NORFOLK, Va. – Former Norfolk State football standouts and teammates Bobby Price and De'Shaan Dixon made the initial 53-man rosters of their respective NFL squads after final cuts on Tuesday. Price is set to begin his third year with the Detroit Lions, while Dixon claimed a spot as a rookie on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Price was a two-time All-MEAC safety for NSU who started 37 games between 2016 and 2019. He spent much of the 2020 season on the Lions' practice squad but saw action in two games as a rookie undrafted free agent. He then played in 15 games and started twice last season, compiling 18 tackles and three pass deflections. Price has played both safety and cornerback in addition to a key special teams role with Detroit.

Dixon was a two-time All-MEAC performer for the Spartans during his career which spanned 2017-21. He was a first-team All-MEAC selection last year after leading the conference with nine sacks, helping him earn a free agent contract with the Jaguars earlier this year.

Dixon, playing outside linebacker for Jacksonville, earned a spot on the Jaguars' initial 53-man roster with a strong preseason showing. That included a team-high eight tackles and one sack against Atlanta in the team's last preseason game last week.

Price (Virginia Beach) and Dixon (Chesapeake), who are both natives of the Hampton Roads area, were teammates for three years in the green and gold.

Detroit opens its regular season on Sunday, September 11 against Philadelphia. Jacksonville faces Washington the same day.

The last time NSU had two players appear in an NFL game in the same season was in 2016, when both Lynden Trail (Washington) and Deon King (Indianapolis/San Diego) saw regular-season action.