The Bengals announced Wednesday the signing of 14 college free agents. A couple more are expected before the team reports to the May 11-13 rookie minicamp.
The club also announced three players that are going to try out at the camp, led by former University of Cincinnati and Panthers quarterback Tony Pike. Former Lakota West High School and Louisville tight end Josh Chichester and former Moeller High School and Eastern Kentucky safety Patrick McClellan are also going to be part of the tryout and will be joined by others that have yet to be announced.
Pike, 26, out of Reading, Ohio, has struggled with injuries and appeared in just one game after Carolina took him in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, completing six of 12 passes for 47 yards.* *
The CFA list:
C BEN BOJICIC, BOWLING GREEN, 6-3, 300 - Heady player who moved to left tackle because of injuries in his fifth-year senior season…All-MAC…Three-time member of Rimington Award Watch List for country's top center…Named Offensive MVP for Idaho and Temple games last year…Made his first career at start at left tackle vs. Idaho…Started 42 games…Hometown Farmington Hills, Mich…Born 12/21/88.
CB DERRIUS BROOKS, WESTERN KENTUCKY, 5-10, 192 - Played first three of five years at wide receiver before starting 10 games as a junior at corner…Was second-team in Sun Belt Conference after senior season he led Hilltoppers with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups…A two-time state 3A 100-meter dash champion as Georgia high-schooler….Hometown is Fortson, Ga…Born 5/29/88.
MLB VONTAZE BURFICT, ARIZONA ST. 6-1, 248 - One of the top high school players in the country coming into school…Had a star-crossed career in three seasons at ASU…Seven sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss as well as 16 personal fouls…Big sophomore season in 2010 in which he was named Sporting News first team All-American…Last two ASU players to make that list were Terrell Suggs in 2002 and Pat Tillman in 1997…Hometown Corona, Calif…Born 9/24/90.
TE/LS BRYCE DAVIS, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, 6-3, 250 - Not only reliable long snapper, but also focus of offense…Lined up in variety of spots…Ran routes out of backfield, slot, and split wide…44 catches for 560 yards and four TDs for a 12.7-yard average in 2011…Good speed for tight end at about 4.7 seconds in the 40…Hometown Duncan, Okla…Born 6/16/89.
QB TYLER HANSEN, COLORADO, 6-1, 218 - Ran Buffaloes West Coast offense, which he'll get with the Bengals…In 21 starts finished fourth on the school career list in passing yards (5,705), third in pass completions (505), third in passing attempts (872), fourth in touchdown passes (35), fourth in total offense (6,183) ..His 5.59 average per carry rank behind only Kordell Stewart and Bernard Jackson for quarterbacks…Smart with quick delivery…Hometown Murrieta, Calif…Born 12/6/89.
WR JUSTIN HILTON, INDIANA STATE, 6-2, 190 - Transferred from Butte College…In two seasons for Sycamores caught 72 balls for average of 17 yards per catch…In 2010 honorable mention in Missouri Valley Conference with 40 catches for a 17.1-yard average…11 career TDs…Hometown Kissimmee, Fla…Born 12/8/88.
OLB GRANT HUNTER, BUTLER, 6-2, 245 - Greater Cincinnati product making move from DE…Transferred freshman year from Robert Morris…Finished senior season as Pioneer Football League's active career sacks leader…Had 10 along with 15.5 tackles for loss as senior…Voted by teammates as Battle of the Trenches Award Winner as Defensive Lineman of the Year...All-American lacrosse player at Lakota West High School…Hometown Liberty Township, Ohio… Born 5/30/88.
OLB BRANDON JOINER, ARKANSAS STATE, 6-3, 225 - The Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year makes switch from D-line…League-leader with 12 sacks last season, fourth nationally…Ranked second in league's tackles-for-loss at 1.29 per game…Recorded at least a partial sack in 10 of 12 games this season, with 11 solo sacks… Four sacks in Red Wolves 30-21 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette tied for the most in ASU and SBC history and were tied for the most nationally in a single game this season..Hometown Killeen, Texas…4/27/89.
DE JULIAN MILLER, WEST VIRGINIA, 6-3, 255 - Finished with second-most sacks (27.5) and tackles for loss (42.5) in program history….Tag team partner Bruce Irvin went in first round…Primarily played tackle…Named to multiple All-Big East first teams following junior and senior seasons…Hometown Columbus, Ohio…Led Beechcroft to city title with seven sacks, and an interception, along with 25 catches for five TDs…Born 11/25/88.
WR KASHIF MOORE, CONNECTICUT, 5-8, 180 - Can flat out fly…Put on a show at the combine…Blistered 40 with 4.37…Offered combine-best 43.5-inch vertical, inch and a half off record…Only returned eight kicks (no punts) at UConn, a skill he'll no doubt be asked to execute in NFL…126 career catches for 13.5-yard average and 13 TDs, for running program without big passers…Hometown Burlington, N.J…Born 11/21/88.
WR TAVEON ROGERS, NEW MEXICO STATE, 5-11, 188 - Speedy kick returner who has run 4.36 40…Returned 100 kicks in his last two seasons, taking three for TDs last year while averaging 26.1 yards…In 2010 averaged 27.1 per return…Last year added 59 catches for 1,048 yards for nine TDs and a 17.8-yard average…Transferred from Antelope Valley, where in lone season caught 26 balls for nearly 20 yards per catch…Hometown Lancaster, Calif…Born 8/17/90.
T MIKE RYAN, CONNECTICUT, 6-6, 325 - Three-year starter…First team Big East in 2010…Big man who can pull and has experience playing unbalanced tight end…In 2010 played five games at right tackle and seven at left as Huskies finished 35th in the nation in rushing…The Bengals also think he can play guard…Hometown Tamaqua, Pa…Born 12/4/88.
RB RODNEY STEWART, COLORADO, 5-7, 180 - Extremely elusive…Strong enough to rep 225 pounds 21 times...Finished career with 3,598 rushing yards, second on Colorado's all–time list behind former Bengal Eric Bieniemy, his position coach as senior…Excellent receiver…Holds school record for most career receptions by a running back (93)….Just missed becoming 28th player in NCAA history to record 3,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a career…Returned only 11 kicks in college (long of 36), but he'll get call in pros…Tough leader type with steel-belted pedigree as first-team All-State, All-District and All-City honors as Ohio senior…Hometown Westerville, Ohio…Born 1/3/90.
T LANDON WALKER, CLEMSON, 6-6, 305 - Had 130 knockdowns in a school-record 3,131 snaps over 53 games (school-record 49 starts) in his career...started 39 straight...could move inside in the pros…Graduated in December and is in grad school…Father Gary played on Clemson's 1981 national championship team…Hometown North Wilkesboro, N.C…Born 3/9/89.
