Jets Announce Rookie Free Agent Class Of 2005

JETS ANNOUNCE ROOKIE FREE AGENT CLASS OF 2005
New York City – The New York Jets announced today that the following players have signed rookie free agent contracts with the Club: K Xavier Beitia, LB Mondoe Davis, LB Dennis Haley, WR Eddie Jackson, OL Michael King, FB Austine Nwabuisi, LB John Pickens, OL Isaac Snell, T Henry Tellis and WR Jovan Witherspoon.

Beitia, a 5-10, 198-pound kicker from Florida State, led the Seminoles in scoring the past four seasons (2001-2004) and made 67-of-92 of his field goals (72.8 %) and connected on 173-of-177 extra points (97.7%) on the collegiate level. The native of Tampa, FL attended the acclaimed Jesuit High School before matriculating to Florida State.

Davis, a 6-1, 225-pound product of NCAA Division I-AA powerhouse Delaware, played in 49 collegiate games and recorded 342 tackles, nine sacks, eight forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. A Newport News, VA native, Davis was a junior Olympian All-American wrestler on the prep level.

Haley, a 6-1, 247-pound linebacker from Virginia, played in 32 collegiate games for the Cavaliers and finished with 103 tackles, five passes defensed, four sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. A product of Roanoke, VA, his father, Kenneth, played collegiate football at Bluefield State (WV), the same school Jets’ QB Chad Pennington’s father played for.

Jackson, a 6-4, 225-pound receiver from West Virginia, originally began his collegiate career at football power Coffeyville C.C. in Kansas, before heading to the University of Washington, where he caught 16 passes for 152 yards in 2002. He then decided to transfer to WVU and played in 10 games, making five starts in 2004, and had 18 receptions for 246 yards for a 13.7 average in the Mountaineers’ run-oriented offensive system.

King, 6-3, 298 pounds from Northwestern (LA) State, played in only 10 games as an offensive lineman as a collegian, having battled through a stretched brachial plexus injury as a junior. The native of Natchitoches, LA, who majored in criminal justice at school, is also the owner of a Christian musical recording studio. King opened eyes at Northwestern’s Pro Day earlier this spring by running a 4.62 and 4.71 in the 40-yard dash.

Nwabuisi, a 6-1, 235-pound product of the University of Kansas scored six career touchdowns, including three his senior season. He had just 17 carries his first three years, and rushed 25 times for 98 yards his senior year, including touchdown runs against Toledo, Texas and Missouri. Nwabuisi, from Houston’s Episcopal High School, was a college teammate of Jets’ right tackle Adrian Jones. (pronounced WA-boo-see)

Pickens, 6-2, 240, from The Big Ten’s Northwestern, is a Ramapo, NJ native. The linebacker played in 44 collegiate games, making 29 starts, and recorded 292 tackles, six sacks, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Pickens was a high school teammate of current Tampa Bay Buccaneers back-up quarterback Chris Simms.

Snell, 6-6, 288 pounds, hails from North Dakota State, having played four seasons for the Bisons, recording 109 tackles, seven sacks, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery from the nose tackle position. Snell will attempt to make the transition from collegiate defensive lineman to a professional offensive lineman, the same route that current Jets starting guard Brandon Moore made. Snell’s position coach at NDSU was Pat Perles, a son of former Michigan State head coach George Perles.

Tellis, a 6-6, 308-pound product of Troy State, played in 39 games and made 22 starts in his four-year career. The native of Montgomery, AL was one of seven Troy State players to sign free agent contracts following the 2005 NFL Draft.

Witherspoon, 6-3, 210 pounds, comes to the Jets from Central Michigan. He originally began his collegiate career at Notre Dame after a standout prep career at Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne, IN before transferring to William Rainey Harper College in Palantine, IL before transferring to CMU.

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