Teams take Arkansans as undrafted free agents
Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/224235/
FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas players who were not taken in the NFL Draft over the weekend started latching on to NFL clubs Monday.
Offensive guard Robert Felton signed a free-agent deal with Buffalo and will report for a minicamp in Buffalo, N. Y., on Thursday.
The Houston native was projected as a mid- to late-round choice by many analysts, and his versatility in playing all positions on the offensive line was regarded as a strength.
Cornerbacks Michael Grant and Matterral Richardson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Washington Redskins, respectively.
Linebacker Weston Dacus, who said he received interest from the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts before the draft, was taken by neither. The Searcy native has agreed to attend minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend.
Dacus has not yet signed with Kansas City.
Additionally, Fred Bledsoe has received an invitation to attend camp with the Green Bay Packers this week, though he has not signed a contract. Other Razorbacks hopeful of winding up in camps include safeties Matt Hewitt and Kevin Woods, and receivers Robert Johnson and Chris Baker. Arkansas State only had one player drafted, safety Tyrell Johnson (2 nd round, No. 43, Minnesota ), but cornerback Darren Toney (Lake Village ) has agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. Despite missing four games in 2007, Toney made two interceptions and returned them for a combined 32 yards and a
touch-1 down. He also had 27 tackles, 2 / 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Toney completed his career with 95 tackles and six interceptions.
Jason Jones, a former wide receiver at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, says he will sign a free agent contract with Buffalo later this week.
Jones, of Forrest City, averaged 20. 8 yards per reception during his career at UAPB, setting both school and Southwestern Athletic Conference career records. Jones also holds UAPB records for receiving yards (2, 227 ) and touchdown catches (22 ).