The NFL draft came and went without a University of Toledo player being selected, but a number of former Rockets found new homes as undrafted free agents.
Three Rockets — safety Rolan Milligan (Dallas Cowboys), wide receiver Alonzo Russell (Cincinnati Bengals), and center Ruben Carter (Miami Dolphins) — signed free agent deals in the first 90 minutes after the draft concluded.
Russell was selected to the All-Mid-American Conference team four times. He had 36 catches and five touchdowns as a senior and was the only Rocket invited to participate in the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Milligan and Carter both played one year at UT as transfers and became key parts of a team that won 10 games. Milligan transitioned from safety to nickelback and thrived. He tied for the team lead in forced fumbles and had 48 tackles.
Carter, a Miami native, started every game at center for a Rockets offensive line that allowed five sacks in 411 pass attempts.
No Rocket has been selected in the draft since 2008, but many former UT players have stuck on NFL rosters as undrafted free agents. Seven Rockets have made an NFL team despite going undrafted since 2014.
Milligan will join one of the Rockets who made the cut in Dallas. Safety Barry Church went undrafted out of UT but has accumulated 403 tackles in 78 games for the Cowboys since 2010.
FALCONS SIGN: Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson signed as a free agent with Cincinnati.
Wide receiver Roger Lewis signed with the New York Giants. Running back Travis Greene signed with Washington, while offensive lineman Alex Huettel signed with Tennessee.
First Published May 1, 2016, 8:06 a.m.
