Taking A Shot Down South

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Every off-season a number of players from across the CFL sign with a team south of the border and take a shot at making it in the NFL. Some become instant impact players for their new teams, think Cameron Wake on the Miami Dolphins, others will sign practice roster agreements, and some will return to the CFL. Below is a list of this year's crop of players trying their luck south of the border, and how they're progressing.

Marcus Thigpen - WR, KR

CFL: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2011) | NFL: Miami Dolphins

Highlights: In 2010, Thigpen made CFL history, becoming the first player to score a touchdown in five different ways.

2011 Stats (CFL)
Catches	Yards	TD	PR	Yards	KR	Yards
28	382	2	52	501	47	859

Progess Update: In Thigpen's first NFL regular season game, he returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Thigpen recorded his first catch - for 15 yards - in Week 15. The 26-year-old is sixth in the league in combined return yards.

2012 Stats (NFL)
Att	Yards	PR	Yards	KR	Yards	TD
1	8	23	276	33	948	2

Jerrell Freeman - LB

CFL: Saskatchewan Roughriders | NFL: Indianapolis Colts

Highlights: Freeman was a league all-star and the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2011.

2011 Stats (CFL)
Tackles	Sacks	Fumbles	Ints
105	6	1	3

Progess Update: Freeman had a strong Week 1, recording five tackles and returning a Jay Cutler interception for a touchdown. Freeman leads the Colts with 75 solo and 125 total tackles, good for fifth in the NFL.

2012 Stats (NFL)
Tackles	Sacks	Fumbles	Ints
125	2	0	1

Justin Hickman - DE

CFL: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2011) | NFL: Indianapolis Colts

Highlights: Hickman was a league all-star and the Ticats' nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player after 13 sack season.

2011 Stats (CFL)
Tackles	Sacks	Fumbles	Ints
49	13*	0	0

Progess Update: In Hickman's first game with the Colts, the DE got on the stat sheet with one tackle. Hickman was placed on injured reserve after a Week 13 injury.

2012 Stats (NFL)
Tackles	Sacks	Fumbles	Ints
12	0	0	0

Justin Medlock - K/P

CFL: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2011) | NFL: Carolina Panthers

Highlights: Medlock was a East Division All-Star and the Ticats' unanimous choice for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2011.

2011 Stats (CFL)
FGM	FGA	%	Long
49	55	89.1	57

Progess Update: After a huge Week 8 when Medlock was 5-5 on field goal attempts and set his season long of 45, he missed his next three opportunities and was cut by the Panthers after Week 11.

2012 Stats (NFL)
FGM	FGA	%	Long
7	10	70.0	45

Didn't Make The Cut

Solomon Elimimian - LB

2011 Team: BC Lions | Signed with: Minnesota Vikings

Status: Cut by the Vikings, signed to Cleveland Browns' practice roster only to be released two days later.

2011 Stats (CFL)
Tackles	Sacks	Fumbles	Ints
98	4	1	3

Jovan Olafioye - OL

2011 Team: BC Lions | Signed with: St. Louis Rams

Status: Signed a two-year contract with the Rams February 3. Cut by the Rams and returned to the Lions February 9.

2011 Team Stats (CFL)
Rush Yards	Pass Yards	Rush TDs	Pass TDs
1,777	5,090	13	33

Jerome Messam - RB

2011 Team: Edmonton Eskimos | Signed with: Miami Dolphins

Status: Cut by the Dolphins and returned Edmonton, signed new deal with Eskimos.

2011 Team Stats
Rushes	Yards	Average	Long	TD
195	1,057	5.4	51	6

* League Lead

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