Football: Five Sign Free Agent Deals
April 25, 2005 04:29 PM | General
April 25, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Five former West Virginia University football players bypassed in the yesterday’s NFL draft have signed free agent contracts.
 |
||
| Running back Kay-Jay Harris signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins Sunday.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
Offensive tackle Mike Watson signed with the Carolina Panthers, running back Kay-Jay Harris signed with the Miami Dolphins and center Tim Brown signed with the Houston Texans Sunday night.
Today, wide receiver Eddie Jackson signed with the New York Jets and defensive tackle Ben Lynch signed with the Washington Redskins.
Harris and Watson were both projected as possible late-round picks after being invited to the Senior Bowl. Harris set a school record by rushing for 337 yards in the season opener against East Carolina and also topped 100 yards in a game against Maryland (142), Boston College (112) and Florida State (134). The 6-foot-1-inch, 240-pound running back finished the season rushing for 825 yards and scoring nine touchdowns in 11 games.
Watson was a two-year starter at left tackle who started every game his senior season. Watson got his chance in 2003 when an injury to Jeff Berk moved him into the starting lineup against Rutgers.
Tim Brown got a sixth season of eligibility in 2004 after missing all of 2003 due to an Achilles tendon injury two days before the season opener against Wisconsin. Brown earned first-team all-Big East honors as a senior in 2004 and was invited to play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic all-star game.
Jackson played one year with the Mountaineers in 2004 after transferring from Washington. The 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound receiver caught 18 passes for 246 yards including a season-best five grabs for 52 yards in a win against Temple.
Lynch, a 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound defensive tackle, was one of the most productive defensive linemen during the past two seasons in Big East play. The Oil City, Pa., native earned first-team all-Big East honors after collecting 42 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and a sack as a senior. His junior year he accumulated 64 tackles, 13 tackles for losses and a pair of sacks in helping WVU to a Gator Bowl berth.
Defensive end Jason Hardee and linebacker Adam Lehnortt are also expected to sign free agent contracts soon.
Yesterday, quarterback Rasheed Marshall was taken in the fifth round of the draft by the San Francisco 49ers as a wide receiver. Cornerback Pacman Jones was taken in the first round by the Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Chris Henry was selected in the third round by the Cincinnati Bengals.
