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May 2, 2006
Colts sign 3 from Hoosier colleges
Linebackers from Notre Dame and IU, Purdue receiver join club as free agents
By Mike Chappell
mike.chappell@indystar.com
The Indianapolis Colts' post-draft signings of undrafted players includes three from Indiana colleges.
It remains to be seen if there's a Dominic Rhodes or Gary Brackett in the bunch.
Among the 18 players signed to free agent contracts at the conclusion of the NFL draft were linebackers Brandon Hoyte of Notre Dame and Kyle Killion of Indiana and Purdue wide receiver Brian Hare.
Hoyte led the Irish in tackles and served as co-captain with quarterback Brady Quinn as a senior. Killion started 34 straight games for the Hoosiers and finished his career with 323 tackles, sixth in school history.
Also signed were quarterbacks Josh Betts of Miami (Ohio) and David Koral of UCLA; centers Albert Bimper of Colorado State and Russ Tanner of Georgia; kick returner Ashlan Davis of Tulsa, and offensive tackle Daniel Federkeil of the University of Calgary.
Also on the list are guard Chip Myrick of Clemson; defensive tackle Tom Johnson of Southern Mississippi; linebackers Dale Robinson of Arizona State and Cole Snyder of Idaho; tight end Corey Roberts of Sam Houston State; wide receivers Gerran Walker of Lehigh and Jamie Goodwin of Northern Iowa, and defensive backs Tanard Davis of Miami (Fla.) and Antwan Marsh of Pikeville (Ky.) College.
Ashlan Davis and Betts went undrafted despite compiling impressive college resumes.
Davis had 35 receptions for 451 yards and five touchdowns as a senior, but turned heads as a kick returner as a junior. He ranked third in the nation with a 30.6 average and returned an NCAA-record five kickoffs for touchdowns.
After Ben Roethlisberger was selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami turned the starting QB chores over to the 6-2, 215-pound Betts. He responded, finishing his career second to Roethlisberger in virtually every major school passing category. For his career, Betts passed for 7,029 yards and 54 touchdowns.
The Colts have had good luck finding quality players in the post-draft signing period.
That's the road Rhodes took to the roster in 2001, and he's situated atop the depth chart at running back in the wake of Edgerrin James' free-agent relocation to Arizona. Rhodes rushed for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie when James suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Brackett joined the team as an undrafted collegian in '03. After primarily contributing on special teams for two seasons, he earned the starting middle linebacker job in '05 and led the team with 131 tackles.
Number's available
First-round draft pick Joseph Addai will wear No. 29. That number is available since the Colts have opted not to re-sign defensive back Joseph Jefferson, who finished the '05 season on the injured-reserve list with a knee injury.
But while the Colts have no interest in re-signing Jefferson, a 2003 third-round draft pick, Jefferson wants another opportunity to play in the NFL.
James Ivler, Jefferson's agent, said Monday that Jefferson is on the mend after undergoing knee surgery and drawing interest from several teams.
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.
Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved link to story: www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
Colts sign 3 from Hoosier colleges
Linebackers from Notre Dame and IU, Purdue receiver join club as free agents
By Mike Chappell
mike.chappell@indystar.com
The Indianapolis Colts' post-draft signings of undrafted players includes three from Indiana colleges.
It remains to be seen if there's a Dominic Rhodes or Gary Brackett in the bunch.
Among the 18 players signed to free agent contracts at the conclusion of the NFL draft were linebackers Brandon Hoyte of Notre Dame and Kyle Killion of Indiana and Purdue wide receiver Brian Hare.
Hoyte led the Irish in tackles and served as co-captain with quarterback Brady Quinn as a senior. Killion started 34 straight games for the Hoosiers and finished his career with 323 tackles, sixth in school history.
Also signed were quarterbacks Josh Betts of Miami (Ohio) and David Koral of UCLA; centers Albert Bimper of Colorado State and Russ Tanner of Georgia; kick returner Ashlan Davis of Tulsa, and offensive tackle Daniel Federkeil of the University of Calgary.
Also on the list are guard Chip Myrick of Clemson; defensive tackle Tom Johnson of Southern Mississippi; linebackers Dale Robinson of Arizona State and Cole Snyder of Idaho; tight end Corey Roberts of Sam Houston State; wide receivers Gerran Walker of Lehigh and Jamie Goodwin of Northern Iowa, and defensive backs Tanard Davis of Miami (Fla.) and Antwan Marsh of Pikeville (Ky.) College.
Ashlan Davis and Betts went undrafted despite compiling impressive college resumes.
Davis had 35 receptions for 451 yards and five touchdowns as a senior, but turned heads as a kick returner as a junior. He ranked third in the nation with a 30.6 average and returned an NCAA-record five kickoffs for touchdowns.
After Ben Roethlisberger was selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami turned the starting QB chores over to the 6-2, 215-pound Betts. He responded, finishing his career second to Roethlisberger in virtually every major school passing category. For his career, Betts passed for 7,029 yards and 54 touchdowns.
The Colts have had good luck finding quality players in the post-draft signing period.
That's the road Rhodes took to the roster in 2001, and he's situated atop the depth chart at running back in the wake of Edgerrin James' free-agent relocation to Arizona. Rhodes rushed for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie when James suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Brackett joined the team as an undrafted collegian in '03. After primarily contributing on special teams for two seasons, he earned the starting middle linebacker job in '05 and led the team with 131 tackles.
Number's available
First-round draft pick Joseph Addai will wear No. 29. That number is available since the Colts have opted not to re-sign defensive back Joseph Jefferson, who finished the '05 season on the injured-reserve list with a knee injury.
But while the Colts have no interest in re-signing Jefferson, a 2003 third-round draft pick, Jefferson wants another opportunity to play in the NFL.
James Ivler, Jefferson's agent, said Monday that Jefferson is on the mend after undergoing knee surgery and drawing interest from several teams.
Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830.
Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved link to story: www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article
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