SPORTS
Undrafted Rogers, Zalewski catch on with NFL teams
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Also by Michael Poppy:
- Stocco awaits Packers' call (May 8, 2007)
- UW has room for progress (May 10, 2007)
- UW not ready for baseball (May 3, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Rogers sits, waits (April 26, 2007)
- UW seeks net returns (April 26, 2007)
- Zalewski's draft status uncertain (April 26, 2007)
- Wisconsin holds annual pro day (March 8, 2007)
- Rowdy Roddy Rogers (November 10, 2006)
by Michael Poppy
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Despite going undrafted, all wasn't lost for a couple of former Wisconsin football players.
According to their respective agents, Roderick Rogers and Mark Zalewski have signed with NFL teams following this weekend's draft.
Rogers, a free safety, signed with the Denver Broncos. With Denver, Rogers will be used as both a safety and nickel cornerback.
"He had 10-plus options, but Denver was the best fit," Rogers' agent Josh Wright told The Badger Herald.
Zalewski, an inside linebacker, inked a deal with the New York Jets, where head coach Eric Mangini uses a 3-4 defense. With two inside linebacker positions in the 3-4, Zalewski has a better chance of making the Jets' roster, but it's unclear which side he will play.
"It's exciting and the coaches assured me it is a good situation," Zalewski said in a statement released by X-A-M Sports VP Shawn Smith. "I'm just going to head into camp doing what I do best."
Despite the disappointment in going undrafted, Zalewski's agent Tim Valentyn belives the Jets will be a good fit for his client.
"We thought Mark would have been drafted … but we are focusing on going forward," Valentyn said. "We were fortunate enough to have had a couple of choices and we picked the best situation for Mark. He's going to do great."
Former UW quarterback John Stocco still remains unsigned.
Badgers' recruit to announce decision Wednesday
UW men's basketball head coach Bo Ryan may already be putting the final touches on the 2008 recruiting class.
Robert Wilson, a 6-foot-4 swingman from Garland Heights, Ohio, has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to announce where he will play college basketball. While Akron, Cleveland State, Dayton and Penn State have been heavily recruiting Wilson, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Wisconsin is his first choice.
Rivals.com reported that he had committed to Wisconsin, following a 20-point performance this weekend.
As a junior last season, Wilson averaged 17 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists while guiding Garland Heights to a 20-3 record. But Wilson's stock has risen lately after his performance in the King James Shooting Stars Classic.
Wilson would join point guard Jordan Taylor and center Jared Berggren in Wisconsin's freshman class of 2008. Taylor and Berggren have given UW nonbinding verbal commitments.
If the trio of Berggren, Taylor and Wilson were to make their commitments official come signing day in November, Wisconsin would be left with one more available scholarship. However, Ryan is reportedly seeking to use the remaining scholarship to sign a late recruit this spring.
Anonymous (May 1, 2007 @ 7:31pm):
Given Stocco's record as a starting QB, I'm very surprised. Until he gets picked up, I'm labeling every NFL team as "RETARDED"
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