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NFL draft End was near, but Bears take Ohio State's Barton Monday, April 28, 2008 3:16 AM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH  RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH "At
least someone wanted me and was willing to give me a chance. But, oh
man, was it a long day." — Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton The Ohio State offensive tackle was projected to be taken anywhere from the fourth to the sixth
round. But as the seventh round came and he was still sitting, undrafted, in his Canton home,
Barton was suffering.
"It was hard, down towards the last 30, 20, 10 picks, wondering, 'Is it going to happen?' "
Barton said.
It did happen, finally. Chicago drafted him with the 247th overall pick, with just five picks
left in the draft.
He was the third and final Buckeyes player drafted. Defensive end Vernon Gholston went sixth
overall to the New York Jets on Saturday, and linebacker Larry Grant was a seventh-round selection
(214th overall) of San Francisco yesterday.
Two OSU fullbacks signed free-agent deals immediately after the draft: Dionte Johnson with
Arizona and Tyler Whaley with Cincinnati.
But of them all, Barton had the most difficult weekend. He was a four-year starter for OSU, and
last season earned all-Big Ten and All-America honors.
Barton said he's not sure why he slipped. He does know the experience will send him to the Bears
with something to prove.
"I'll be ready to go for minicamp," he said. "At least someone wanted me and was willing to give
me a chance. But, oh man, was it a long day."
Grant was drafted about where he was projected to go -- late, if at all.
He was thrilled the 49ers drafted him. It will be a homecoming for Grant, who spent the majority
of his childhood in California and also played the 2004 and 2005 seasons at San Francisco City
College before transferring to Ohio State.
He spent the draft with family in Sacramento, Calif.
"I've got a lot of family in the San Francisco area," Grant said. "My emotions are out of
control right now, I'm so happy and excited."
Johnson feels he's in good hands with Arizona. The running backs coach who called him numerous
times yesterday is Maurice Carthon, a former New York Giants teammate of Dionte's father, Pepper
Johnson.
Dionte was looking forward to heading to Glendale, Ariz., for minicamp this weekend.
"I've got some unfinished business in that stadium," he said, referring to Ohio State's loss to
Florida in January 2007.
Whaley's signing was a bit of a surprise, but it fits his pattern. He walked on to Ohio State
five years ago as an offensive lineman, and he didn't see significant playing time until switching
to fullback in 2007.
He parlayed that year of experience into a $3,000 signing bonus and a chance to make the roster
of the Bengals, his favorite team as a kid growing up in Ironton, Ohio.
"It's another dream come true, just like walking on to Ohio State," Whaley said. "I couldn't ask
for more." |
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Arizona Cardinals
CARDINALS AGREE TO TERMS WITH 13 ROOKIE FREE AGENTS
Tempe,
AZ – The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team
has agreed to terms on contracts with 13 rookie free agents. Terms were
not disclosed.
Notable Cardinals who entered the league as
undrafted rookie free agents include QB Kurt Warner, CB Rod Hood, RB
Marcel Shipp, C Lyle Sendlein, and FS Aaron Francisco.
Defensive
end JASON BANKS (6-5, 300) from Grambling appeared in 12 games with
nine starts in 2007 and collected 23 tackles. He appeared in 10 games
(five starts) as a junior in 2006 and had 29 tackles, one sack, and one
forced fumble. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Banks starred at McKinley
High School in both football and track.
McNeese State
cornerback MARCUS BROWN (6-2, 200) appeared in 36 games with 28 starts
during his four years with the Cowboys and collected 151 tackles (99
solos), 14 passes defensed and four interceptions. He started all 12
games in 2007 and collected 52 tackles (35 solos), four interceptions,
nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Brown was also a member of the track team at McNeese State where he
qualified for NCAA regionals in both the long jump and the triple jump
three straight years.
Tackle PETER CLIFFORD (6-7, 312) from
Michigan State started all 13 games for the Spartans in 2007 and was
one of four team captains. For his career, Clifford appeared in 30
games with 19 starts at both tackle and guard. He was also a two-time
academic All-Big Ten selection twice during his time at Michigan State.
Mississippi Valley State tackle THADDEUS COLEMAN (6-8, 308) is
a former tight end who switched to offensive tackle after his freshman
season. He started his final two seasons at MVSU and earned
All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first-team honors in 2006 and
2007.
Defensive tackle KEILEN DYKES (KEE-len) (6-3, 294) from
West Virginia started 44 games during his career with the Mountaineers
and was part of a team that won three bowl games. He was an All-Big
East Conference first-team selection in 2007 where as a team captain he
started all 13 games and collected 32 tackles (18 solos), three sacks
and three recovered fumbles. He also returned an interception 19 yards
for a touchdown. He finished his West Virginia career with 130 tackles
(69 solos), 12.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss.
LSU
linebacker ALI HIGHSMITH (6-0, 223) was a three-year starter for the
Tigers who was an All-American first-team selection in 2007 by the NFL
Draft Report, Associated Press and CBS Sports.com. He was a
semi-finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in the
country, while starting all 14 games for the National Champion Tigers.
He tied for the team lead with a career-high 101 tackles (49 solos) and
also had three sacks, and eight passes defensed. He finished his
collegiate career with 260 tackles (116 solos), 11 sacks, three forced
fumbles, and one interception while starting in 38 of the 52 games he
appeared in.
Ohio State fullback DIONTE JOHNSON (6-0, 238),
the son of former NFL linebacker and current New England Patriots
assistant coach Pepper Johnson, played in all 13 games in 2007 while
starting six contests. He finished his career appearing in 42 games
mostly as a blocking fullback and special teams performer. He carried
the ball five times for nine yards and caught two passes for five yards
during his career as a Buckeye.
Free safety DENNIS KEYES (6-2,
199) from UCLA was a three-year starter who finished his college career
with 252 tackles (176 solos), four interceptions, five forced fumbles
and 17 passes defensed. He started all 12 games for the Bruins in 2007
and led the team with a career high 106 tackles (68 solos) and three
interceptions earning him honorable mention All-Pac 10 last year.
Mississippi
State wide receiver LANCE LONG (5-11, 186) appeared in 35 games for the
Bulldogs after transferring from Toledo following his freshman season.
He played in all 12 games in 2007 as a reserve wide receiver and key
contributor on special teams where he collected 14 receptions for 103
yards. He finished his Bulldog career with 46 receptions for 321 yards
and one touchdown while also returning four kicks for 59 yards.
Guard
CARLTON MEDDER (6-5, 319) from Florida was a two-year starter for the
Gators at right tackle including starting the National Championship
game vs. Ohio State at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007. Last
season he earned All-SEC second-team honors from the league’s coaches
while starting all 13 games. For his career, Medder appeared in 37
games with 25 starts.
Quarterback ANTHONY MORELLI (6-4,
231) from Penn State completed a school record 234 passes on 402
attempts (58.2%) for 2,651 yards and 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
as a senior in 2007. The 2,651 yards passing are good for second
(2,679, Kerry Collins) in Nittany Lions history and the 19 touchdowns
are good for fourth on the school’s single season list. He finished his
college career second in pass completions (460), third in pass attempts
(821), fifth in passing yards (5,275) and sixth in touchdown passes
(31) with 26 starts in 37 games played.
Defensive end BRYAN
ROBINSON (6-3, 297) from Wesley College in Delaware finished his
collegiate career by setting the school’s all-time sack record with 47
including collecting 11.5 during his senior season. He was named to the
AP Little All-America first-team and the D3football.com All-America
first-team in 2007 while starting all 13 games and collecting 88
tackles (37 solos), and 28 tackles for loss. He finished his collegiate
career with 332 tackles (150 solos), 47 sacks, 96 tackles for loss, 13
forced fumbles, 26 passes defensed, and six fumble recoveries.
Guard
HERCULES SATELE (sah-TELL-ay) (6-2, 308) from Hawaii started in all 13
games in 2007 and was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference
for an offense that finished first in the country in scoring (46.2)
second in passing (450.2) and third in total offense (529.2). He
appeared in 37 games and started the last 27 at left guard for the
Warriors. |
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Arizona signs 13 undrafted rookie free agents
Associated Press - April 28, 2008 9:24 PM ET TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with 13 undrafted rookie free agents on Monday.
The group includes Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli. Morelli
completed a school record 234 passes in 402 attempts for 2,651 yards
and 19 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions.
Others who agreed to sign with Arizona are defensive end Jason Banks
of Grambling, cornerback Marcus Brown of McNeese State, offensive
tackle Peter Clifford of Michigan State and offensive tackle Thaddeus
Coleman of Mississippi Valley State.
Also signing with Arizona, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes of West
Virginia, linebacker Ali Highsmith of LSU, fullback Dionte Johnson of
Ohio State, free safety Dennis Keyes of UCLA, wide receiver Lance Long
of Mississippi State and offensive guard Carlton Medder of Florida.
Arizona also signed defensive end Bryan Robinson of Wesley College and guard Hercules Satele of Hawaii. |
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