From Eastern Michigan and the underappreciated Mid American Conference, T.J. Lang continued to play professionally in his region of sorts when he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2009 and played a minimal role as a reserve that would win Super Bowl XLV.  Lang would become a starter bouncing between Left Guard and Right Tackle over the next two seasons until he was moved to Right Guard for good in 2013.  Lang was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2016 in his last year in Green Bay and he would sign with his home state Detroit Lions and would be a Pro Bowler for the second straight year.  He retired after the 2018 Season.

Ryan Kalil spent the first 12 seasons in the National Football League with the Carolina Panthers where he established himself as one of the best Offensive Lineman in franchise history.  The former USC Trojan was chosen for five Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All Pro rosters.  While Kalil was well respected in Carolina and helped them win many games he wasn’t as well-known as he should have been.  After retiring in 2018, he came back immediately, perfroming one year with the New York Jets before retiring for good.

One of the better Centers of his era, Max Unger would be a starting Center for ten years in a career split between the Seattle Seahawks (2009-14) and the New Orleans Saints (2015-18).  The native of Hawaii would go to three Pro Bowls, the first two with the Seahawks where he helped them win Super Bowl XLVIII.  The third Pro Bowl came in his final year in Football when he was a Saint.  Unger was also named a First Team All Pro in 2012.

Part 6 of 8: Kirk Buchner discusses the Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibles from the NFC South with Vinny Lospinuso.