The Cleveland Browns don't make a habit of announcing the names of rookie
free agents signed by the club until they pass physicals and are present for the
team's rookie came (which starts this weekend, and is open to the media on
Friday and Saturday).
Despite this, the OBR previously identified both
a wide receiver signed by the
club and a defender who had
been targeted.
Unlike the team itself, players signed to contracts (and their agents) are
not nearly as reticent to mention the signings to local papers, which has
provided the fanatic Browns fans
in the Watercooler with opportunity to sniff out a number of players who
will don the orange and brown this weekend for a chance to make the team.
Here are the players who have been uncovered by the perspicacious dawgs in
the Cooler:
RB Curtis Brown, Brigham Young
http://www.byucougars.com/Filing.jsp?ID=9262
Brown is the Cougar's all-time leading rusher and is a three-year starter
awarded All-Conference honors every season since his sophomore campaign. Led the
team in rushing as a senior, posting 201/1,010/10 and also the top pass catcher
posting 62/565/3. Junior rushing totals were 1,095-yards and 14 touchdowns.
RB Tyrone Moss, Miami of Florida
http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/91107.html
Played in eight games last season, missing five with assorted injuries and
suspensions. Accumulated 66/285/3 on the ground. Posted numbers of 137/701/12 as
a starter in eight games during his junior campaign before tearing a knee
ligament.
OT Brent Pousson, McNeese State
http://mcneesesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042907aab.html
Three-year starter at left guard and left tackle. All-Conference selection as a
senior.
RB Jerome Jackson, Michigan
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2007/04/nfl_teams_sign_um_players.html
Reserve running back for the Wolverines, who gained 213 yards in 28 carries
during his senior year, with two touchdowns. Jackson scored eight touchdowns
during his four-year college career.
WR Willy Idlette, Wake Forest
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/APS/704301545
Wide reciever and punter returner for the Demon Deacons, who had 37
receptions in 2006 for 511 yards. Returned 22 punts for 202 yards in 2006, and
ran back 93 punts over his career at Wake Forest.
LB Funtaine Hunter, Vanderbilt
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/SPORTS0602/704300393/1345/SPORTS
Highly rated (three-star) OLB in the Scout.com draft database, Hunter is a
former tailback who came back from a 2004 knee injury to win the team's "Hustle
Award" as a junior. Ran a 4.43 40 in his Pro Day at Vandy and may get a look as
a defensive back.
DE Dustin Hertel, DePauw
http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=19395
Football Gazette D-III defensive lineman of the year, but isn't big enough
to play that position with the Browns. Will probably get a look-see at
linebacker.
FB Bryson Davis, Mississippi State
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/SPORTS030102/70430034/0/SPORTS
Big blocker who has rushed the ball only 20 times over a 27 game career,
although he has pulled down 29 passes for slightly over 200 yards.
LB Mike Alston, Toledo
http://nbc24.com/Global/story.asp?S=6449330&nav=menu122_4
One of the MAC's best pass rushers, the 6-2, 230-pound Alston hails from
Columbus and was named first-team All-MAC his junior and senior years by
CollegeFootballNews.com.
PK Jon Peattie, Miami
http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/92199.html
Rated a two-star kicker by Scout.com. Somewhat inconsistent but has good
distance, knocking through 50 and 55-yard field goals during his Senior
campaign.
TE Lawrence Tilly, Mississippi
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070501/SPORTS030103/705010353/1109
The blocking TE signed a tryout contract with the Browns after catching
three passes for 20 yards his senior year.
OL Scott Stephenson
http://www.ottumwacourier.com/iowasports/local_story_121011341.html
The Hawkeye center was named All-Big 12 his junior year and will try to take
advantage of the Browns thin depth chart at center.
FB Deriontae Taylor, Louisville
http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taylor_deriontae00.html
Played linebacker and running back for the Cardinals, handling the ball only
seven times during his college career. Nonetheless, will try out at fullback for
the Browns.
OL Rick Drushal, Wooster
http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1935712
Small-school left tackle (6-4, 295lb) was part of a senior class that won
more games (32) than any other in Wooster history.