April 29, 2012
RUSTON, La. - Four former Louisiana Tech players signed free agent contracts with four different NFL teams Saturday following the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
Linebacker Adrien Cole signed with the Chicago Bears, defensive lineman Matt Broha signed with the New York Giants, running back Lennon Creer signed with the Washington Redskins and cornerback Terry Carter signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
All four players are expected to report to their respective team camps within the next two weeks.
Cole was named the 2011 WAC Defensive Player of the Year as he led the Tech defense with 128 total tackles. He registered a team-leading 13 tackles for a loss of 49 yards which included two sacks for a loss of 15 yards with five pass break-ups and four quarterback hurries. A native of Mobile, Ala., Cole forced one fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked three kicks last season in 13 games played.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to continue playing football at the highest level," Cole said. "Coach [Jeff] Koonz had a friend on the Chicago Bears staff and he told them about me. That has provided me with a good opportunity to come in and possibly make the team up there. I am looking forward to getting that adventure started."
Matt Broha totaled 45 tackles in the 2011 campaign with 9.5 tackles for a loss of 55 yards including 7.5 sacks for a loss of 49 yards. Broha was credited with a team-leading eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles while also breaking up two passes in 13 games played.
"I got the call right after the last pick of the seventh round," explained Broha. It was the scout that I talked to at our pro day in Ruston. He said the team and he was really excited to sign me and glad to have the opportunity to bring me up. The Giants are the reigning Super Bowl champs so it is a big honor to be allowed to sign with them. It is a big opportunity for me and I hope to make the best of it."
Lennon Creer played in 10 games last fall, running 198 times for 838 yards and nine touchdowns. Averaging 4.2 yards per carry, he led the team in rushing the entire season and his nine touchdowns on the year was eclipsed by only three scores by the rest of Tech's ground game. Creer also caught 18 passes for 93 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per catch and adding another touchdown to his credit from the air.
Carter recorded 61 total tackles in 13 games played at corner back in 2011 with 2.5 tackles coming for a loss of five yards. His lone interception of the year was returned 22 yards for a touchdown at Utah State in what many consider to be the turning point in that game, part of Louisiana Tech's seven game winning streak that led to a Western Athletic Conference Championship. Carter led the Bulldogs with 11 pass break-ups while also forcing one fumble and recovering a fumble.
"I am really happy about signing because most people don't get the opportunity to do sign with any team. I am fortunate, if anything. At first I was disappointed about not getting drafted but after thinking on it a little, I realized I have this great opportunity."
"The Steelers' scout called me and said they might draft me in the sixth or seventh rounds," Carter explained. "But he said if that didn't happen they would definitely offer me a contract. Their head coach, defensive coordinator and the scout all liked me."
Cole, Broha, Creer and Carter are four more additions to an already impressive list of former Bulldogs that have played in the NFL. Prior to their signings, Louisiana Tech has had 59 players go on to play in the NFL with three former Bulldogs - Terry Bradshaw, Fred Dean and Willie Roaf - enshrined or about to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ten Bulldogs have gone on to win a total of 15 Super Bowl rings including Bradshaw's four Super Bowl titles with the Steelers in the late 1970s.
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