More ex-Huskers get chance with NFL teams
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
They weren’t drafted, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get a shot.
Several former Huskers whose names were not called during the NFL Draft have quickly forged plans to maintain their dream of playing football at the highest level.
Linebackers Steve Octavien (Kansas City) and Lance Brandenburgh (San Francisco), cornerback Cortney Grixby (Carolina), receiver Frantz Hardy (Philadelphia) and offensive lineman Brett Byford (New York Jets) have all either signed or made verbal agreements with teams.
And though not yet signed, receiver Maurice Purify (Cincinnati), safety Tierre Green (Green Bay) and linebacker Corey McKeon (Tampa Bay) all will head to mini-camps this week with hopes of making an impression.
Quarterback Sam Keller had not yet connected with an NFL team when last reached Monday afternoon.
Purify was one Husker some analysts thought might get drafted. The receiver’s agent, Gary Glick, said one reason Purify hasn’t signed a free-agent deal with the Bengals is that at least two other teams are interested. Players can attend mini-camps without having signed with that particular team.
“The fact other teams are interested is nice,” Glick said.
McKeon said he has also had some other teams besides Tampa Bay express interest.
As for Green, he figures you can’t do much better than take your NFL shot in the land of Lombardi. He’ll travel to Green Bay on Thursday. “With the tradition up there, you can’t really go wrong,” Green said.
Obviously, the Green family name is known in the Packer organization. Tierre is the cousin of running back Ahman Green, a former Packer and Husker standout.
“It’s a good deal for me,” Tierre said. “I can call Ahman and have him talk to some of those guys he knows up there to kind of look after me.”
Only three Huskers were drafted this year. Cornerback Zackary Bowman was chosen by Chicago in the fifth round. Offensive lineman Carl Nicks went to New Orleans later in that round and linebacker Bo Ruud was picked by New England in the sixth.
Certainly getting drafted is the goal, but Grixby has noticed one benefit of free agency: the ability to have some say in where you’re going.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Grixby saw his best opportunity to make it with Carolina, where he hopes to win a spot as a return man and maybe as a corner in the team’s nickel package.
Being drafted is always the boyhood dream, but not getting chosen allowed Grixby the chance to analyze teams, “to evaluate and kind of see what’s the best fit for you.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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