After a long weekend of waiting by the phone and watching the tube to no avail, six former Oregon football players not taken in the NFL Draft signed free agent contracts Monday.
Linebacker Matt Smith, who was one of the more surprising names on the Ducks’ non-draftee list, was picked up by Indianapolis. Smith will be joined on the Colts by teammate Enyi Nwamuo, a 6-foot-4, 248-pound tight end.
Defensive end Saul Patu signed a contract with the New York Jets and wide receiver Marshaun Tucker was picked up by the Tennessee Titans. Oregon’s final two NFL free agents were defensive end Jason Nikolao with Jacksonville and punter Kurtis Doerr with Seattle.
“I’m very pleased and proud for our young men to sign pro contracts and get that opportunity,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said at Monday’s practice. “Certainly, you’d like to see more of them get drafted like I think they truly deserved.”
The only Duck to be selected in the National Football League Draft was back-up quarterback A.J. Feeley, who went to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 155th overall selection in the fifth round.
Smith had been projected to be drafted between the fourth and seventh rounds and admitted that he was somewhat surprised he didn’t hear his name.
“Obviously, I would have liked to get drafted — everyone does — but it didn’t work out,” said Smith, who led Oregon in tackles last season with 90. “I’ve heard through people that sometimes it’s better to have an opportunity to pick your own team and your own situation and hopefully this is the case here.”
Smith said that he hopes to make the Colts as a special teams player and a reserve linebacker. He also noted that his fiancé is from Michigan, and she liked Indianapolis because it was a close drive.
“But I’d have to make the team first,” Smith said. “I have school throughout this term and then this summer I’ll give it all I got.”
Smith was working out in the Moshofsky Center Monday afternoon with Nwamuo, who will join him this weekend in a trip to Indianapolis for a Colts mini-camp.
Nwamuo was equally excited to join Smith and have a chance at fulfilling his dream, especially considering he wasn’t a starter in college.
“I’m going into a situation where I can easily work my way in if I work out and put my mind to it,” Nwamuo said. “It’s good not to be in flat Indiana by myself. I took a trip out there and could see 20 miles in front of you.”
Patu led Oregon with 20 tackles for a loss and finished second on the Ducks’ career list with 26 1/2 quarterback sacks. Doerr ended his senior campaign ranked fourth in the Pacific-10 Conference with a 40.7-yard punting average, while Tucker was fourth among receivers with 79.2 yards per game and sixth in receptions with 4.55 catches per game.
“I’m excited those kids are going to get an opportunity,” Bellotti said. “I think they’re young men that deserve that chance and have certainly helped this team be what it’s been the last couple of years.”
Note: Oregon will continue practice today and Thursday before ending its spring season with the annual Spring Game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium near Portland. Tickets for the game are currently on sale through Fastixx and cost $7.