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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Five Football Players Sign Free-Agent Contracts With NFL Squads
4/21/2000 | Football
April 21, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. -- Five Ole Miss Rebels have signed free-agent contracts with National Football League teams.
Safety Ronnie Heard and linebacker Al Rice signed with the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Cory Peterson signed with the New York Jets, linebacker Armegis Spearman inked with the Cincinnati Bengals, and cornerback Tim Strickland was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Three other Ole Miss players -- offensive tackles Todd Wade and Tutan Reyes and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy -- were chosen during the recent NFL draft. Wade was picked in the second round by the Miami Dolphins, Clancy went in the third round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Reyes was selected in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints.
Heard, a 6-2 1/2, 205 pounder from Lake Jackson, Texas, earned four letters during his career at Ole Miss. His career totals included 208 tackles, with 137 of those stops being solo hits. He had five pass interceptions, caused one fumble, recovered two fumbles, broke up 13 passes and had three quarterback sacks. Heard's top single game tackle effort was 14 against VMI in 1996.
A 6-1, 225 pounder from Hattiesburg, Miss., Rice also earned four letters at Ole Miss. He had 145 career tackles with 62 being solo hits. Rice also had two pass interceptions, three quarterback sacks, broke up six passes, and recovered two fumbles. One of the fumble recoveries resulted in a touchdown as he returned it 37 yards for a score against South Carolina this past season. He had eight tackles on three different occasions.
Peterson, a 6-3, 195 pounder from Germantown, Tenn., finished his career second on the school's career list for receptions with 135 and third in receiving yards with 1,842. A four-year letterman and second team All-SEC pick, Peterson established himself as one of the best clutch receivers in Ole Miss history. Several of his catches resulted in game-winners for the Rebs. Also an outstanding kick returner, Peterson ended his career with 2,346 all-purpose yards. He had a single game career high nine receptions against Memphis in 1998.
A 6-1, 245 pounder from Bruce, Miss., Spearman earned second team All-SEC honors during his four-year career at Ole Miss, which saw him letter each season. Spearman's career totals included 253 tackles, including 144 solo hits. Spearman, who had a single-game career high 14 tackles against Georgia in 1999, also had four and one-half quarterback sacks, intercepted two passes, caused three fumbles, recovered two fumbles and broke up eight passes.
Strickland, a 5-10, 190 pounder from Memphis, Tenn., earned four letters during his Rebel career and was credited with 246 tackles, including 160 solos. He also intercepted four passes, recovered five fumbles, broke up 33 passes, had one QB sack, and caused one fumble. He had a single game career high 15 tackles against Tennessee in 1996.
