2001 Undrafted Players

Wes Ours: Before there was the beer truck, there was Wes Ours. At 250lbs in college and likely over 300lbs these days, he was a truck of some type. After a stint in the NFL, the former full back has matured into a linebacker/fullback in the AFL (Are there fullbacks in the AFL? Or just halfbacks?). Using his size to his advantage, Ours is usually used as a blocking back and enjoys it:

"I'm a blocker," said Ours. "They brought me here to block and I don't mind blocking. Like I said, I honed up my skills and my best skill is blocking."

Ours spent the 2001 to 2003 seasons hopping from one NFL team to another. The colts initially picked him as an undrafted free agent. They cut him early in the season but he was quickly picked up by the Titans. The Titans, in turn, also cut him later in the season and the Colts resigned him. In early 2002, before the season, the Colts released him for a second time. The Steelers picked up Ours in 2003. He spent pre-season in training camp, almost went to NFL Europe, but was eventually cut before the season began (not that he didn't try). During his NFL career, outside of making blocks, Ours made one catch for three yards.

Ours made the transition to the AFL after being picked up by the Los Angeles Avengers in 2004. He was unproductive in that year, as he was on injured reserve. In 2005, he was picked up by the Philadelphia Soul and has been there since (though the 2009 AFL season has been canceled). Obviously, he's often used as a blocker but he is often given the ball in short yardage situations as well. Statistically, Ours had his best seasons in 2006 and 2007 when he gained 130 and 129 yards respectively. His statistics decreased in 2008 but he did help his team win the Arenabowl, the AFL championship.

Finally, Wes Ours didn't just get to play the game he loves, he gets to coach it too.

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Khori Ivy: For the first three years of his career, he hopped from one practice squad to another as well as spent a season in NFL Europe. The Patriots originally signed Ivy in 2001 and he then moved to the Bengals the before the end of the season. In 2002, Ivy was transferred to NFL Europe's Barcelona Dragons. He caught 27 passes in Spain and gained 350 yards. In 2003, he was picked up by the Steeler. During preseason, Ivy took a tough hit from the Cowboy's Darren Woodson (who was fined for the hit). He suffered a concussion and was cut shortly afterward.

Ivy then moved to the AFL's Detroit Fury. During the 2004 training camp he suffered a season ending ACL tear. In 2005, the Los Angeles Avengers picked Ivy up as a free agent. That year he gained 200 yards on 20 receptions for 6 touchdowns. The following offseason, the Utah Blaze chose Ivy in their expansion draft. However, he was waived in January 2006 and has not since played football professionally.

2002 Undrafted Players

Corey McIntyre: Despite missing out on the draft, McIntyre has made a living as a backup fullback and special teams trooper. He has a simple view on his occupation, as the Buffalo News reports:

“That’s my love and pleasure, right there,” McIntyre said after finishing his first practice with the Bills Wednesday. “I love special teams. That’s where I’ve always earned my money.”

What’s his motivation on kick coverage? Simple, said McIntyre:

“My mentality is I have to feed my kids, so somebody has their food and I have to go get it,” he said. “I see the ball, go get the ball.”

Eight years before he made it to the Bills, McIntyre was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. The following year, in 2003, he was relocated to NFL Europa's Frankfurt Galaxy. There he helped lead his team to the World Bowl. In the championship game McIntyre had 12 carries for 76 yards. Despite his efforts the Galaxy lost. After returning from Europe, the Eagles released McIntyre before the beginning of the 2004 season.

Shortly after his release in Philadelphia, the Cleveland browns picked him up. In 2004, Cleveland released McIntyre.

During the first weeks of the 2006 season, the New Orleans Saints lost two fullbacks to injury. They signed McIntyre and second fullback to fill the holes. The Saints waived McIntyre in November, before the end of the season, in order to make room on the roster.

A day later, the Atlanta Falcons snapped up the former WVU fullback. McIntyre was kept on the inactive list for the rest of the season but was quickly made special teams captian the following year. In 2008, the Falcons cut him at the end of training camp.

After spending a year with the Bills, McIntyre became an unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season but has already been resigned. It appears that his blocking skills are appreciated up north.

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Antwan Lake: The Detroit Lions signed defensive end Antwan Lake after the draft. He was inactive for all but nine games and totaled only one tackle in his first year. He was waived before the beginning of the 2003 season.

Lake was signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 2003 but did not play that year. Over 2004 and 2005, He served the backup function on a tenacious defensive line. Lake had one of his best years in 2005 when he accumulated total of 16 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and caused a safety. After the 2005 season, Lake had surgery on his shoulder and became an unrestricted free agent.

In 2006, Lake was signed by the Saints. Again, he played a backup role. Lakes best year with the Saints came in 2007 when he totaled 18 tackles and one sack.

In 2008, Lake suffered a groin injury during the first game, which kept him on the sidelines most of the season. He was released by the Saints and became an unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season and has yet to be picked up.

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Rick Sherrod: Saftey Rick Sherrod spent the first two seasons after he graduated bouncing around NFL teams during the offseason. After going undrafted, he was originally picked up by the Buffalo in April 2003 but was quickly released. The same month he was signed by the Saints before being released in August. The following year, before the beginning of the season, was again signed and released from two different teams, this time the Cowboys and the Jaguars.

After bouncing around the NFL, Sherrod joined the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers in May 2005. He was waived in January of 2006 and is no longer playing football.

2003 Undrafted Players

An updated version of this blog post is available at WVUPros.com

Angel Estrada: In 2004, the Ohio Valley Greyhounds of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) gave Estrada his first professional start. Estrada dominated the league in defense while playing both sides of the ball and special teams. On the defensive side, he lead the league with 14 interceptions as well as recording 65 tackles and 21 pass break ups. For his efforts the team gave him the Rookie of the Year Award, the conference awarded him as the Defensive MVP and the league chose him as an All-Star.

In 2005 the AFL's Nashville Kats signed Estrada, where also played both sides of the ball. Before the regular season was over, Estrada was released.

The New York Dragons picked up Estrada for the remainder of the 2005. He played 4 games and caught an interception despite an injury to his hamstring. In 2006, he stayed with the Dragons and racked up 40 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles while playing in 11 games.

The Grand Rapids Rampage contracted Estrada before the beginning of the 2007 season. He suffered an injury, however still played five games. Despite the few amount of games, he still racked up 26 tackles.

Estrada returned to the Dragons for the 2008 season. He preformed again though injury, recording 16.5 tackles.

As far as I can guess, Estrada is still with the Dragons but it's hard to tell for sure since the AFL season has been canceled due to the recession.

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Lewis Daniels: The cornerback also began his pro career with the Ohio Valley Greyhounds in 2004. He had 28.5 tackles and 3 sacks his first season. They re-signed Daniels in 2005, a year where he totaled 61 tackles and 5 interceptions. In 2006 he totaled 39 tackles and had 3 interceptions. Daniels was not included in team statistics in 2007 and I was not able to find any other information on him.

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Kenny Sandor: The offensive lineman was also with Greyhounds, but started in his draft year, 2003. He received a few starts in his first year after several injuries to starting players. Sandor received NIFL All-Star status for his help giving the team's running back, Rayshawn Askew, the rushing title. He was re-signed along with Lewis Daniels in 2005. Like Daniels, Sandor was not included in team satistics in 2006 and I could not find any other record of him playing anywhere else.

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Jason Davis: The Texans took Davis, a defensive tackle, after the draft. He spent his fist three years (2003-2005) on the practice squad before being sent to play with NFL Europa's Berlin Thunder in 2006.

After a season in Europe, Davis was waived from the Texans. For the rest of 2006 he jumped around the NFL, spending time with both the Cowboys and Colts, before turning toward the AFL.

The Philadelphia soul signed Davis in 2007. He only produced one assisted tackle that year.

It looks like the following year the New York Dragons signed Davis. Beyond the one article, the books on him start to fade.

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David Upchurch: The Steelers picked up defensive lineman Upchurch after he went undrafted in 2003. He spent all of 2003 and two weeks of 2004 on the practice squad before he was released.

After being released from the Steelers, Upchurch was signed with AFL's Orlando Predators but was given NFL waiver. He spent less than a month with the Ravens practice squad before being signed by the Chargers.

In 2005, Upchurch went back to the Predators. He had 7 tackles on the year after being hampered by an injury. Like Jason Davis, Upchurch's record fades. I'll update them both if I find more later on.

2004 Undrafted Players

Lance Frazier: As an undrafted free agent in 2004, Frazier was initially picked up be the Baltimore Ravens but was quickly waived before the beginning of the season. The Cowboys picked him up and gave him playing time.

During the 2004 season, Frazier played on both defense and special teams. On special teams he returned punts 24 times and had a 9.9 yardd return average. He also fumbled twice, both in a loss to the Eagles, garnering the ire of then head coach Bill Parcels. On defense, he had 34 solo tackles and 2 interceptions.

In 2005, the Cowboys released Frazier shortly after he sprained his ankle. Other than a short 2006 training camp stint with the Seahawks, he has not returned to the NFL.

After being cut from the Cowboys in 2005, Frazier began his AFL career. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Storm, however I can't find anything on his production there. In 2006 he was traded to the New Orleans Voodoo, an expansion team at the time, but was put onto the exempt roster because he was offered a contract in the CFL. As far as his AFL status is concerned, his contract was traded to the Philadelphia Soul but he is still on their exempt roster.

In 2006, when the AFL's Voodoo exempted Frazier, he began his CFL career. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he has spent the past three years. He only played one game in 2006, possibly because of his Seahawk's training camp stint. In 2007 and 2008 he appeared to progress. In 2008, he led the team with 5 interceptions. In 2009, the Roughriders resigned him before he entered free agency.

2007 Undrafted Players

An updated version of this blog post is available at WVUPros.com

Brandon Myles: Expected to be drafted the during the second day of picks, Myles never received the call. He attended both Giants and Falcons mini-camps but was waived before the 2007 season ever began.

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Dan Mozes: After a highly touted career at WVU, center Mozes went undrafted. Though many worried his size would not allow him to carry over into the NFL, the Vikings picked him up. Mozes injured his knee at the beginning of the season and never had a chance to play. He was invited back to the Viking's camp the following year, but was waived before the beginning of the 2008 season.

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Cleo Kevin "Boo" McLee: You know who's hard to research? People with three first names. Mclee went undrafted but was picked up by the Rams as a linebacker. That summer, his father passed away and he left the Rams. Shortly afterwords, he was arrested with intent to deliver cocaine and marijuana. He received one year probation for the incident.

From there, the record becomes a bit fuzzy. Wikipedia says he went on to play in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders but has no references. In 2008, it looks like he played in the Arena Football League 2 (a sort of farm league for the AFL) with the Iowa Barnstormers and the Green Bay Blizzards.

Most recently, he was drafted by Louisiana in the newly made United National Gridiron League.

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Jeremy Sheffey: The Chargers picked up Offensive Guard Sheffey after the draft. He was given a two year contract but was released before the beginning of the season after an injury.

Sheffey was also picked up by the AFL 2's Blizzards. After a short stint with the AFL's New York Dragons in 2008, he returned to the AFL 2 and the Blizzards but was released after an injury.