Mr. Laz
04-27-2005, 11:25 AM
Titans sign 36 undrafted free agents
By Terry McCormick, tmccormick@nashvillecitypaper.com
April 26, 2005
When Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher was discussing the perceived pecking order of his three new rookie receiver draft picks, he was quick to say that draft status no longer mattered for Courtney Roby, Brandon Jones and Roydell Williams.
“It no longer matters where they were drafted,” Fisher said. “We’ll play the guys that can play and that are productive, that can learn and go out there and be productive.”
For the 36 undrafted free agents (UFAs) that latched on with the Titans Monday, the quote from Fisher should read, “It no longer matters if they were drafted …”
That’s the hope that those three dozen players just looking for a shot, no matter how long it is, are hanging on as they join Tennessee’s 11 draft picks in arriving later this week for orientation at Baptist Sports Park.
Among that group (see accompanying list) are some area players of interest that include Tennessee State running back Charles Anthony, Tennessee defensive end Karlton Neal and running back Corey Larkins, Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, Memphis fullback Robert Douglas and Lambuth offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers.
Barring forays into free agency or waiver wire pickups, some UFAs could have solid opportunities to land on the 53-man roster.
Even after the draft, the Titans had just three running backs and two quarterbacks on the roster. With only five wideouts, there could be room for another addition there, and another defensive lineman making the team is not out of the question.
One of the more interesting players among the undrafted group is Syracuse running back Walter Reyes, who fell all the way to undrafted status after a poor senior season in part because of a shoulder injury. That came on the heels of 1,347 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior.
“We had a draftable grade on him and thought about taking him at one point,” Titans general manager Floyd Reese said. “… If he can get back to playing the way he did as a junior, we might have something.”
Quarterback Gino Guidugli of Cincinnati is another player the Titans had a draftable grade on who was considered with a pick Sunday.
The Titans also signed former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall.
Titans Undrafted Free Agents
Player School
WR Jason Anderson Wake Forest
RB Charles Anthony Tennessee State
LB Brian Atkinson Northern Illinois
DE Todd Bates Alabama
QB Shane Boyd Kentucky
WR Chris Bush Tulane
WR Vincent Cartwright Houston
DT Brandon Dabdoub Colorado
WR Ellis Debrow Delta State
FB Jimmy Dixon Georgia Tech
FB Robert Douglas Memphis
LB Nigel Eldridge Alabama-Birmingham
OL Mike Erickson Nebraska
QB Gino Guidugli Cincinnati
TE Ben Hall Clemson
CB Antoine Harris Louisville
LB Travis Harris Florida
DB Sindey Haugabrook Delaware
S Jamacia Jackson South Carolina
RB Terry Jackson Southern Illinois
WR Earvin Johnson UNLV
RB Corey Larkins Tennessee
DE Karlton Neal Tennessee
WR Alonzo Nix Chattanooga
QB Marcus Randall LSU
RB Walter Reyes Syracuse
T Stefan Rodgers Lambuth
C Joel Rodriguez Miami-Fl.
LB Robert Rodriguez Texas-El Paso
G Will Rogers Mississippi State
WR O.J. Small Florida
DE Kenneth Smith Benedict College
TE Jimmy St. Louis Murray State
CB Kevin Timothee Florida International
DT Marcus White Murray State
DE Alton Wright Miami-Fla.
By Terry McCormick, tmccormick@nashvillecitypaper.com
April 26, 2005
When Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher was discussing the perceived pecking order of his three new rookie receiver draft picks, he was quick to say that draft status no longer mattered for Courtney Roby, Brandon Jones and Roydell Williams.
“It no longer matters where they were drafted,” Fisher said. “We’ll play the guys that can play and that are productive, that can learn and go out there and be productive.”
For the 36 undrafted free agents (UFAs) that latched on with the Titans Monday, the quote from Fisher should read, “It no longer matters if they were drafted …”
That’s the hope that those three dozen players just looking for a shot, no matter how long it is, are hanging on as they join Tennessee’s 11 draft picks in arriving later this week for orientation at Baptist Sports Park.
Among that group (see accompanying list) are some area players of interest that include Tennessee State running back Charles Anthony, Tennessee defensive end Karlton Neal and running back Corey Larkins, Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd, Memphis fullback Robert Douglas and Lambuth offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers.
Barring forays into free agency or waiver wire pickups, some UFAs could have solid opportunities to land on the 53-man roster.
Even after the draft, the Titans had just three running backs and two quarterbacks on the roster. With only five wideouts, there could be room for another addition there, and another defensive lineman making the team is not out of the question.
One of the more interesting players among the undrafted group is Syracuse running back Walter Reyes, who fell all the way to undrafted status after a poor senior season in part because of a shoulder injury. That came on the heels of 1,347 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior.
“We had a draftable grade on him and thought about taking him at one point,” Titans general manager Floyd Reese said. “… If he can get back to playing the way he did as a junior, we might have something.”
Quarterback Gino Guidugli of Cincinnati is another player the Titans had a draftable grade on who was considered with a pick Sunday.
The Titans also signed former LSU quarterback Marcus Randall.
Titans Undrafted Free Agents
Player School
WR Jason Anderson Wake Forest
RB Charles Anthony Tennessee State
LB Brian Atkinson Northern Illinois
DE Todd Bates Alabama
QB Shane Boyd Kentucky
WR Chris Bush Tulane
WR Vincent Cartwright Houston
DT Brandon Dabdoub Colorado
WR Ellis Debrow Delta State
FB Jimmy Dixon Georgia Tech
FB Robert Douglas Memphis
LB Nigel Eldridge Alabama-Birmingham
OL Mike Erickson Nebraska
QB Gino Guidugli Cincinnati
TE Ben Hall Clemson
CB Antoine Harris Louisville
LB Travis Harris Florida
DB Sindey Haugabrook Delaware
S Jamacia Jackson South Carolina
RB Terry Jackson Southern Illinois
WR Earvin Johnson UNLV
RB Corey Larkins Tennessee
DE Karlton Neal Tennessee
WR Alonzo Nix Chattanooga
QB Marcus Randall LSU
RB Walter Reyes Syracuse
T Stefan Rodgers Lambuth
C Joel Rodriguez Miami-Fl.
LB Robert Rodriguez Texas-El Paso
G Will Rogers Mississippi State
WR O.J. Small Florida
DE Kenneth Smith Benedict College
TE Jimmy St. Louis Murray State
CB Kevin Timothee Florida International
DT Marcus White Murray State
DE Alton Wright Miami-Fla.