Lesser-known players get chance at Bucs minicamp Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer May 3, 2015 8:26pm
Jason Licht speaks during the press conference following the decision to draft former Florida State player Jameis Winston as the first pick of the NFL Draft for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at One Buc Place in Tampa on Thursday, April 30, 2015. During the press conference Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith spoke to the media. TAMPA — The Bucs' rookie minicamp next weekend will have players who run the gamut, from the draft's No. 1 overall pick, former FSU quarterback Jameis Winston, to nearly anonymous small-school players on tryout contracts hoping to land deals as undrafted rookie free agents.That doesn't mean the players' paths haven't crossed. Consider Cameron Ontko, a linebacker from Division I-AA Cal Poly, a tryout player who sat next to Winston at a Bible study meeting this spring when both were training in San Diego."Got to talk to him a little bit. It was really cool," Ontko said of meeting the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at a study led by former Chargers safety Miles McPherson, a pastor at the Rock Church in San Diego. "Great time, great guy. It was a good experience for sure."In addition to eight draft picks, the Bucs' minicamp will have plenty of players facing longer odds to make the team. Another 22 players told the Tampa Bay Times they had either signed as undrafted rookie free agents or on tryout contracts.Ontko, at 5 feet 11 and 227 pounds, could get a look at safety as well."I played on every special-teams unit, and that's where I'm trying to make my work," Ontko said. "That's my main focus."EIGHTH ROUND: Bucs general manager Jason Licht talked about using the "eighth round" to find undrafted gems after the draft. One such player is Courtland Clavette, a long snapper from Brown who is due to graduate this month with a degree in mechanical engineering."I thought it was the best fit for me to make the roster," said Clavette, who also had offers from the Redskins and Vikings.The Bucs had an undrafted rookie from the Ivy League make the team last year, tight end Cameron Brate from Harvard. They'll have one as a tryout player next weekend, Yale linebacker Charles Cook, who had 9 1/2 tackles for loss as a senior.THIS AND THAT: Another signee, defensive end Ryan Delaire from Towson, was lured to the Bucs with a $15,000 signing bonus, a relatively high amount for an undrafted rookie, the Baltimore Sun reported. … Other signings confirmed Sunday included defensive tackle Quayshawne Buckley from Idaho.New names join growing list for Bucs rookie minicampGreg Auman, Times Staff WriterMonday, May 4, 2015 12:11amThe Bucs haven't released an official list of the undrafted rookie free agents they've signed, but one by one, we've pieced together quite a few names -- 30 and growing -- expected in for the rookie minicamp at One Buc Place starting Friday.First, here's our notes from Monday's paper, leading with the wild coincidence of one of the Bucs' tryout players, Cal Poly LB Cameron Untko, sitting next to Jameis Winston at a bible study for athletes while both were training in San Diego this spring.That starts with eight draft picks, of course, and we've identified 14 players believed to have signed as free agents, along with another eight prospects coming in as tryout players. There are others we're working to confirm and you could easily have 40-plus players expected by the time Friday rolls around.Signings? We reported 10 of them on Saturday night -- Towson DE Ryan Delaire, Kansas DE Michael Reynolds, Tusculum DE Caushaud Lyons, Kansas LB Quinton Alston, Boston College LB Josh Keyes, Texas A&M CB Deshazor Everett and TCU S Chris Hackett on defense, plus Louisville RB Dominique Brown, UCF WR Rannell Hall and Heidelberg WR Donteea Dye.We can add a few names to the list, starting with one with a shot to make the final roster: Courtland Clavette, a long snapper from Brown University. The Bucs have Andrew DePaola back from last season, of course, so he'll have to unseat the incumbent to make the cut to 53.Another name worth watching is Idaho DT Quayshawne Buckley -- he's piled up 31.5 tackles for loss in the last two years, albeit on the low end of I-A football. Good size at 6-5, 305 pounds, thought by many to be a possible draft pick. It's worth mentioning that he was kicked off the team in 2013 after a DUI arrest; he earned his way back on the roster and had the charges dismissed after completing a drug and alcohol class, according to this story.A local coming to minicamp is former Plant corner Eric Patterson, who played at Ball State and had come in for the Bucs' local pre-draft workout. Clemson receiver/kick returner Adam Humphries is coming to camp, but it's not clear whether he's signed or a tryout player.Speaking of tryout players, it's a cool group of prospects from all over:CB Domonique Johnson, Oklahoma Panhandle State: Great for the school name alone. He's from Jefferson High, and apparently has a tryout Thursday before the minicamp starts.WLB Cameron Ontko, Cal Poly: We mentioned him in the notes -- small enough at 5-11, 227 that Bucs could look at him as a safety, but he's worked as a weakside linebacker in college. Bucs have limited numbers at linebacker, even after drafting Kwon Alexander and signing Alston and Keyes, so he needs to show he can help on special teams.LS Casey Freeman, Alcorn State: How's this for positional versatility -- played his first three years as a defensive back with more than 100 total tackles, then switched to tight end as a senior, with five catches and a touchdown. He's coming in as a long snapper, but would have to show something to beat out Clavette or stick as a third snapper.S Ashely Lowery, Kentucky: Had two INTs this past season and 48 total tackles. Not as impressive statistically as ...S Brandon Stanley, Eastern Kentucky: Good size at 6-2, 205, and check out his stats: team-best 124 tackles, four INTs, eight TFLs and two forced fumbles. He's already in coaching, working as the DBs coach at NAIA Kentucky Christian University.LB Travis Taylor, Murray State: Another I-AA guy, 6-3, 227, had 106 tackles and 14 tackles for loss, after having 9.5 tackles for loss in 2013 after transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College.LB Charles Cook, Yale: Another Ivy Leaguer! Had 54 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, as a senior. Listed at 6-3, 220, and he's from Texas, so that might help him with Lovie Smith ...RB Turner Petersen, Rice: Out of football last year after he suffered an ACL tear in his final college game at end of 2013. Had a futures-contract workout with Broncos last year but didn't get signed -- his stats are modest, but he's versatile, catching 49 passes in his career with five touchdowns, rushing for 1,415 yards for his career with another 13 scores. He went to Rice with Leslie Frazier's son Corey -- fully recovered from injury, he's an intriguing one to watch.Working on confirming other prospects, like Kentucky RB Braylon Heard, who started his career at Nebraska with Bucs draft pick Kenny Bell and Lavonte David.
