Four Miami Hurricanes defensive players getting NFL chance after being undrafted
After shockingly going undrafted Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Gerald Willis signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. Willis is one of four Miami alums that signed as an undrafted free agent following this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Gerald Willis was by far the most notable Miami Hurricanes alum to sign a free agent contract after not being selected this weekend in the NFL Draft. His fall out of the draft was shocking. Willis was originally projected to be selected between the second and fourth rounds of the draft.
Willis will have company among former Miami Hurricanes defensive players attempting to make NFL rosters as undrafted free agents this summer. His peer at defensive tackle Tito Odenigbo signed an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings to join his brother Ifeadi.
Linebacker Mike Smith will get a tryout in minicamp with the Buffalo Bills and cornerback Jhavonte Dean with the Miami Dolphins. Smith was originally set to join Dean with a chance to make the Dolphins. He changed his mind after Bills Player Personnel Director Dan Morgan convinced Smith to come to Buffalo.
Morgan knows all about playing linebacker in the NFL and with the Miami Hurricanes. The former Carolina Panther is the all-time leading tackler in Miami history. Morgan was part of the Miami football program under Butch Davis who set the groundwork to the Hurricanes becoming a dominant team again nationally in the early 2000s.
Mike Smith changed his mind this morning because Bills have only two middle LBs and former Canes standout/Bills player personnel director Dan Morgan convinced him that Bills really like him. It will be tryout for Bills, as it would have been for Dolphins. https://t.co/2qXgGO4Y5U
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 28, 2019
Morgan’s stats in his Hurricanes career are highlighted in his profile in the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame listing.
"“Set the Miami career record for total tackles with 532 in his 4 seasons, including 309 solo tackles and 223 assists, both UM records. He led the team in tackles 3 of his 4 seasons. In 2000, he had 90 solo and 138 total tackles, including recording 20 total tackles twice, and at least 15 six times. His best game was a 21 total, 14 solo tackle effort against Virginia Tech in 1997.”"
The current Buffalo Bills depth chart lists them three deep at middle linebacker. That includes Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph who Buffalo drafted in the fifth round on Saturday. Joseph is listed as an inside linebacker. The pair of Miami natives will battle to make the Bills roster.