NFLEL Holds Free Agent Draft
February 4, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
F.C. Barcelona Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL put on his dancing shoes to make former University of Washington defensive tackle JABARI ISSA the first pick of the NFL Europe League's free agent draft.
Issa, who revels in the nickname 'Disco Bear', played for the Arizona Cardinals for two years, posting 39 tackles and 1 sack.
Defensive players dominated the first round of the draft with the Amsterdam Admirals using the second pick to take former Tennessee defensive end JONATHAN BROWN, who was named Co-Defensive MVP of the NFLEL 2000 season after posting 10 sacks for the Berlin Thunder. Ironically, the Thunder and Admirals have swapped MVPs, with Berlin having already been assigned Chicago Bears defensive end ROSHAUN MATTHEWS, the 2001 MVP with 9.5 sacks.
The Rhein Fire chose a familiar face with their first round pick in defensive end DERRICK HAM, who made the All-NFLEL team in 2000 after posting 9 sacks.
The other first round selections were former Arizona cornerback JERMAINE CHATMAN, who was picked by the Scottish Claymores, ex-Troy State defensive tackle AL LUCAS, who is bound for the Frankfurt Galaxy, and former Alabama defensive end REGGIE GRIMES, chosen by the Berlin Thunder.
A two-time All-NFLEL selction was chosen in the sixth round when cornerback JORDAN YOUNGER, who made the team as a kick returner while with the Rhein Fire, was chosen by Amsterdam.
Defensive domination was demonstrated by only seven offensive players being selected in the first seven rounds.
The Dragons' ninth-round selection was quarterback JOSH HEUPEL, who led Oklahoma University to the 2000 NCAA national championship before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2001.
* Following the NFL Allocation, the Scottish Claymores were assigned two free agent quarterbacks, former University of Texas play-caller JAMES BROWN, who passed for 364 yards and 1 touchdown as the Claymores' back-up last season, and DAVID PRIESTLEY, from the University Pittsburgh.
FREE AGENT DRAFT 2003
Round NFLEL team Player Pos College
1 Barcelona Jabari Issa DT Washington
1 Amsterdam Jonathan Brown DE Tennessee
1 Scotland Jermaine Chatman CB Arizona
1 Frankfurt Al Lucas DT Troy State
1 Rhein Derrick Ham DE Miami
1 Berlin Reggie Grimes DE Alabama
2 Barcelona J'Juan Cherry CB Arizona State
2 Amsterdam Marcel Howard T Iowa State
2 Scotland Deveron Harper CB Notre Dame
2 Frankfurt Fred Jones LB Colorado
2 Rhein Dwayne Ledford G East Carolina
2 Berlin Rod Kelly DE NE Oklahoma State
3 Berlin Daryon Brutley CB Northern Iowa
3 Rhein Gillis Wilson DE Southern
3 Frankfurt Dustin Cohen LB Miami-Ohio
3 Scotland Chris Brown T Georgia Tech
3 Amsterdam Mawuko Tugbenyoh LB California
3 Barcelona Anthony Sessions LB Tennessee
4 Barcelona Antuan Simmons CB Southern California
4 Amsterdam Damonte McKenzie DE Clemson
4 Scotland Michael Jennings WR Florida State
4 Frankfurt Jonas Lewis RB San Diego State
4 Rhein Shad Criss CB Missouri
4 Berlin Mark Baniewicz T Syracuse
5 Berlin Bryon Thweatt LB Virginia
5 Rhein Lew Thomas RB Vanderbilt
5 Frankfurt Derick Pack LB James Madison
5 Scotland Ronald Rogers C Western Michigan
5 Amsterdam Kenny Jackson LB Nevada-Reno
5 Barcelona Jerry Johnson DT Florida State
6 Barcelona Marcus Smith CB Memphis
6 Amsterdam Jordan Younger CB/KR Connecticut
6 Scotland Gary Davis LB New Mexico
6 Frankfurt Deshawn Abram CB Wyoming
6 Rhein Andre Arnold LB Grambling State
6 Berlin Calvin Coleman CB Montana
7 Berlin Setema Gali DE Brigham Young
7 Rhein Todd Delamielluere LB Hofstra
7 Frankfurt Calvin Spears CB Grambling
7 Scotland Chris Ball LB California
7 Amsterdam Seneca McMillan CB Nicholls State
7 Barcelona Terrance Dukes LB Grambling State
8 Barcelona Kenny Harney LB South Carolina
8 Amsterdam Tony Ortiz LB Nebraska
8 Scotland Ryan Nielsen DT Southern California
8 Frankfurt Ennis Davis DT Southern California
8 Rhein Jonathan Burrough TE New Mexico
8 Berlin Salem Simon DT Northwestern
9 Berlin Shannon Wadley LB South Carolina
9 Rhein Kwazi Leverette WR Syracuse
9 Frankfurt David Pruce T Buffalo
9 Scotland Keon Moore CB Southern Mississippi
9 Amsterdam Bennitte Waddell T Tuskegee
9 Barcelona Josh Heupel QB Oklahoma
10 Barcelona * John Feugill T Maryland
10 Amsterdam * Ryan Collins TE St.Thomas
10 Scotland * Radell Lockhart DE Catawba
10 Frankfurt * Chris Cummings CB Louisiana State
10 Rhein * Greg Brown S Texas
10 Berlin * Tim Carter CB Tulane
11 Berlin * Freddie Moore T Florida A&M
11 Rhein * Corey Callens DE Oklahoma
11 Frankfurt * Bryan Ray DE Wake Forest
11 Scotland * DeVonte Peterson DT Catawba
11 Amsterdam * Rob Gatrell G Fresno State
11 Barcelona * Rameel Connor DE Illinois
12 Barcelona * Renard Cox CB Maryland
12 Amsterdam Troy Grant CB Tennessee Tech
12 Scotland * Yubranel Isabelle LB Virginia
12 Frankfurt * Rashidi Barnes S Colorado
12 Rhein * Jamel Smith LB Virginia Tech
12 Berlin * Joe Wesley LB Louisiana State
13 Berlin Jykine Bradley CB Middle Tennessee State
13 Rhein Jeff McCurley C Pittsburgh
13 Frankfurt Gregg Kellett TE/FB Marshall
13 Scotland * Scott Shields S Weber State
13 Amsterdam Carey Clayton C Texas El Paso
13 Barcelona * Rashad Harris LB Louisville
14 Barcelona Kyle Grove CB Norfolk State
14 Amsterdam Larry Austin CB Virginia Tech
14 Scotland Giovanni Toccagino TE Menlo
14 Frankfurt Justin Gallimore CB Colorado State
14 Rhein Ataveus Cash WR Hampton
14 Berlin Marvin Coley DE North Alabama
15 Berlin Michael Cook T Boston College
15 Rhein Lawrence Story WR Jackson State
15 Frankfurt Josh Whitman TE Illinois
15 Scotland Kenny Jackson DT Mississippi
15 Amsterdam Tito Simpson DT North Carolina
15 Barcelona Ryan Fisher DT Oklahoma
16 Barcelona Jason Short LB Eastern Michigan
16 Amsterdam Damion Wright G Weber State
16 Scotland Deron Tyler CB Kansas State
16 Frankfurt Adam Tate RB Utah
16 Rhein Frank Moreau RB Louisville
16 Berlin Cedric Pittman DE Nevada Reno
17 Berlin Aaron Harris RB Penn State
17 Rhein Kendall Newson WR Middle Tennessee State
17 Frankfurt Jeremy Beutler LB Ohio
17 Scotland John Capel WR Florida
17 Amsterdam Pernell Griffin LB East Carolina
17 Barcelona Ryan Deterding T Shadron State
18 Barcelona Zane Gilmore RB Missouri
18 Amsterdam Dwan Epps LB Texas Southern
18 Scotland Joey Slayton T Southern Methodist
18 Frankfurt Corey Mitchell T Massachusetts
18 Rhein Shane O'Neill S Southern Methodist
18 Berlin Eli Wnek DE Arizona
19 Berlin Phil Stambaugh QB Lehigh
19 Rhein Mike Watkins QB Louisville
19 Frankfurt Kevin Thompson QB Penn State
19 Scotland Darnell Robinson LB Oregon State
19 Amsterdam Billy Newman S Washington State
19 Barcelona Aaron Dematteo WR
Tennessee-Chattanooga
20 Barcelona Adam Young TE Dartmouth College
20 Amsterdam Matthew Hatchette WR Langston
20 Frankfurt Frank Cutolo WR Eastern Illinois
20 Rhein Bob Dzvonick DT Buffalo
20 Berlin Kunle Williams DB Pennsylvania
21 Amsterdam Romaro Miller QB Mississippi
* Pick used to protect veteran player
ADDITIONAL NFL PLAYER ASSIGNMENT
Buck Gurley DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Frankfurt Galaxy (University
of Florida)
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National Football League Europa Stories from February 4, 2003
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