Black Heads Free Agents From Area Ex-Cougs, Eagles, Vandal Get Tryouts With Nfl Teams

Michael Black wasn’t the only area football player who felt overlooked when the NFL draft concluded Sunday.

Black, Washington State’s 1,000-yard tailback, was one of more than a dozen area players who Monday made arrangements to sign a free-agent contract. Formal announcements are expected later this week.

Black and former WSU teammate Chris Jackson, a 1,000-yard receiver last year, are apparently headed to the Seahawks. They’ll be reunited with ex-WSU offensive lineman Jason McEndoo, drafted by Seattle in the seventh round.

Black, 5-11 and 201 pounds, was expected to be drafted somewhere in the middle rounds, but teams were apparently scared off by his criminal record as a juvenile. His primary competition in Seattle figures to be from Ahman Green, a third-round pick out of Nebraska.

Recent free-agent acquisition Ricky Watters is the starter.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Jackson caught 54 passes for 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, but his stock with NFL scouts was hurt by a slow 40-yard dash time (4.67 seconds). His ability on special teams could improve his chances with Seattle.

At least seven other members of WSU’s Rose Bowl team appear headed to NFL camps. They are: defensive end Shane Doyle (Buffalo Bills), linebacker Brandon Moore (San Diego Chargers), defensive back Ray Jackson (Carolina Panthers), receiver Kevin McKenzie (San Francisco 49ers), strong safety Duane Stewart (Bills), offensive lineman Cory Withrow (Minnesota Vikings) and receiver Shawn McWashington (Kansas City Chiefs).

Punter Jeff Banks, linebacker Todd Nelson and receiver Shawn Tims may also draw interest.

Three members of Eastern Washington’s Big Sky Conference champions appear headed to camps. They are: offensive lineman Jim Buzzard (Chargers), linebacker Derek Strey (Jacksonville Jaguars) and receiver Jeff Ogden (Dallas Cowboys). Buzzard and Strey were considered candidates to be drafted.

Former Idaho quarterback Brian Brennan is expected to receive a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons.

Rookie free agents report to camp in the next week or so, and again in June. NFL teams begin trimming their rosters in July, a process that continues into August.