WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- A pair of former Midwestern State All Americans made final cuts and will open the 2017 season on a National Football League roster.
 
Amini Silatolu
 
Amini Silatolu makes his return to the Carolina Panthers where he started 28 games at left guard over four seasons from 2012-15. The Tracy, Calif. native was the 40th overall pick going to the Panthers with the eighth selection of the second round.
 
Silatolu, who has seen time at left tackle during training camp, briefly signed a free agent deal with the Chicago Bears last season but essentially sat out the 2016 season recovering from injury.
 
He remains one of the most decorated student-athletes in Midwestern State history and was a consensus All American in 2011 after leading the Mustangs to their first unbeaten season in school history at 10-0.
 
Silatolu was runner-up for the 2011 Gene Upshaw Award presented to the top lineman in NCAA Division II. He earned first-team All-America nods from the Associated Press, National Football Coaches' Association, Daktronics, D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette.
 
He was nearly a two-time consensus All-America selection as he also earned first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches' Association and D2Football.com and was a second-team Daktronics pick as a junior in 2010 after transferring in from San Joaquin Delta College.
 
Marqui Christian
 
Marqui Christian was originally selected with the 167th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
 
A surprise move to protect a punter landed him with the Los Angeles Rams through waivers last season in which he played in 11 games as a reserve defender and on special teams.
 
Christian is currently listed third on the Rams' depth chart at free safety.
 
As a four-year standout for MSU from 2012-15, Christian gained first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches' Association and D2CCA/CoSIDA (Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America) while earning second-team Associated Press Little All-America honors as a senior.
 
Christian, who was the 2015 recipient of the Cliff Harris Award as the top defensive player in the country representing Division II, Division III and NAIA, piled on postseason accolades becoming MSU's first defensive player since 1952 to earn Associated Press Little All-America honors taking second team honors.
 
The safety from Spring, Texas was a first-team All-America selection by the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA), D2CCA (sports information directors) and D2Football.com teams after gaining J.V. Sikes/Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year and top defensive back honors as a three-time, first-team All-LSC performer.
 
Christian closed his Midwestern State career as the program's all-time tackle leader with 295.