Five More SLC Players Sign NFL Free Agent Agreements
May 1, 2007
FRISCO, Texas -
A pair of former Southeastern Louisiana football standouts signed free agent deals on Monday as Demoris Hardiman inked a deal with the Detroit Lions while former Loranger standout Donald Usry signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
"We're extremely happy for both Pinkne and Donald and what they have accomplished during their career here at Southeastern," Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. "They have each worked incredibly hard to continue their football careers at the next level and now both will get a chance to fulfill their dreams of playing in the NFL."
Hardimon, who spent two seasons as Southeastern's starting linebacker and was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference, led the team with 70 tackles, including six tackles for loss in 2006. The Grenada, Miss., native recorded a career-high 15 stops in Southeastern's season-opener at New Mexico State, with three stops for loss.
Usry, a four-year starter at center and two-time All-SLC selection, appeared in 36 games in his career and anchored an offensive line that set numerous school passing records during the first three years in the "Air Raid" offense before helping Jay Lucas finish as the SLC's fifth-leading rusher in 2006.
NORTHWESTERN STATE
Three Northwestern State players, including two-time All-America defensive tackle Tory Collins and career receiving leader Derrick Doyle, are heading to NFL teams later this week as free agents.
Collins and Doyle each signed with the reigning NFC champion Chicago Bears and will participate in mini-camp activities beginning Friday. Cornerback Chad Johnson is joining the Minnesota Vikings for mini-camp starting Thursday.
"We're about winning championships and graduating our players, but giving guys the chance to live out their dreams of playing professional football is way up on the priority list, too," said sixth-year Demons coach Scott Stoker. "Northwestern has an amazing track record of sending players to the NFL. We've had more than our share of draft picks and we've had guys defy the odds to make it as free agents or even as the last guy chosen in the draft.
"We're very happy for these guys to get the opportunity to compete at the highest level," he said. "They've earned it."
Collins and Doyle helped NSU win the 2004 Southland Conference title.
Northwestern didn't have a player chosen in the two-day NFL Draft for only the second time in the past 11 years.
Collins (6-3, 280), a New Orleans-Fortier product, is the 40th Demon all-time to win All-America honors at any level. He is the eighth Northwestern football player to be a two-time All-American, joining Joe Delaney, Marcus Spears, Mike Green, Al Dodd, Gary Reasons, William Broussard and Jamall Johnson.
Collins, a three-year starter and a three-year All-Southland Conference selection, made 185 career tackles, 64 in his junior season. He had 33 tackles for loss in 45 career games.
Doyle (5-11, 175), from Monroe-Wossman, shattered NSU's career record for pass receptions with 124 (the old record was 99) and had 30 catches to lead NSU in receiving for the third straight season.
He overcome offseason surgeries on both shins and put up team-high numbers while the Demons used three QBs, two whom had never played college football before. Doyle finished fourth all-time in receiving yardage at NSU after starting every game in his career, playing as a true freshman
In 2006, Doyle had 30 catches for 356 yards (11.9 avg.) with one touchdown while receiving honorable mention All-SLC recognition.
Johnson (5-11, 200), a Shreveport-Evangel product, played his first two seasons at Texas Tech, starting as a true freshman at cornerback. He sat out the 2006 season after transferring to NSU, but chose to move toward a professional career in 2007.
Collins transferred from LSU before his redshirt freshman season and eventually became a Dean's List student. After a Football Gazette All-America campaign in his junior season helped him earn consensus preseason All-America honors in 2006, Collins faced double-teams all season long. He finished with 33 tackles, including 4.5 behind the line, and had six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick against a schedule including games at Kansas, Baylor and Ole Miss.
The Demons led the Southland Conference in rushing defense and total defense.
He had surgery in December for a torn biceps that he injured in the season opener at Kansas. He continued to play all season despite being limited by the injury.