Six Illini Land NFL Free Agent Deals
April 27, 2008 | Football
April 27, 2008
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J Leman |
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."
Also key members of Illinois' strong defensive play this year are Norwell, who signed with the AFC Champion New England Patriot squad, Harrison, who will head to Cleveland, and Mitchell, who struck a deal with the Washington Redskins. Norwell joins a defensive line in New England that averaged allowing fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. Harrison's physical style could be a good fit for the Browns' scheme. He will camp with a squad that didn't draft a safety and lists only three safeties on its depth chart. Mitchell heads East to Washington to be one of three safeties competing for two jobs.
Typically not a draft-heavy position, Illini placekicker Reda will join Harrison in Cleveland to compete for the starting job against a 10-year veteran from Texas, Phil Dawson. Millington will join two other fellow Illini, Pierre Thomas and Steve Weatherford, in New Orleans with the Saints.
In addition to those six, fullback Russ Weil and safety Justin Sanders have been invited to workout with teams during the upcoming mini-camp sessions. Weil will be heading to Chicago, while Sanders will participate with the Lions.
