The New York Jets have announced the signing of free agent DT Anthony Harris (Western New Mexico/Rollins Fork, MS/6-3/287) and undrafted free agent TE Jack Simmons (Minnesota/Libertyville, IL/6-4/246). The announcements were made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.
Harris, a defensive lineman with long-snapping experience, signed with Carolina before the 2008 season but was waived before training camp. He last played for the Rock River (IL) Raptors of the CIFL indoor league. In 13 games in 2008, he logged 25 tackles (eight for loss) and a safety, adding seven hurries, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. As a senior at Western New Mexico University in 2004, he had 41 tackles, including 8.5 for loss (33 yards), and 5.5 sacks.
Simmons, a three-year starter at Minnesota who appeared in 41 games, finished his collegiate career with 73 receptions for 762 yards and three touchdowns. In 2008, he caught 34 passes for 331 yards with two touchdowns, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and honorable mention from the coaches, while also being selected as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The New York Jets have announced the signing of 17 undrafted free agents. The announcement was made by Jets’ General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.
The players signing with the Jets:
TE J’Nathan Bullock (Cleveland State/Flint, MI/6-5/240), P T.J. Conley (Idaho/Walla Walla, WA/6-3/220), S Emanuel Cook (South Carolina/Riviera Beach, FL/5-10/214)
TE/LS Andrew Davie (Arkansas/Little Rock, AR/6-6/275), WR Britt Davis (Northern Illinois/Broadview, IL/6-3/205), S Keith Fitzhugh (Mississippi State/Lovejoy, GA/5-11/205), DT Matt Kroul (Iowa/Mount Vernon, IA/6-3/281), OL Kyle Link (McNeese State/Lake Charles, LA/6-6/300), OT Ryan McKee (So. Mississippi/Spanish Fort, AL/6-6/291), TE Rob Myers (Utah State/Houston, TX/6-4/240), C Michael Parenton (Tulane/Thibodaux, LA/6-2/287), QB Chris Pizzotti (Harvard/Reading, MA/6-5/225), DE Zach Potter (Nebraska/Omaha, NE/6-7/280), FB Brannan Southerland (Georgia/Dacula, GA/6-0/244), DL Ty Steinkuhler(Nebraska/Lincoln, NE/6-3/280), OT Tavita Thompson (Oregon State/Honolulu, HI/6-5/309) and DE Jamaal Westerman(Rutgers/Brampton, Ontario/6-3/265).
Bullock was a basketball forward at Cleveland State, scoring 1,800 career points in 130 games. He played high school football in Flint, MI.
Conley, a Walter Camp first-team All-America selection, finished his senior year at Idaho with a 47.4 punting average on 58 punts to lead the NCAA.
Cook is a safety that earned All-Southeastern Conference honors all three years he played at South Carolina.
Davie, a former minor league baseball player in the Cardinals’ system who was drafted in the 32nd round in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, caught 24 passes for 199 yards and six touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Davis finished his career fifth on the NIU all-time charts for career catches with 146 and totaled 1,676 career receiving yards, 2,063 all-purpose yards and nine career touchdowns.
Fitzhugh played in 48 games over four years, grabbing six interceptions and adding eight pass breakups.
Kroul started a record 50 games at Iowa, logging 238 tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks and one interception.
Link started his collegiate career as a tight end before converting to offensive tackle as a junior. He did not allow a sack as a senior.
McKee started three consecutive seasons at right tackle as the Golden Eagles surpassed the school’s record for total offense each season.
Myers caught 31 passes for 445 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons.
Parenton started 46 games for the Green Wave, spending last year at center after playing left guard as a junior, center as a sophomore and right guard as a freshman.
Pizzotti, a two-time All-Ivy League QB, finished his career with 5,675 yards passing, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Potter, a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big 12 choice, played in 50 games for Nebraska, starting 24, logging 96 tackles, 28 for loss and eight sacks.
Steinkuhler, a 2008 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 coaches’ choice, finished his career with 88 tackles, three sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss. He is the son of legendary Nebraska and NFL offensive lineman Dean Steinkuhler.
Southerland finished with 171 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing, and 35 catches for 289 yards with six touchdowns in his career as a blocking fullback.
Thompson started at left tackle as a junior and right tackle as a senior.
Westerman totaled 141 tackles and 26 sacks in four years at Rutgers.
