🏈 Football focus • Alumni + pro pipeline • Collecting every SSU-to-pro story

Sonoma State Cossacks — Football & Pro Alumni

A home for stories, stats, and photos of professional athletes who attended Sonoma State — starting with football. If you know an athlete we’re missing, send the name and a source link.

Tip: click any photo tile to view it larger.
Vintage Sonoma State football photo
Vintage Seawolves/Cossacks football photo — replace this caption anytime.

Notable football names

Start here — we’ll expand the list over time

Larry Allen

Hall of Fame offensive lineman; the most famous Cossack ever.

NFL • Dallas Cowboys HOF Class of 2013 SSU alum

Freddie Bradley

Running back who played briefly for the San Diego Chargers.

NFL • Chargers RB

Arena / Indoor Era

SSU football alumni who played in the AFL / indoor leagues (including the San Jose Sabercats era).

AFL CFL Indoor

Help us build the master list

Every pro athlete who attended Sonoma State

What to send

Email us a name plus at least one supporting link:

  • Official team bio, league bio, college bio, or reputable news article
  • Sport + position
  • Years at SSU (if known)
  • Any photos you want included (with permission)
Email a submission Optional: Google Form

Easy edit tip

Keep photos in assets/img, then change the filename in the HTML where you see src="assets/img/…".

When you add new pages later, copy the same header/footer for consistent navigation.

Cossack history

Origins (1969) • NCAC title (1991)

1969: the first team

Sonoma State’s first football team took the field in 1969. Head coach Lloyd Helgeson guided a JV schedule, and the team finished 5–3.

Have a scan, roster, ticket stub, or story from the early years? We’d love to add it.

1991: NCAC champions

In 1991, Sonoma State defeated UC Davis to capture the NCAC title—ending UC Davis’ NCAA-record streak of 20 straight conference championships.

That squad was powered by a ferocious defensive front (including Sam Hernandez and Corey Cheney-Rice) and a linebacker corps led by Greg Franklin and Ray Mosones.

Source notes and details drawn from the historical “Cossack History” write-up maintained by alumni.

Cossacks in the pros

NFL • CFL • Arena Football

Professional signings (selected)

  • Fred Whitted — Toronto Argonauts (CFL), signed 1984
  • Mike Henry — Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL), signed 1987
  • Dennis Hochman — New York Jets (NFL), signed 1987
  • Ed Beaulac — Houston Oilers (NFL), signed 1991
  • Sam Hernandez — Charlotte Rage (AFL), signed 1992
  • Henry Milton — Arizona Rattlers (AFL), signed 1993

Know someone missing? Hit “Submit a player” and include the sport, years at SSU, and the pro team/league.

Arena League spotlight: San Jose SaberCats

San Jose SaberCats logo
Doug Pricer & Dave Dohm
Arena Football League era
Doug Pricer and Dave Dohm (photo)
SaberCats connection