game. It remains to be seen whether or not he will stay once the season begins.

As always, the names on the list below are provisional. It is possible that some of them are not Mormon, or no longer consider themselves Mormon. Others may be inactive or disaffected. To a degree we can only guess what religious affiliation any person has — its not a matter of public record. In general, I take the widest possible latitude with this — if someone’s parents are Mormon or grew up Mormon, I put them on the list, assuming that they were influenced somehow. Just because they don’t “act Mormon” (whatever that means) or follow the commandments doesn’t mean they are automatically excluded.

If you have further information that can be independently verified about the names below, or know of additional individuals whose Church membership can be verified, please mention them below in the comments.

So that it is very clear, whether or not these individuals or any Mormon should play sports on Sunday is NOT a topic for comments on this post. Such comments will be removed. It could be a comment on another post — or if someone wants to submit to me a guest post on this subject, I’ll consider posting it separately.

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Football

Players:

• Al Afalava — DB, Tennessee Titans #38, Oregon State
• Matt Asiata — RB, Minnesota Vikings #48, Utah
• Mark Asper — G, Minnesota Vikings #79, Oregon — — RM
• [CUT] John Beck — QB, Houston Texans #12, BYU — — RM
• Tony Bergstrom — G, Oakland Raiders #70, Utah — — RM
• Stewart Bradley — LB, Arizona Cardinals #55, Nebraska
• Jordan Cameron — TE, Cleveland Browns #84, USC
• [RES] Austin Collie — WR, Indianapolis Colts #17, BYU — — RM
• John Denney — LS, Miami Dolphins #92, BYU — — RM
• [CUT] Jonathan Fanene — DE, New England Patriots #98, Utah
• [DEV] Hebron Fangupo — DT, Seattle Seahawks, USC/BYU — — RM
• [CUT] Aaron Francisco — DB, Tennessee Titans #47, BYU
• Sione Fua — DT, Carolina Panthers #94, Stanford
• Stanley Havili — FB, Philadelphia Eagles, #39, USC
• Todd Heap — TE, Arizona Cardinals #86, Arizona State
• Bryan Kehl — LB, Kansas City Chiefs #53, BYU
• Brett Keisel — DE, Pittsburgh Steelers #99, Snow College/BYU
• Ma’ake Kemoeatu — NT, Baltimore Ravens #96, Utah
• Paul Kruger — OLB, Baltimore Ravens #99, Utah — — RM
• [RES] Spencer Larsen — FB, New England Patriots #46, Arizona — — RM
• Deuce Lutui — G, Tennessee Titans #72, Snow College/USC
• Fili Moala — DE, Indianapolis Colts #95, USC
• Tony Moeaki — TE, Kansas City Chiefs, #81 Iowa
• Haloti Ngata — DE, Baltimore Ravens #92, Oregon
• [CUT] David Nixon — LB, Carolina Panthers #48, BYU
• Dennis Pitta — TE, Baltimore Ravens #88, BYU — — RM
• Sione Pouha — NT, New York Jets #91, Utah — — RM
• Dallas Reynolds — C, Philadelphia Eagles #66, BYU — — RM
• [DEV] Matt Reynolds — T, Philadelphia Eagles, BYU — — RM
• Samson Satele — C, Indianapolis Colts #64, Hawaii
• [CUT] Derek Schouman TE, New Orleans Saints #83, Boise State
• Vic So’oto — LB, Oakland Raiders #54, BYU
• [CUT] Manase Tonga — RB, Oakland Raiders #41, BYU
• [CUT] Tim Toone — WR, Atlanta Falcons #17, Weber State
• Will Tukuafu — DT, San Francisco 49ers #92, Oregon — — RM
• [CUT] Harvey Unga — RB, Chicago Bears #45, BYU
• Eric Weddle — FS, San Diego Chargers #32, Utah

Football coaches:

• Darrell Bevell — OC, Seattle Seahawks
• Andy Reid — HC, Philadelphia Eagles

* Note: Because a blogger claimed he was Mormon after he was fined earlier this season for wearing a San Francisco Giants cap to a press conference, I should point out that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (Utah) is technically not Mormon. However, from what I can tell, his mother is an inactive church member and he does have several cousins (including one former professional baseball player) who are Mormon, which may be the source of the blogger’s rumor.

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Basketball

NBA Players:

•  Jimmer Fredette — G, Sacramento Kings #7, BYU
• Trent Plaisted — F, Los Angeles Clippers #44, BYU

Male Players in other leagues:

• Lance Allred — C, Fuerza Regia (Mexico) #41, Weber St.
• Chris Burgess — C, Guaynabo Mets (Puerto Rico) #34, Utah
• Jaycee Carroll — G, Real Madrid (ASB-Spain) #20, USU
• Lee Cummard — G, Fos Ouest (France) #15, BYU
• Casey Jacobsen — G, Brose Baskets (Germany) #23, Stanford
• Spencer Nelson — F/C, Gran Canaria (Spain) #17, USU
• Adrien Sturt — C, London Lions (BBL-UK) #20, Snow College
• Jonathan Tavernari — G/F, Givova Scafati (Italy) #9, BYU
• Tai Wesley — F, Rouen (France) #7, USU
• Trent Whiting — G, Aget Service IM (Italy) #15, BYU
• Gary Wilkinson — F/C, Kalev/Cramo (Estonia) #55, USU

WNBA Players:

• Erin Thorn — G, Minnesota Lynx #5, BYU

Female Players:

• Ambrosia Anderson — F, Trutnov (Czech Republic) #15, BYU
• Morgan Warburton — G, Gran Canaria (Spain) #15, Utah

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I hope that gives us all a little to chew over during the rest of the NFL season and the upcoming NBA season — or whatever football or basketball leagues you may follow this year and next.