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4/28/2008 10:03 AM
 
FB Dionte Johnson  (United States)
NFL draft
End was near, but Bears take Ohio State's Barton
Monday,  April 28, 2008 3:16 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
"At least someone wanted me and was willing to give me a chance. But, oh man, was it a long day." — Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton
RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH
"At least someone wanted me and was willing to give me a chance. But, oh man, was it a long day." — Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton
Though he tried to remain calm, Kirk Barton couldn't help but get upset as he watched the waning picks in the NFL draft yesterday.

The Ohio State offensive tackle was projected to be taken anywhere from the fourth to the sixth round. But as the seventh round came and he was still sitting, undrafted, in his Canton home, Barton was suffering.

"It was hard, down towards the last 30, 20, 10 picks, wondering, 'Is it going to happen?' " Barton said.

It did happen, finally. Chicago drafted him with the 247th overall pick, with just five picks left in the draft.

He was the third and final Buckeyes player drafted. Defensive end Vernon Gholston went sixth overall to the New York Jets on Saturday, and linebacker Larry Grant was a seventh-round selection (214th overall) of San Francisco yesterday.

Two OSU fullbacks signed free-agent deals immediately after the draft: Dionte Johnson with Arizona and Tyler Whaley with Cincinnati.

But of them all, Barton had the most difficult weekend. He was a four-year starter for OSU, and last season earned all-Big Ten and All-America honors.

Barton said he's not sure why he slipped. He does know the experience will send him to the Bears with something to prove.

"I'll be ready to go for minicamp," he said. "At least someone wanted me and was willing to give me a chance. But, oh man, was it a long day."

Grant was drafted about where he was projected to go -- late, if at all.

He was thrilled the 49ers drafted him. It will be a homecoming for Grant, who spent the majority of his childhood in California and also played the 2004 and 2005 seasons at San Francisco City College before transferring to Ohio State.

He spent the draft with family in Sacramento, Calif.

"I've got a lot of family in the San Francisco area," Grant said. "My emotions are out of control right now, I'm so happy and excited."

Johnson feels he's in good hands with Arizona. The running backs coach who called him numerous times yesterday is Maurice Carthon, a former New York Giants teammate of Dionte's father, Pepper Johnson.

Dionte was looking forward to heading to Glendale, Ariz., for minicamp this weekend.

"I've got some unfinished business in that stadium," he said, referring to Ohio State's loss to Florida in January 2007.

Whaley's signing was a bit of a surprise, but it fits his pattern. He walked on to Ohio State five years ago as an offensive lineman, and he didn't see significant playing time until switching to fullback in 2007.

He parlayed that year of experience into a $3,000 signing bonus and a chance to make the roster of the Bengals, his favorite team as a kid growing up in Ironton, Ohio.

"It's another dream come true, just like walking on to Ohio State," Whaley said. "I couldn't ask for more."

 
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4/29/2008 10:11 AM
 
Re: FB Dionte Johnson  (United States)
Arizona Cardinals
CARDINALS AGREE TO TERMS WITH 13 ROOKIE FREE AGENTS
 
Tempe, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has agreed to terms on contracts with 13 rookie free agents. Terms were not disclosed. 
 
Notable Cardinals who entered the league as undrafted rookie free agents include QB Kurt Warner, CB Rod Hood, RB Marcel Shipp, C Lyle Sendlein, and FS Aaron Francisco.
 
Defensive end JASON BANKS (6-5, 300) from Grambling appeared in 12 games with nine starts in 2007 and collected 23 tackles. He appeared in 10 games (five starts) as a junior in 2006 and had 29 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Banks starred at McKinley High School in both football and track. 
 
McNeese State cornerback MARCUS BROWN (6-2, 200) appeared in 36 games with 28 starts during his four years with the Cowboys and collected 151 tackles (99 solos), 14 passes defensed and four interceptions. He started all 12 games in 2007 and collected 52 tackles (35 solos), four interceptions, nine passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Brown was also a member of the track team at McNeese State where he qualified for NCAA regionals in both the long jump and the triple jump three straight years.
 
Tackle PETER CLIFFORD (6-7, 312) from Michigan State started all 13 games for the Spartans in 2007 and was one of four team captains. For his career, Clifford appeared in 30 games with 19 starts at both tackle and guard. He was also a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection twice during his time at Michigan State.
 
Mississippi Valley State tackle THADDEUS COLEMAN (6-8, 308) is a former tight end who switched to offensive tackle after his freshman season. He started his final two seasons at MVSU and earned All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first-team honors in 2006 and 2007.
 
Defensive tackle KEILEN DYKES (KEE-len) (6-3, 294) from West Virginia started 44 games during his career with the Mountaineers and was part of a team that won three bowl games. He was an All-Big East Conference first-team selection in 2007 where as a team captain he started all 13 games and collected 32 tackles (18 solos), three sacks and three recovered fumbles. He also returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown. He finished his West Virginia career with 130 tackles (69 solos), 12.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. 
 
LSU linebacker ALI HIGHSMITH (6-0, 223) was a three-year starter for the Tigers who was an All-American first-team selection in 2007 by the NFL Draft Report, Associated Press and CBS Sports.com. He was a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in the country, while starting all 14 games for the National Champion Tigers. He tied for the team lead with a career-high 101 tackles (49 solos) and also had three sacks, and eight passes defensed. He finished his collegiate career with 260 tackles (116 solos), 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception while starting in 38 of the 52 games he appeared in. 
 
Ohio State fullback DIONTE JOHNSON (6-0, 238), the son of former NFL linebacker and current New England Patriots assistant coach Pepper Johnson, played in all 13 games in 2007 while starting six contests. He finished his career appearing in 42 games mostly as a blocking fullback and special teams performer. He carried the ball five times for nine yards and caught two passes for five yards during his career as a Buckeye.
 
Free safety DENNIS KEYES (6-2, 199) from UCLA was a three-year starter who finished his college career with 252 tackles (176 solos), four interceptions, five forced fumbles and 17 passes defensed. He started all 12 games for the Bruins in 2007 and led the team with a career high 106 tackles (68 solos) and three interceptions earning him honorable mention All-Pac 10 last year. 
 
Mississippi State wide receiver LANCE LONG (5-11, 186) appeared in 35 games for the Bulldogs after transferring from Toledo following his freshman season. He played in all 12 games in 2007 as a reserve wide receiver and key contributor on special teams where he collected 14 receptions for 103 yards. He finished his Bulldog career with 46 receptions for 321 yards and one touchdown while also returning four kicks for 59 yards. 
 
Guard CARLTON MEDDER (6-5, 319) from Florida was a two-year starter for the Gators at right tackle including starting the National Championship game vs. Ohio State at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007. Last season he earned All-SEC second-team honors from the league’s coaches while starting all 13 games. For his career, Medder appeared in 37 games with 25 starts.  
 
Quarterback ANTHONY MORELLI (6-4, 231) from Penn State completed a school record 234 passes on 402 attempts (58.2%) for 2,651 yards and 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a senior in 2007. The 2,651 yards passing are good for second (2,679, Kerry Collins) in Nittany Lions history and the 19 touchdowns are good for fourth on the school’s single season list. He finished his college career second in pass completions (460), third in pass attempts (821), fifth in passing yards (5,275) and sixth in touchdown passes (31) with 26 starts in 37 games played. 
 
Defensive end BRYAN ROBINSON (6-3, 297) from Wesley College in Delaware finished his collegiate career by setting the school’s all-time sack record with 47 including collecting 11.5 during his senior season. He was named to the AP Little All-America first-team and the D3football.com All-America first-team in 2007 while starting all 13 games and collecting 88 tackles (37 solos), and 28 tackles for loss. He finished his collegiate career with 332 tackles (150 solos), 47 sacks, 96 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, 26 passes defensed, and six fumble recoveries.
 
Guard HERCULES SATELE (sah-TELL-ay) (6-2, 308) from Hawaii started in all 13 games in 2007 and was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference for an offense that finished first in the country in scoring (46.2) second in passing (450.2) and third in total offense (529.2). He appeared in 37 games and started the last 27 at left guard for the Warriors.
 
New Post
4/29/2008 10:12 AM
 
Re: FB Dionte Johnson  (United States)
Arizona signs 13 undrafted rookie free agents

Associated Press - April 28, 2008 9:24 PM ET

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with 13 undrafted rookie free agents on Monday.

The group includes Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli. Morelli completed a school record 234 passes in 402 attempts for 2,651 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions.

Others who agreed to sign with Arizona are defensive end Jason Banks of Grambling, cornerback Marcus Brown of McNeese State, offensive tackle Peter Clifford of Michigan State and offensive tackle Thaddeus Coleman of Mississippi Valley State.

Also signing with Arizona, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes of West Virginia, linebacker Ali Highsmith of LSU, fullback Dionte Johnson of Ohio State, free safety Dennis Keyes of UCLA, wide receiver Lance Long of Mississippi State and offensive guard Carlton Medder of Florida.

Arizona also signed defensive end Bryan Robinson of Wesley College and guard Hercules Satele of Hawaii.

 
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