Seven different former A&M-Commerce football players – Vernon Johnson, Ricky Collins, Charles Tuaau, Seth Smith, Ronald Fields, Joe Bergeron and Ashton Dorsey – signed contracts following the National Football League draft to continue playing as professionals.
"I'm really excited for these guys to get the chance to continue their football careers at the next level," A&M-Commerce head coach Colby Carthel said. "These guys really worked hard for us, and helped restore the Lion football program back to the top of the Lone Star Conference."
Johnson signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Detroit Lions, Collins signed a similar tinder with the Green Bay Packers, Tuaau inked an undrafted free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith signed on to join the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League, Fields earned a rookie minicamp invite with the Dallas Cowboys, Bergeron committed to rookie minicamp with the Chicago Bears and Ashton Dorsey signed to rookie minicamp with the Oakland Raiders.
The six Lion players connected to NFL teams during this season's draft and free agent signing period is the third most by a school in the state of Texas with only the University of Texas's 10 players, and Texas A&M's seven players in NFL camps topping the Lions. The Longhorns were aided by five draft picks, but Lions had more players sign following the draft, six, compared to five for UT. Longhorn rival Texas A&M had five undrafted free agent signees and two draft picks. Taking a look further around the state, Baylor had three undrafted free agents and two draft picks, while TCU had two undrafted free agents and two draft picks. Comparing on a closer scale to A&M-Commerce, around the Lone Star Conference there was only one player from the remaining six teams in the league connected with an NFL team.
"I'm just so excited to see that there are more Lions getting the chance that I was blessed with, to go from playing under the lights of Memorial Stadium to playing on Sundays with a professional football team," said former A&M-Commerce linebacker Bryn Roy, who has spent three seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes. "Anyone who was able to wear the Lion on their helmet was a lucky one in my book, and any of those that are able to carry on with their careers and represent Texas A&M University-Commerce at the next level should do so with pride."
Roy and former linebacker Danny Mason, who signed a futures contract with the Denver Broncos following the 2014-15 NFL season and will join the team in minicamp and training camp, will be joined by the current class marking nine total current Lions continuing to play football at the professional level. Roy weighed in on what the current group joining professional teams will experience in the coming weeks with minicamp opening over the weekend and training looming around the corner.
"I think as a young guy stepping into a pro locker room, your whole mindset changes," Roy said. "You go from being a senior in college and a starter oozing with confidence, to a young guy hoping to make a squad again. You realize quick that as big of a jump as it was from high school to college, it's even bigger at the pro level because even though you signed a contract, nothing is guaranteed. For college recruiting, you pick the university that you feel most comfortable with, the coaching staff you like the most and the place you see yourself having the strongest chance to play then you sign on knowing you're going to be there for four years. At the pro level, your time could be over any given time based off of several different variables. I wish these guys nothing but the best of luck in their careers."
Johnson, who completed his two-year career with the Lions as the most prolific wideout in program history, caught 147 passes for 2,608 yards and 25 touchdowns before signing with the Detroit Lions. He was thrice named an All-American, a first team All-LSC selection and the league's best wide receiver following the 2014 season after hauling in 77 balls for 1,258 yards and 12 TDs. His 13 TDs in the 2013 season set the A&M-Commerce single season record.
"It's truly a blessing to be in the position I'm in and to be given this opportunity to make my dreams come true," Johnson said. "Commerce, Texas and the whole Lion football family made the past two years everything I could have asked for and more. I am looking forward to representing the A&M-Commerce Lions as a Detroit Lion."
Johnson joins the Detroit Lion roster as one of two free agent wide receiver signees. Detroit targeted their possible free agent signees early with Johnson finding his name on the list that the Lions' general manager, Martin Mayhew, is excited about. Mayhew refers the free agent signing period as the "eight round" that is just as vital as the draft after the team struck gold with two free agent signings in 2014, Joseph Fauria and LaAdrian Waddle.
Collins a Green Bay Packers free agent signee was an All-LSC First Team member and twice named an All-American following the 2014 season. He caught 71 passes for 1,187 yards for 14 TDs, snapping Johnson's single-season record, in his one year at A&M-Commerce.
Per the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, an NFC scout said "He's got some up side and some tools", while another NFC scout said, "Could be a sleeper. He's fast, quick and has good hands."
Tuaau a Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agent signee spent the past two season's anchoring A&M-Commerce's defensive front. In 2015 the unit lead the NCAA in tackles for loss with Tuaau taking up space in the middle. He recorded 86 tackles including 34 tackles for loss in his two-year Lion career. He was a two-time All-LSC selection and an All-American following the 2013 season.
"This is a childhood dream and I feel incredibly blessed to be with such a great organization," Tuaau said. "I hope that I can do my family and A&M-Commerce proud moving forward. I'll leave for minicamp the morning after graduation and will actually miss a day of camp so I can walk across the stage and graduate."
Smith, who was an All-LSC player following a standout four-year career with the Lions, while join Roy in the CFL ranks. The wideout, who hauled in 129 catches for 1,734 yards and 16 TDs in his career, inked a deal with the Toronto Argonauts and has already participated in the team's minicamp. The Argos saw their wide receiving corps dwindle after the 2014-15 season and will look to Smith to fill some of the void.
Fields, a two-year starter at corner for the Lions, earned a rookie minicamp invite with the Dallas Cowboys following the draft. He made 98 total tackles and had five career picks manning the perimeter of the Lion defense.
Bergeron, who joined the Lions after needing just two more rushing touchdowns follow three seasons at UT to crack the top ten all-time, signed a rookie minicamp agreement with the Chicago Bears. Bergeron ran the ball 158 times for 923 yards and 12 TDs in one season with the Lions. He also caught 18 passes for 234 yards out of the backfield.
Ashton Dorsey, who signed a minicamp agreement with the Oakland Raiders, spent the 2014 season manning the Lions defensive line. He picked up 36 tackles including 10 tackles for loss and three sacks in his one season after transferring to A&M-Commerce from UT.
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