With no draft choices in the seventh round, the Broncos front office was able to start on its list of potential college free agents to pursue at the conclusion of the draft.
As soon as Mr. Irrelevant was announced, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway and General Manager Brian Xanders began working the phones and a few hours later the team announced that it has agreed to terms with 12 undrafted college free agents.
UPDATE: Later in the evening, the Broncos added a 13th, Toledo wide receiver Eric Page.
“It’s very important because there’s still draftable players on that board that we’re trying to get,” Xanders said. “We put them in A’s, B’s, and C’s. We’re trying to recruit those guys and have them become Broncos. We’ve had some success there and every team does. It’s an important part for us. Chris Harris is an example, last year he led all DBs in tackles. You have Colquitt who’s a good punter, and Woodyard. All the way through there’s been some historical ones. We hope they compete with these draft picks and try to create their own role on this football team. Coach is great about playing the best guys. So they have an opportunity for that and they’ve worked hard in their careers. There’s some guys who are still on our board.”
A college free agent has made Denver’s active roster out of training camp the last eight seasons, including cornerback Chris Harris last year. Overall, 13 rookie college free agents have made the Broncos’ active roster out of camp since 1997.
Below are some quick hits on each player the Broncos signed following the draft:
Defensive end Jamie Blatnick, Oklahoma State
Blatnick finished his career at Oklahoma State with 118 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and 16 sacks. He led the team with 13.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks as a senior in 2011. Blatnick was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection during his time with the Cowboys.
Long snapper Aaron Brewer San Diego State
Brewer appeared in all 50 possible games during his four-year career at San Diego State. He finished with 15 special-teams tackles and was a four-time All-Academic Mountain West Conference selection during his time with the Aztecs.
Linebacker Elliot Coffey, Baylor
A two-year starter at Baylor, Coffey earned All-Big 12 honors and was named the 2011 Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP. He led the Bears with 114 total tackles and ranked fourth in the conference with 8.8 tackles per game in 2011. Coffey totaled 224 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery during his college career.
Linebacker Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
Franklin led Arkansas with 101 tackles in 2011, marking the second straight season that the linebacker topped the 100-tackle mark. He finished his Razorbacks career with 382 tackles, including 31.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, five interceptions, two forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
Safety Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State
Ihenacho became the first San Jose State player to earn three first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors. Played 47 games for the Spartans and finished with 268 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. He and his brother, Carl, a defensive end at San Jose State became the first known brother tandem in NCAA history to lead the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or Division I-A in separate major statistical categories in the same week. Following the games played on October 18, 2008, Duke shared the national lead with four interceptions in seven games and Carl tied for the top spot in tackles for loss with 14.0.
Linebacker Steven Johnson, Kansas
For the second year in a row, the Broncos pick up a Kansas defender as Johnson will try to duplicate the success of Harris, who appeared in all 16 games for Denver in 2011 after making the roster as a college free agent. Johnson attended the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.58 40-yard dash and put up 16 reps of 225 lbs. A team captain for the Jayhawks in 2011, Johnson led the Big 12 in tackles with 124 stops his senior season. He finished his four-year career with 229 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Cornerback Coryell Judie, Texas A&M
Judie played seven games in 2011 for Texas A&M and finished with 22 tackles, one sack and five pass breakups. He also contributed in the return game, totaling eight kick returns for 201 yards (25.1 avg.) as a senior. Judie finished his college career with 79 tackles and four interceptions in his two seasons with the Aggies. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2010, a 100-yard return and an 84-yard return.
Tight end Anthony Miller, California
Miller earned a spot on the watch list for the John Mackey Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top tight end for the second straight season in 2011. He played 46 games, registering of 64 receptions for 774 yards and five touchdowns during his time at Cal.
Offensive lineman Mike Remmers, Oregon State
Remmers finished his career with 37 consecutive starts and his 44 total starts rank sixth in Oregon State history. Remmers was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given annually to the best player in the country that began his career as a walk-on. He earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honors as a junior in 2010.
WR Gerell Robinson, Arizona State
The third Sun Devil added by the team during the draft process, Robinson finished his career with 135 career receptions for 2,071 yards and 12 touchdowns in 47 games (25 starts). Robinson and Broncos second-round Brock Osweiler connected for 77 receptions for 1,397 yards and seven touchdowns, all career highs for the receiver. His 1,397 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-season total in school history and the 77 receptions tied him for third most in a single season by a Sun Devil.
Offensive lineman Wayne Tribue, Temple
Tribue earned All-Mid American Conference honors after playing in all 13 games for the Owls in 2011. He has an interesting story, as he spent time as a child in Egypt where some of his fondest memories came from riding camels. Tribue received the 2012 Temple Teammates Community Service Award and was named to the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Offensive lineman Austin Wuebbels, Missouri
Earned All-Big 12 honors during the 2010 season, which was his first year as a starter for the Tigers. He finished his career with 26 consecutive starts over his final two years. Wuebbels was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree at Missouri.
UPDATE: Later in the night, the team announced that it had agreed to terms with a 13th undrafted free agent, wide receiver Eric Page out of Toledo.
Wide Receiver Eric Page, Toledo
Page finished his college career with 306 receptions for 3,446 yards with 25 receiving touchdowns. Toledo’s all-time receptions leader, Page caught 125 passes for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011. His 306 catches tied for the all-time Mid American receptions record. Page earned first-team All-America honors as a kick returner in 2010.
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: College Free Agents
Wolfe sleeping in the airport so doesn’t miss the plane, thats a guy who wants to play footbaal. QBs better tighten up their straps ,The Broncos are coming.
OT I know! I hat that we dont know all the health concerns or attitude issues till after the draft. It makes it even harder to predict whats going to happen LOL
Agreed Buck!!! He feels being nasty is a must for a D player (I agree) which I think is great that he plays nasty never giving up and does nothing but work and work to make a play.
I just hope when they do next years re-draft Wolfe would go top 15 like to the Chiefs that means he was awesome and Poe goes in the 3rd round lol
Any word on any free agent signings. Curious that we did not bring in any DT’s their was a couple of good ones undrafted. I think we got some good one’s though.
Yep. Very tough to predict, especially with us.. Lol. I read somewhere, not sure if was here, but for future reference, we only bring in the guys that we’re not sure about for a visit, and the guys we know we love we won’t bother…
On his tape most of his tackles was in the backfield. Thats the push we need.
And this was almost too good. Rams CB Janoris Jenkins, the draft’s free-faller, rejected comparisons to Pac Man Jones in an interview with SIRIUS. He said, “I never shot up a strip club or nothing like that.“
LMAO
He may not of had the coin for the strip club yet. LOL
Btw, on that I-on-1 video with the rookies, you can see Wolfe’s got the beginning of clauiflower ear from wrestling… I read and heard that wrestling experience is a huge advantage for playing on the DL, not to mention you have to be a mean S.O.B.
My coach in high school always asked us players to also wrestle. But I was always a softie.
Lol. I played ice hockey, but wresting is no joke! I never had a desire to do it, but respect those that did. Them boys are a nasty bunch..
Much the same story for me, never played hockey but my best friend did. Lost 4 teeth in one game. Loved the guy but I couldn’t skate.
*wrestling
Skills – I think that is quite possible, in fact, here’s one of my BBBP’s:
Derek Wolfe will have a more productive season that Dontari Poe this year
My coach loved that I worked out with local MMA fighters. Trust me having experience with wrestling/MMA gives a good advantage on the DL and LB. You learn a few tricks on how to get past/move bigger guys and makes you tough and adds nastiness.
OT… my favorite take-down in FreeStyle Wrestling is the Head’n'Arm throw… Greco is more fun, but we only had Freestyle here
I think Hunter and Ayers will have to fight to keep a roster spot. Ayers though I think still end up being moved inside.
Blatnick has a belt in Judo and Ju-jitsu.
here = where I went to school…
Ouch.. Yeah, I only played through high school and decided to “explore” other things once in college..
Luckily I have all my teeth, and didn’t suffer any major injuries. Such a fun sport to play, b/c you’re moving so fast, and there is no out of bounds… Lol
Yeah, when I went to college I soon learned it was study or not graduate so the end of my not so stellar sports career.
Thats cool guys. So, who would win between BT and AB?
The team comradery was what I missed the most.
I hear ya buck, that’s why we got our Broncos!
Looks like I’m off to a good start on my BBBP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZxD_uV5kyk
OT i love the comments from the hopeful Chief fans lol they are trying to make it seem like he was a good pick LOL
He looks awful… He had no production, and had one good workout. Fat and lazy, if you ask me
OT Im not going to lie after I watched the combine I wanted him…..Then I started watching film of him….Then I was Hell no!!!! Fat lazy bad first step isnt as athletic in games as he was at the combine not as fast.
Watching the client list with jennifer love hewwett o m g
Yep. He totally gives up on plays, and looks like he’s just going though the motions. He plays with zero heart or fire. He’ll get paid, and won’t try
Skilz,was it you at that club with pac man?
i woulda punked that little terd
LOL Skilz
Jake Plummer has worked with Brock multiple times over the last few years.
Past Bronco QB mentoring/teaching our future QB! lol
Now bad news Brock also worked a lot with Phillip Rivers over the last couple months
Lol and for the last bit. Brock was working on his release with none other than Tim Tebow at UCLA with Mazzone
AB, I think Plummer will have more effect on Brock than “cry me a” Rivers. Plus he’ll have Peyton. Jake the Snake, Peyton, and John Elway as mentors? if this kid fails I have no idea what to think haha
Wolfe looks really good, he will be much more productive than POE..ser!!!
When Wolfe get his hands on a guy, their not getting away, he drives them into the ground… Hillman looks good too, explosive and a gamebreaker, thought we coulda’ got him a bit later but according to Elway he was highly sought after!!!! Can’t wait for August!!!!
On the Osweiler pick, if he went back to school for his senior season, he would no doubt be a first rounder in the 2013 draft. So basically are rebuilding while we’re making a run… Just food for thought..
Omar Bolden is the guy that intrigues me the most. Even coming off and ACL, he ran in the 4.4′s at his Pro day, but he ran a 4.35 entering college. He’s also over 200 pounds and is pretty aggressive. You may see him play a little Safety this season, if Rahim Moore or Carter can’t cut it. But in 2013, I see Bolden starting at Corner with maybe Chris Harris being the other starter and Champ can move to SS.
OT, that’s exactly what I think about Os too! Plus they were going to a read-option and he wanted to keep working on “NFL” style offenses
diver- you are forgetting about porter he will be starter imo
OT: Must have missed your BBBP. Please repost it so I can properly record it.
Thats if Porter is brought back next year. He was only signed to a one year deal.
I think Porter is legit and they will sign him to longer contract once draft is over and players evaluated.
BBBP:
CFA Aaron Brewer Broncos long snapper, Danny Trevathan (SP?) special teams stud (Can you say W. Woodyard clone?).
Did u get mine OSS?
South – is saying our very own Derek Wolfe will out produce KC’s Dontari Poe this season count? Or does it need to be more specific?
by Andrew Mason, CBSSports.com
Fifth-round pick Malik Jackson expects to see most of his work at DE after starting at DT the last two seasons for the University of Tennessee, but John Fox wasn’t willing to write that plan in ink. “I think [we] line him up at end and see how it goes,” Fox said. He’ll get his first look at Jackson and the Broncos’ other draft picks when their rookie camp begins May 11.
I think Blake challenges Walton for the starting job,or maybe Beadles at the Guard spot,we are weak at both spots,imo.Blake can play both positions,I like the pick!
Plus we don’t know how effective Kuper will be after his injury!
The verdict is still out on Porter,we’ll see how he does,I think he will get some ints this year,he’s gotta be better than Goody…so long Goody!
sndvl,I just shot you an email bro!