The Broncos added 10 rookies through the NFL Draft this weekend, then followed that up by signing 15 undrafted free agents. Now the team has added two more college free agents on Tuesday — linebackers Braxton Kelley (University of Kentucky) and Jeff Schweiger (San Jose State University).
To make room, the club waived tight end Adam Bergen and wide receiver Jayson Foster.
The two rookies’ bios, provided by the superb Denver Broncos PR staff, are after the jump.
Kelley (6-foot-0, 230 pounds) totaled 287 tackles (175 solo), 6.5 sacks (30 yds.), four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six pass breakups in 46 career games (42 starts) at Kentucky… Spent his first three seasons at middle linebacker before primarily playing weakside linebacker for the Wildcats as a senior… Named one of two team captains as a senior in 2008 for UK and earned the school’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award after registering a team and career-high 98 tackles (49 solo), four sacks (21 yds.), two pass breakups and two forced fumbles as a 13-game starter… Ranked eighth in the Southeastern Conference in tackles per game (7.5) in 2008, earning second-team all-conference honors from Phil Steele’s College Football… Had 63 tackles (34 solo) in 13 games (12 starts) as a junior for the Wildcats in 2007… Posted 82 tackles (57 solo) in 13 games (10 starts) as a sophomore… Received Freshman All-America honors from Rivals.com (second team) and The Sporting News (third team) while being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2005, totaling 44 tackles (35 solo) and one sack (1 yd.) in seven games (7 starts) that year… Earned All-Georgia recognition from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Ga.… Twin brother, Brandon, plays defensive line at Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn…. Was a high school and college teammate of current Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard… Majored in kinesiology at Kentucky… Braxton Kelley was born on Oct. 24, 1986, in LaGrange, Ga.
Schweiger (6-foot-5, 276 pounds) saw time at defensive end in college, playing for San Jose State as a senior after competing for the University of Southern California during his first three collegiate seasons… Totaled 26 tackles (6 solo) and 1.5 sacks (14 yds.) while placing second on the team with two fumble recoveries in nine games (6 starts) as a senior in 2008 at San Jose State… Did not play in 2007 due to NCAA transfer rules but practiced with San Jose State and received its Scout Team Award… Credited with 31 tackles (14 solo), two sacks and one pass breakup in 25 games during three seasons at USC… Was part of USC’s National Championship team in 2004 as a freshman and finished the campaign with 18 tackles (7 solo), two sacks and one pass breakup… Added 11 stops (5 solo) as a sophomore and two tackles as a junior for the Trojans… Named a first-team All-American and the Gatorade California Player of the Year as a senior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif…. Collected 140 tackles, 18 sacks, 15 pass breakups and four fumble recoveries during his final prep season… Selected to play in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl… Father, Jeff Schweiger, played football at San Jose State and started for the school at defensive end from 1979-80… Majored in philosophy at San Jose State… Jeff Schweiger was born on Jan. 1, 1986, in San Jose, Calif.
How many guys are on the current roster then? Just curious to know how many will get cut since we can only have 53 guys?
Deify_you,
The team doesn’t actually have to cut down to 53 players until the regular season. For now the team can have a much higher number — I believe it’s 90 players.
-Gray
lol I have habit of leaving out details for some reason, I knew we didnt have to be down to 53 until regualar season, but man 90 guys. Then you think about it only 45 out of the 53 can suit up, 46 if the team has 3 QB. Thanks for responding to my question so quickly.
I’m glad to see a few more defense guys getting signed in the CFA. I know Edge got released by the Cards and all I can say is…I hope we don’t try to sign him. Please use common sense about this we have a stable of backs right now a 1st rounder two 2nd yr guys that showed, if they can stay healthy, they are capable of running in this league. Not to mention the FA’s we got. Not that I think we will sign DJ’s brother, but has anyone signed him?
Sportscenter had a broadcast about how multiple Universities had only one player drafted or none at all. Tennessee Volunteer’s for example only had one player drafted Robert Ayers which we drafted. Basically the jist is are universities recruiting like they used too. Definitly this years draft didnt have the talent like years before.
Deify…I think the biggest thing that has changed in the college game is the share of scholarships awarded to schools. It makes it a better game all around at the college level. The loss to the NFL and the fans is the best players aren’t playing against each other like before…Practice isn’t the same and the inner-conference games don’t pit the same talent as once before. I think this years draft will be more of a norm then the exception in the future cause of this.
bntbroncos great response
Am I missing the post that named the 15 CFA’s we signed yesterday?
rev79 go to: top stories on the home page
I bet Woodyard is really happy to have the opportunity to play with Braxton Kelley again!
texark-fan: Thanks.
It looks like a couple of more CFA diamonds could be on our team like last year (Woodley, and Josh Bell)…
I think we should sign Edge…. Jk, I just wanted to jokingly say that… for some kicks and giggles…
QUESTION: What RBs do YOU think will still be on our roster buy the begining of the season?… and what do you think the order will be?
I think: 1st Moreno… 2nd- idk… 3rd- idk… 4th- idk… I guess that’s why I’m trying to get some opinions…
i hope chris baker can step up and stay out of trouble and become our NT if he can were fine and get marcus to gain mass. i belive that were going to be fine in 09
Broncobailey99 not sure what order but I bet you can safely say K. Moore will be gone. Jordan and Buckhalter its hard to say both are 30, picked up out of FA, and werent starters last season. Then you have Young and Torain. Torain having been hurt early in the season needs to really prove it on the practice field. But its hard to tell until we can see some practice film which you know we wont get to see, so I guess we’ll find out when the depth chart comes out during training camp.
Good golly I hope Knowshon is!… jk (he obviously will)
I THINK: in the running to stay on the roster would be Young, Torain, Buckhalter, and Arrington (or Lamont)… But really that is just basically the list…
I WOULD LIKE to have these fellers (in this order):
1st-Moreno
2nd-Young (I’m just hoping that he pans out and looks how he looked his rookie year)
3rd-Buckhalter
4th-Torain
5th-(if McD wants 5) Arrington
(HILLIS AT FB)…
This is just how I’d like it (as of right now)… but I obviously want who does best over who I like best…
i think a Torain and Moreno combo would be pretty good but we’ve got a pass happy Coach so you never know, for Defense i like these two new guys, but i saw Larry Foote is going to get Released he’s only 28, i think we should sign him.
Has anyone seen Tom Brandstater (Fresno QB) highlights?…
I would love to see him compete for the starting job… Maybe he could be one of McD’s “projects” and make him into a great player…
He has speed and athleticism along w/ what I saw to be a decent/good arm…
OPINIONS???
Tom Branstater 2007 highlights… at 2:30 and 2:40 he shows a good ability to escape pressure in the pocket and make a play… OR A BIG PLAY (2:40!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1p-QWy3NAc
Broncobailey Tom. B suprized me. He is kinda good . He won’t compete for a starting Job until next yr. though. He can play in the shotgun and from under center. He’s smart to so learning the play book shouldn’t be hard. He got his masters in the 3 yrs.. Pro-type of arm and body. Quick feet can move in the pocket.
ROBERT AYERS=JUSTIN TUCK
FYI this is according to 2008 season only.Buckhalter averages more yards (4.9 to Jordans 4.5) per carry and has more rushing yards (369 to Jordans 363) Jordan however has 4 rushing TDs to Buckhalter’s 2. Jordan very questionable because he doesnt have any receiving yards or TDs. Buckhalter has 324 yards receiving and 2 TDs. Also neither are fumbling machines either Jordan had 1 and Buckhalter didnt have any. Arrington averaged 6yards per carry, 187 rushing yards, 255 receving yards. Hope thats easy to read I know its easier to read stats in list form.
J.J. ARRINGTON WILL BE USED ON SPECIAL TEAMS AS A RETURNER. AND BUCKHALTER AND JORDAN ARE SHORT YARD RUNNING BACKS. MORENO IS JUST DOWN RIGHT NASTY
I have a friend who plays D end at Boise state and he is a broncos fan too so when they drafted Brandstater i called him to get the 411 and from what my boy says, Tommy B. isn’t anything to get too excited about. “He sucks”, were his exact words, but hats not to say that a couple years on the bench learning from Coach M won’t do him some good. Who knows? Never thought Matt Cassel would be considered a snub on the pro bowl either. anything is possible…
A Deify plus Jordan played in the offense last yr.
Lets slow down on the Tuck rule. Ayers isn’t their yet
More I see tape on Tom B. the more im impressed.
I think some hold overs gonna get cut. When it comes time to trim down. Some notable Broncos won’t be here this yr.
Did they stop contract talks with B. Marshall?
Matuch He fell off this yr. 07′. is where his game came to form. He was touching that conference then. He regressed this yr.
This just in……..The Broncos today continued to add depth at linebacker by signing free agent Nick Greisen along with undrafted college free agents Braxton Kelley and Jeff Schweiger.
Looks like we got our NT (Baker)and addressed the need at MLB. I like what McD is doing here. Moreno is gonna be a BEAST and will help our defense in the long run!
GO BRONCOS!!!!
At times I think that McD brought some Patriot guys in for 2 reasons… One being that he felt that they would help, and 2: since they played the same system, it would help to have some players that played in it to help the other players out…
Like Lamont has the inside knowledge on running in this system, and some little techniques here and there or something
Same thing w/ Gaffney… he is good, AND played in this system, it would only help to have these guys there…
Note……Nick Greisen was with the Ravens! Gotta like this move.
Nick gonna be a special teams ace!
Lets hope its not a REPEAT!! (Niko K.)… not about to try and spell the guys last name…
We just found out who’s gay!
dragonslaire – Thanks for the info but, that is actually what this blog is about.
WILLIAMS55LB it probably never occured to you, but some people have internet access at work and when they’re not busy they go on the web and browse flights, hotels, check their emails, and even go on the Broncos webpage since its updated daily. Never assume anything.
Let the dude thing he’s doing somethin. He on here but I can’t! You with you could be me. lol@ uub
“We just found out who’s gay!”-UUB
who’s gay????
i think we should get Larry Foote, he’s 28 and being released from the Steelers or has been already dont remember, i thought he was amazing in pitt plus he has 2 rings and is already from a 3-4 defense…be a good fit, a vetern who can help some younger linebackers.
Deify-you he young he needs a something. You know what they say.”sensitive thugs they all need hugs. Im good don’t mind slim.
Well that was mature…
you guys no nothing about the DENVER BRONCOS at all. keep saying you do but you dont peace losers
alright, see ya…
What crawled up his but and died?
WILLIAMS55LB what are you even talking about? We’ve been discussing football, talking about current players, the players we just drafted. So why should there be an age limit? As long as we stay on topic, your the one that seems to have an attitude problem. Everyone else is getting along fine.
People Can stop typing your name. Got me filling like your Barry Bonds or something.(Greatness007)
Must be williams55lb. People try to so love to there team. Know what I mean Broncobailey? He(william55lb) always picking internet fights with people. Everytime I come on here and see what the news of the day is. He picking with people. I’m thinking he get picked on outside his house. I guess he never heard of a BLACKBERRY! Some people got money to use YFI NOT JUST HOME INTERNET.
because you guys play the blame game all the time on MCDENVER and then the next day his god to you guys and then you guys are mad at him again for something
lol How you know I’m on my storm. lol
Back to the Broncos. Who ya’ll think gonna get rookie of the yr. on our squad and MVP of the team? Any ideas?
lol im on my iphone
NOW I NEVER SAID THAT. WOW He gotta win a Superbowl for me to even think he on the level as Shanny. I’m just man enough to say when he makes a good move. Stand up people give credit when credit is due!
Does that guy Mondono still post anymore, used to see him post every day even Mark Cooper would mention him in his blogs.
Back to the Broncos, I have no idea whose going to emerage and be the best as a rookie for us. I would suspect Moreno would be a heavy favorite since we have an AWESOME LINE.
A Greatness you think your boy(Chris Baker) gonna start??
I think if Bobby Turner gets his way Knowshawn will win Rookie of the yr.
If our D is any where near the Top 15 they will giv the Credit to Dawkins. I’m sure of that!
So according to you I cant be a true Broncos fan because its the Denver Broncos and I dont live in Denver. That means I can be a true Avalanche fan because its the Colorado Avalanche right?
Chris got a shot if he stay out of trouble. I like what Knowshawn can project to do this yr. It’s all on Orton though. If he does good we will. If he doesn’t we won’t. He at least gotta break even.
If our passing D is tight Champ will get the credit. I fill more teams are gonna pick on Champ this yr. He comming off and injury. So they gonna test them. We have to get a passrush to help him. So he can return to form and get 7 to 11 picks.