packrulz
05-02-2006, 05:36 AM
By Rob Demovsky
PackersNews.com
Rookie fifth-round draft pick Ingle Martin is going to see a familiar face when he shows up for the Green Bay Packers’ minicamp on Friday, and there’s a good chance it will bring back some bad memories.
As a senior at Furman last season, Martin was about to lead a game-winning drive that would have put his team in the NCAA Division I-AA championship when the quarterback got sacked from behind and fumbled. The person who got to Martin and forced the turnover was Appalachian State defensive end Jason Hunter, who was one of the undrafted free agents the Packers signed shortly after this weekend’s draft.
“That was the play that solidified us going to the championship game,†Appalachian defensive line coach Mark Speir said Monday. “Then in the championship game, Jason recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.â€ÂÂ
If Hunter can make those kinds of plays when he gets to Green Bay, he’ll have a chance to beat the odds and make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent. The Packers did not announce any rookie free-agent signings Monday, a day after the draft, but the Press-Gazette was able to confirm through agents and college coaches that Hunter and four other players have agreed to terms and, if they pass their physicals, will take part in this weekend’s minicamp. The others were: tackle Josh Bourke of Grand Valley State, receiver Chris Francies of UTEP, defensive end Montez Murphy of Baylor and linebacker Byron Santiago of Louisiana Tech.
The Packers didn’t attend Hunter’s pro-day workout at the Boone, N.C., school but got wind of Hunter because Packers defensive line coach Robert Nunn used to work with one of Appalachian State’s assistants, Dale Jones. Jones told Nunn that Hunter was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.49 seconds, and the Packers became intrigued.
“Sure his 40 time impresses you,†Speir said, “but every scout that came in was amazed at how quickly he could change directions and accelerate.â€ÂÂ
Hunter started only one season because he missed his junior year because of academic problems.
“Heââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a great kid, but he got lazy and it bit him,†Speir said. “But it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He took 12 hours of summer school and turned into a great player. He doesn’t know how good he is.â€ÂÂ
He had a monster senior year that included 101 tackles and 13 sacks. He wasn’t heavily recruited out of Fayetteville, N.C., because he didn’t play football until his senior year. When he got to Appalachian State, he had only 195 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame. He played at 230 pounds as a senior and said Monday his weight was up to 240 pounds.
Five teams offered him contracts after the draft, but he picked the Packers over Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami and the New York Giants.
“Out of all those teams, the Packers seemed the most excited to have me,†Hunter said. “As soon as the draft was over, I talked to the GM, the head coach and various assistants. That made me feel good because they showed great interest in me.â€ÂÂ
General Manager Ted Thompson has said he expected to sign about a dozen undrafted free agents. Thompson doesn’t like to announce the signings until the paperwork has been completed and the players have passed their medical exams.
Bourke (6-7, 310) has played both right and left tackle for Division II Grand Valley State. He missed all of the 2004 season due to a torn medial collateral ligament in a knee but returned to start every game at left tackle last season. The native of Ontario, Canada, was a first-round draft pick in the Canadian Football League a year ago.
Francies (6-1, 193) caught 44 passes for 775 yards and five touchdowns last season at UTEP. He missed two games in the middle of the year due to a rib injury.
Murphy (6-5, 255) played two seasons at Baylor and started every game last year and recorded 9½ tackles for loss and 3½ sacks.
Santiago (6-2, 233) played in 44 games at Louisiana Tech, including 27 starts at outside linebacker.
In other roster moves, the Packers finally announced the signing of free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson, whose contract was completed last week. Woodson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, is expected to replace Ahmad Carroll in the starting lineup.
The Packers also released four players: linebacker Robert Thomas, receiver Willie Quinnie, punter Ryan Flinn and kicker Rhys Lloyd. Thomas started nine games last season. Flinn punted in the final two games of last season after B.J. Sander sustained a fractured leg. Neither Quinnie nor Lloyd ever played for the Packers.
PackersNews.com
Rookie fifth-round draft pick Ingle Martin is going to see a familiar face when he shows up for the Green Bay Packers’ minicamp on Friday, and there’s a good chance it will bring back some bad memories.
As a senior at Furman last season, Martin was about to lead a game-winning drive that would have put his team in the NCAA Division I-AA championship when the quarterback got sacked from behind and fumbled. The person who got to Martin and forced the turnover was Appalachian State defensive end Jason Hunter, who was one of the undrafted free agents the Packers signed shortly after this weekend’s draft.
“That was the play that solidified us going to the championship game,†Appalachian defensive line coach Mark Speir said Monday. “Then in the championship game, Jason recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.â€ÂÂ
If Hunter can make those kinds of plays when he gets to Green Bay, he’ll have a chance to beat the odds and make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent. The Packers did not announce any rookie free-agent signings Monday, a day after the draft, but the Press-Gazette was able to confirm through agents and college coaches that Hunter and four other players have agreed to terms and, if they pass their physicals, will take part in this weekend’s minicamp. The others were: tackle Josh Bourke of Grand Valley State, receiver Chris Francies of UTEP, defensive end Montez Murphy of Baylor and linebacker Byron Santiago of Louisiana Tech.
The Packers didn’t attend Hunter’s pro-day workout at the Boone, N.C., school but got wind of Hunter because Packers defensive line coach Robert Nunn used to work with one of Appalachian State’s assistants, Dale Jones. Jones told Nunn that Hunter was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.49 seconds, and the Packers became intrigued.
“Sure his 40 time impresses you,†Speir said, “but every scout that came in was amazed at how quickly he could change directions and accelerate.â€ÂÂ
Hunter started only one season because he missed his junior year because of academic problems.
“Heââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s a great kid, but he got lazy and it bit him,†Speir said. “But it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He took 12 hours of summer school and turned into a great player. He doesn’t know how good he is.â€ÂÂ
He had a monster senior year that included 101 tackles and 13 sacks. He wasn’t heavily recruited out of Fayetteville, N.C., because he didn’t play football until his senior year. When he got to Appalachian State, he had only 195 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame. He played at 230 pounds as a senior and said Monday his weight was up to 240 pounds.
Five teams offered him contracts after the draft, but he picked the Packers over Atlanta, Cleveland, Miami and the New York Giants.
“Out of all those teams, the Packers seemed the most excited to have me,†Hunter said. “As soon as the draft was over, I talked to the GM, the head coach and various assistants. That made me feel good because they showed great interest in me.â€ÂÂ
General Manager Ted Thompson has said he expected to sign about a dozen undrafted free agents. Thompson doesn’t like to announce the signings until the paperwork has been completed and the players have passed their medical exams.
Bourke (6-7, 310) has played both right and left tackle for Division II Grand Valley State. He missed all of the 2004 season due to a torn medial collateral ligament in a knee but returned to start every game at left tackle last season. The native of Ontario, Canada, was a first-round draft pick in the Canadian Football League a year ago.
Francies (6-1, 193) caught 44 passes for 775 yards and five touchdowns last season at UTEP. He missed two games in the middle of the year due to a rib injury.
Murphy (6-5, 255) played two seasons at Baylor and started every game last year and recorded 9½ tackles for loss and 3½ sacks.
Santiago (6-2, 233) played in 44 games at Louisiana Tech, including 27 starts at outside linebacker.
In other roster moves, the Packers finally announced the signing of free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson, whose contract was completed last week. Woodson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, is expected to replace Ahmad Carroll in the starting lineup.
The Packers also released four players: linebacker Robert Thomas, receiver Willie Quinnie, punter Ryan Flinn and kicker Rhys Lloyd. Thomas started nine games last season. Flinn punted in the final two games of last season after B.J. Sander sustained a fractured leg. Neither Quinnie nor Lloyd ever played for the Packers.