05/05/08 - Dionte Allen, rFr, Florida State, 5-11, 172 (DS#12 CB) TOP NEWCOMERS: CB Dionte Allen -- Redshirted last year, Allen has impressed with speed and cover skills during spring. With Jamie Robinson moved to safety, the Seminoles need immediate backup help. Allen may be ready.
05/05/08 - Dionte Allen, rFr, Florida State, 5-11, 172 (DS#12 CB) CB Dionte Allen did not participate in the spring game because he tore a ligament in his left ankle. He will undergo surgery to repair the tear.
05/05/08 - Dionte Allen, rFr, Florida State, 5-11, 172 (DS#12 CB) SPRING MOVERS: CB Dionte Allen -- Redshirted last year, Allen has impressed with speed and cover skills during spring. With Jamie Robinson moved to safety, the Seminoles need immediate backup help. Allen may be ready.
05/02/08 - Cameron Colvin, Sr, Oregon, 6-2, 205 (DS#999 WR) Undrafted rookie free agent signed by 49ers: Colvin (6-3, 210) caught 74 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns as a collegian at Oregon despite a career that was often slowed by injuries. Colvin’s healthiest and most effective season came as a sophomore in 2005 when he caught 22 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns while starting all 12 of the team’s games. - 49ers Media
05/02/08 - Lance Brandenburgh, Sr, Nebraska, 6-1, 232 (DS#73 OLB) Undrafted rookie free agent signed by 49ers: Brandenburgh (6-1, 230) was a versatile member of Nebraska’s linebacking corps throughout his collegiate career, earning four letters while lining up at all three linebacker spots. He played in 41 games and made 118 career tackles. His most impressive year came as a senior in 2007 when he tallied 51 tackles before his campaign was cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury in the ninth game of the season. Brandenburgh was also a three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 choice (2005-07). - 49ers Media
05/01/08 - Zach Catanese, Sr, Arizona State, 6-2, 225 (DS#22 FS) The call came a year later than he thought, but Zach Catanese doesn't care. He's finally getting his shot with an NFL football team. Catanese, a Trinity High School and Shasta College product, signed as an undrafted free agent Monday with the New York Jets. Terms of the deal have yet to be finalized and Catanese still must pass a physical, but the former Knight is headed to East Coast to attend Jets mini-camp this weekend. Catanese, a two-year starting safety at Arizona State after transferring from Shasta College, was considered a draft prospect heading into last year's draft. However, a knee injury in his final collegiate game when Arizona State played in the Hawaii Bowl dropped his stock. He went undrafted, then unsigned. He's been rehabbing the injury, a partial tear of his left anterior cruciate ligament and a torn meniscus, hoping for a chance to show his football skills. "It's been a long road back," Catanese said. "I feel pretty good right now. My legs are stronger than before." In conversations with the Jets coaching staff, Catanese said he is being looked at either as an outside linebacker or at strong safety. He is also expected to contribute as a special teams player. - Jeffrey Jen, Record-Searchlight
05/01/08 - Nate McManus, Sr, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 312 (DS#999 OG) Undrafted rookie free agent signed by Saints: Nate McManus – Guard, Georgia Tech (6-3, 300): A three-year starter on the offensive line for the Yellow Jackets, McManus started 32 consecutive games at Georgia Tech before being sidelined midway through his senior season with a shoulder injury. A right guard throughout his collegiate career, the native of Birmingham, Alabama also filled in at center at times when called upon. - New Orleans Saints
05/01/08 - Julius Stinson, Sr, Wyoming, 5-09, 185 (DS#50 CB) This goes well beyond bad timing. Julius Stinson still seemed to be in shock on Monday. The Wyoming cornerback couldn't have torn his Achilles tendon at a worse time than during a workout on Thursday, just two days before the start of the NFL Draft. "My agent had to tell the teams, and it obviously didn't go too well," he said. "It was bad timing, very, very bad timing." Projected as a free-agent signee at a minimum, teams that had long been eying Stinson predictably didn't have a contract to offer a player facing six months of recovery after surgery on Friday. He'll do that rehab in Laramie with UW trainer Robb Williams and finish up school, and then Stinson will have to start the whole process over again. "I guess it just wasn't for me right now," he said. "It's OK. It happens sometimes; don't know why it happened, but it happened. "There's really nothing I can do about it. I've just got to work with it, move on to Plan B, get back as fast as I can and see what happens." - Jackson Hole Star-Tribune
04/30/08 - Billy Pittman, rSr, Texas, 5-11, 189 (DS#97 WR) Receiver Billy Pittman has become the fifth undrafted former Longhorn to sign a free-agent deal, agreeing to a contract with San Diego. Pittman was a big-play offensive weapon in 2005 and 2006. Injuries and an NCAA suspension for improper benefits resulted in a dropoff in his senior season. The other four Longhorns to sign as undrafted free agents are receiver Nate Jones and safety Marcus Griffin (Minnesota); defensive tackle Derek Lokey (Kansas City); and cornerback Brandon Foster (Indianapolis). - Suzanne Halliburton, Austin American-Statesman
04/30/08 - Eric Young, rSr, Tennessee, 6-4, 310 (DS#6 OG) Eric Young didn't get the call he hoped for during the NFL draft. He did, however, get some good news shortly after the draft concluded Sunday evening. Young, a Tennessee offensive lineman and Union product, signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. He'll head to Cleveland on Thursday for a mini-camp. "They're going to bring me in and get me healthy," Young said in a phone interview Monday. "So we'll see how it goes." Young said the Browns had expressed interest in him prior to the draft. Because of his health situation, they more than likely weren't going to be able to draft him, though. "I was on their board. But considering I wasn't healthy, it made it a different situation," he said. Young tore his left quadriceps tendon on Oct. 27 against South Carolina. He's been in Atlanta for the past three weeks rehabbing the injury and said he's about "80 percent" recovered. "(Cleveland) told me before the draft they liked me, but the injury kind of threw a monkey wrench in the situation," Young said. "If they didn't draft me, they planned on bringing me in anyway. They're taking a chance on me, and I'm hoping to make the most of it." - Matt Cobbs, Spartanburg Herald Journal
04/30/08 - Matt Hahn, Sr, Penn State, 6-0, 232 (DS#36 FB) Matt Hahn was having one of his best days carrying the ball for Penn State, with 43 yards on five carries against Indiana last Oct. 20. But on his final carry, a 14-yard gain in the fourth quarter, Hahn tore his right ACL, ending his college career. The 6-foot, 236-pound fullback knew being drafted into the NFL was a long shot, but the injury derailed any hopes at all of his being selected. It did not, however, deter him from continuing to pursue a pro football career. After an arduous rehab process, Hahn was signed by the Oakland Raiders yesterday as an undrafted free agent. "I'm blessed that my opportunity came right away," said the Dix Hills product, who played for St. Anthony's. "I'm surprised how quickly it happened. The Raiders liked my film and gave me a chance. It couldn't have worked out better for me. I'm in a good spot." Hahn, who turned 23 Friday, participated at pro day last month on a limited basis. He took the Wonderlic test, did bench-press reps and spoke with several coaches. "It was tough to stay positive," he said. "It was easy in the beginning because I was still around my [college] teammates. Then you see guys getting ready for pro day and you can't do anything and it got frustrating. I was getting some positive feedback, but some teams weren't interested at all. I just had to continue my rehab." - Adam Ronis, Newsday
04/29/08 - Cornelius Brown, Sr, Missouri, 5-11, 198 (DS#16 SS) The NFL draft came exactly six months to the day after Missouri safety Pig Brown shredded his right Achilles’ tendon on Oct. 27 against Iowa State. The former Tiger, though, could have a football future. After going undrafted this weekend, Brown has been invited to a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend with hopes of earning a rookie free-agent contract, his agent, Tim Rogers, said. "If things work out, they’ll sign him to a deal," Rogers said. "It’s a tryout, basically, but he’s a guy they’re obviously interested in signing." Brown will undergo a physical when he arrives, but Rogers said Brown has been fully cleared to work out by MU’s training staff. - Dave Matter, Columbia Daily Tribune
04/29/08 - Eric Young, rSr, Tennessee, 6-4, 310 (DS#6 OG) The Browns signed several free agents since the end of the NFL Draft on Sunday, according to several Web site reports. They added Iowa State tight end Ben Barkema, Tennessee center Eric Young, Missouri running back Tony Temple, Missouri cornerback Darnell Terrell, Illinois kicker Jason Reda, Illinois safety Justin Harrison, Notre Dame running back Travis Thomas and Tennessee defensive end Xavier Mitchell. - Akron Beacon Journal
04/29/08 - Patrick Cowan, rSr, UCLA, 6-5, 220 (DS#999 QB) UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan will have knee surgery and miss the 2008 season, the latest in a long string of quarterback setbacks for the Bruins. Cowan, who had edged out the also-injured Ben Olson for the starting job this spring, was carted off the field on Thursday after injuring his left knee while scrambling, and will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament. "All I know is I need the surgery and I'm not going to be able to play next season," Cowan said. Cowan missed eight games last season because of various injuries. He had already used a redshirt season, and was unsure whether he'd apply for a sixth year of eligibility. "I don't know. I wasn't expecting this. There are a lot of things that can happen at this point." Olson broke a bone in his right foot the same day Cowan was hurt, both in fluke injuries that did not involve contact. Olson, a 25-year-old slowed by injuries throughout his long college career, was considering surgery to have a screw put in the broken foot and was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks. He and junior college transfer Kevin Craft will compete for the starting job. - AP Sports
04/29/08 - Jeremy Leman, rSr, Illinois, 6-2, 245 (DS#18 ILB) Six former University of Illinois football players signed free agent contracts with National Football League teams, Sunday night following the completion off the 2008 amateur draft. Among the six were linebacker J Leman, safeties Justin Harrison and Kevin Mitchell, defensive tackle Chris Norwell, placekicker Jason Reda and offensive tackle Akim Millington. Leman, Illinois' latest consensus All-American, signed with the Minnesota Vikings where he will compete with eight other linebackers for a roster spot. Leman, the leader of a defense that held five opponents under 100 yards rushing this season, was a finalist for the Ronnie Lott and Danny Weurrfel Award as well as a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. "You always hope that you see your name across the screen (for the draft)," Leman said. "But I am exactly where I want to be. (The Vikings) didn't draft a linebacker and they said they weren't going to sign any others. So I feel like I am in a great situation. I just want to get up there and work on trying to make the team." - Illinois Football
04/29/08 - Ryan Torain, Sr, Arizona State, 6-1, 222 (DS#24 RB) A closer look at the Broncos' picks: Round 5/139 -- Ryan Torain, RB, 6-0, 222, Arizona State - If Torain is healed from Lisfranc surgery, he could factor into the Broncos' running game. Torain is a talented back who slipped because of the injury, and the Broncos are looking for a workhorse back if Travis Henry doesn't bounce back strong.
04/29/08 - Kory Lichtensteiger, rSr, Bowling Green, 6-2, 298 (DS#4 C) A closer look at the Broncos' picks: Round 4/108 -- Kory Lichtensteiger, G/C, 6-3, 310, Bowling Green - Lichtensteiger had a good college career, and should fit the Broncos' offense well. He might have slipped a bit because of shoulder injuries. Most Broncos linemen sit and learn for a year after being drafted, so Lichtensteiger won't be rushed back. He can play guard or center.
04/29/08 - Ryan Torain, Sr, Arizona State, 6-1, 222 (DS#24 RB) DENVER BRONCOS COULD SURPRISE: Arizona State running back Ryan Torain couldn't have landed in a better situation as a fifth-round pick. The Broncos are looking for a permanent solution at running back, and the door will be open if Travis Henry isn't back at full speed. Torain said he is 100 percent healthy after foot surgery, and his size would be a good fit for the Broncos' offense, which has made 1,000-yard backs out of late draft picks before.
04/29/08 - Dennis Dixon, Sr, Oregon, 6-3, 195 (DS#10 QB) A closer look at the Steelers' picks: Round 5/156 -- Dennis Dixon, QB, 6-3, 198, Oregon -- For a team that has Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch, this was a surprise pick. He does have a great upside, however, once he fully recovers from his torn ACL that caused him to miss his final three games. He will get a chance to replace Batch as No. 2, probably in 2009, and serve as No. 3 until then.
04/29/08 - Tony Hills, rSr, Texas, 6-5, 309 (DS#16 OT) A closer look at the Steelers' picks: Round 4/130 -- Tony Hills, OT, 6-5, 309, Texas -- The Steelers were desperate for tackles but waited until late in the fourth round to find one. Hills started at left tackle for Longhorns, whose coaches told Steelers coaches that he's better than former Texas OT Jonathan Scott, now in Detroit. Pittsburgh has four experienced tackles but only one signed beyond 2008, starting right tackle Willie Colon. Hills has had various lower-body injuries since his high school days.
04/28/08 - *Jonathan Stewart, Jr, Oregon, 5-10, 235 (DS#3 RB) QUOTE TO NOTE: "My style of running is just all of the things that a great back has. I'm an explosive, powerful runner. I run north and south -- but mostly more north. I just try to make the best out of every opportunity when I get the ball, whether it is going around a defender or going through a defender. You have to do what it takes." --Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart
04/28/08 - *Jonathan Stewart, Jr, Oregon, 5-10, 235 (DS#3 RB) Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart said he idolizes Walter Payton. "Just his determination when he runs, and on every run that you see on his highlight there is that extra effort," Stewart said. "'I am never going to be tackled,' and that's the type of mantra that every running back should have or to punish the defender. Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and a new age running back would be LaDainian Tomlinson." Stewart also said he would love to return kicks for the Panthers. He did that well at Oregon. "I hope so. Returning kicks is another offensive possession. It's an opportunity to get the game rolling for the offense," Stewart said. The Panthers chose Jonathan Stewart over Illinois Rashard Mendenhall partly because of his size. Stewart is a stocky 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds. "He just brings just a little more power," said Don Gregory, the Panthers director of college scouting. "He's compact. In Stewart, he's a Jamal Lewis type -- that type with compact power, bouncing off tackles. Both of them are good backs, but I think for trying to be a power football team, he's just a better fit."
04/28/08 - *Jonathan Stewart, Jr, Oregon, 5-10, 235 (DS#3 RB) A closer look at the Panthers' picks: Round 1/13 -- Jonathan Stewart, RB, 5-11, 233, Oregon - Some believe Stewart is the most complete back in the draft. It might not take long to find out, because he's expected to split carries with DeAngelo Williams. Stewart gives the Panthers the big back they coveted.
04/28/08 - *Jonathan Stewart, Jr, Oregon, 5-10, 235 (DS#3 RB) Coach John Fox plans to pair Stewart in the backfield with DeAngelo Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2006. Carolina finished 14th in the league in rushing last season, averaging 114 yards per game on the ground and four yards per carry. However, the offense as a whole finished 29th in the league.
04/28/08 - Zackary Bowman, rSr, Nebraska, 6-1, 197 (DS#38 CB) Fifth-round pick Zackary Bowman was the No. 2 junior college recruit in the nation according to Rivals.com, when he left New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell to come to Nebraska. The 6-foot, 197-pound cornerback had 10 interceptions and 22 pass break-ups in junior college before an injury-plagued career at Nebraska that included major surgeries on both knees. He started just nine games in two years in Lincoln, but says his knees are fine now. "After the Combine they were really good," he said. "They're fine. I just want to keep them that way." Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel said Bowman was not 100 percent during his senior season, but he is now. "He had a great Combine," Gabriel said. "We took him with the idea that he's 100 percent recovered."
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