When the discussion of local players in the NFL is approached, Whitehall’s and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and Nazareth’s Jahan Dotson can quickly come to mind. They also play for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Yet, the Bethlehem, Catasauqua, and Whitehall Press coverage areas have had their share of former NFL standouts,

With the NFL Draft Thursday, here’s a look back at some former local players who made it to the pros.

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Undoubtedly, the most famous player before Barkley was Liberty’s Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, a first-round pick who starred as a two-way player for the Eagles from 1949-62 after his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania.

Liberty had a pipeline of players to the NFL and among the others were Steve Meilinger, a wideout who was the Redskins’ first-round pick in 1954 from the University of Kentucky. He played with the Redskins, Packers, and Steelers from 1954-61.

Dick Szymakowski was a running back from West Texas A&M, who was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 1968 draft, and that was his lone year in the NFL.

Dan Yochum was a lineman who was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1972 draft from Syracuse. However, Yochum opted to play for Montreal of the CFL and had a one-year career there.

Mike Hartenstine was a defensive tackle for Penn State and was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 1975 draft. He had a stellar career with the Bears and Vikings from 1975-87.

Tom Donchez was a fourth-round pick of the Bills from Penn State in 1975. Donchez spent one season in the NFL between the Bills and Bears.

Finally, there was Devin Street, a wide receiver from Pitt who was drafted by Dallas in the fourth round in 2014. Street played for the Cowboys and Jets from 2014-16.

Mike Bundra was one of two Catasauqua stars, as he was a lineman chosen in the sixth round out of the University of Southern California by the Lions. Bundra played for the Lions, Browns Vikings, and Giants from 1962-65.

Jonathan Linton was a fifth-round pick of the Bills in 1998, and he spent two years there.

Chris Gerhard, an East Stroudsburg University grad, was a replacement or “scab” player for three games for the Eagles during the 1987 strike season.

Northampton quarterback Jim Druckenmiller was the top pick of the 49ers from Virginia Tech in 1997. Druckenmiller only had a two-year stint with the Niners (1997-98). The other Konkrete Kid was linebacker Dennis Onkontz from Penn State, and a third –round pick of the Jets in 1970. However, Onkontz suffered a career-ending knee injury in training camp.

Besides Barkley, other Zephyrs were linebacker Matt Millen, a second-round Raiders’ pick from Penn State in 1980, who played for the Raiders, 49ers, and Redskins from 1980-91; and center Dan Koppen, a fifth-round pick from Boston College of the Patriots in 2003. Koppen played for the Patriots and broncos from 2003-13.INSIDE THE

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By Jeff Moeller