Three Illini Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts
May 2, 2016 | Football
WR Allison to Packers, CB Bentley to Patriots, RB Ferguson to Colts
NFL Draft Recaps: Ward Picked in 2nd Round | Karras, Fejedelem Drafted on Day 3
A trio of former Illinois football players signed NFL free agent contrats, joining the three Illini that were picked during the NFL Draft. WR Geronimo Allison (Green Bay Packers), CB V'Angelo Bentley (New England Patriots) and RB Josh Ferguson (Indianapolis Colts) will all have a shot to make their NFL dreams a reality after signing undrafted free agent (UDFA) deals following the draft.
WR Geronimo Allison » The 6-4 wide out was the Illini's No. 1 target in 2015, leading the team with 65 receptions and 882 receiving yards, ranking in the top five in the Big Ten in both receptions per game (fourth) and receiving yards per game (fifth), while also scoring three touchdowns. In two seasons at Illinois, Allison totaled 106 catches for 1,480 yards and eight touchdowns.
DB V'Angelo Bentley » One of the more versatile players in the nation, Bentley was a three-year starter at cornerback, a four-year star in the return game and saw some time as a running back in 2015. He's the career kick return yardage record holder at Illinois (1,860 yards) and is only player in program history with a kick return, punt return, interception return and fumble return for a touchdown in his career. During his four years, he totaled 133 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, one sack, two interceptions, 15 PBUs, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Bentley ranks third on the UI career punt return average list (11.0 ypr) and fourth on the career punt return yardage list (550).
RB Josh Ferguson » Ferguson was the most electric player on offense for the Illini, averaging 6.0 yards per touch in 2015. The senior running back led the team with 988 all-purpose yards, despite missing three games with an injury, and scored five touchdowns to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. Ferguson finished is career ranked second in Illinois history in all-purpose yards (4,474), third in receptions (168), sixth in rushing yards (2,586) and seventh in career touchdowns (26).
The free agent trio joins DE Jihad Ward (Raiders, 2nd round), OG Ted Karras (Patriots, 6th round) and S Clayton Fejedelem (Bengals, 7th round) who all were selected in the NFL Draft over the weekend.
The six Illini will look to join a long list of former Fighting Illini in the NFL. In 2015, a total of 16 former Illini were on NFL rosters. Rookie minicamps run May 6-9 or May 13-16 depending on the team.
Illinois has a rich history in the NFL Draft with at least one Fighting Illini player selected in 41 of the last 44 years. The program also had a habit of producing undrafted NFL contributors, like recent NFL veterans Steve Weatherford (NFL 10 seasons) and Pierre Thomas (9 seasons), and current NFL Players Jeff Cumberland (6 seasons, currently with the Chargers), Justin Staples (2 seasons, currently with the Titans) and Matt LaCosse (1 season, currently with the Giants).
3 drafted + 3 signed. ?? #Illini @JoshFerguson_6 ?? @Colts @813MrFreakShow ?? @packers @VBentley_2 ?? @Patriots pic.twitter.com/Lwa7ENU14c
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) May 2, 2016
