Rams sign 12 rookie free agents

[RamWraith]

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/28/2008

After making their eight draft picks, the Rams agreed to terms with 12 rookie free agents.

The list:

Name, Pos. ... Ht., Wt. ... College


Yvenson Bernard, RB ... 5-8, 204 ... Oregon State

Vernon Bryant, DT ... 6-2, 285 ... Hampton

Matt Caddell, WR ... 6-0, 187 ... Alabama

Vincent Hall, LB ... 5-11, 238 ... Virginia Tech

Rodney Hardeway, DE ... 6-3, 230 ... Louisiana-Lafayette

Joshua Hyman, WR ... 5-11, 191 ... Virginia Tech

Doug Jones, TE ... 6-4, 275 ... Cincinnati

Marc Magro, LB ... 6-3, 240 ... West Virginia

Brandon McAnderson, FB ... 5-11, 238 ... Kansas

Justin McKinney, CB ... 5-10, 188 ... Kansas State

Stephen Sene, OT ... 6-5, 326 ... Liberty

Joshua Thompson, DT ... 6-0, 301 ... Auburn


Notes on each player, as provided by the Rams' media relations department:

* Bernard totaled 3,862 career rushing yards, second in Oregon State history, and 38 rushing touchdowns.

* Bryant collected a career-high 47 tackles (11 solo) and three sacks for Hampton in 2007.

* Caddell was Alabama's No. 2 leading receiver with 40 receptions for 475 yards in '07.

* Hall recorded 404 tackles at Virginia Tech and became the ninth player in school history to lead the team in tackles twice.
* Hardeway led the Sun Belt Conference with seven sacks in '07.

* Hyman was Virginia Tech's No. 4 receiver with 26 catches for 343 yards.

* Jones played tight end and fullback over the last four seasons for Cincinnati.

* Magro started all 13 games for West Virginia in '07, totaling 83 tackles and eight sacks.

* McAnderson rushed for 1,125 yards with 16 touchdowns last season for KU in '07.

* McKinney finished his career at Kansas State with 157 tackles and six interceptions.

* Sene started three seasons at left tackle for Liberty, earning Big South All-Conference honors the last two.

* Thompson started 26 consecutive games to end his career at Auburn. He led the Tigers with 67 tackles in '07.

[rams_fan247]

i really like the hall signing and think he could come in and compete with vobora/chamberlein at the lb positions.

mcanderson and bernard were productive runners in college but i don't know if they'll make it in the nfl, i could be wrong.

anyone know what happened to that other liberty player, vincett redd? i thought the rams had scouted/visited him.

[Goldenfleece]

Vince Redd has gone to the dark side (New England).

[Mooselini]

i had just got done reading this on the STL Rams site. I like this. However, most of these are just body counts....

[rams_fan247]

wow, he'll thrive as that end lb in new england's 3-4, but i hope he doesn't.

[evil disco man]

Yvenson Bernard doesn't have the measurables you look for in an NFL running back, but he's one of those guys that just knows how to play the game of football. He sees the field well and makes smart decisions running the ball. I'm glad they're giving the guy a chance, even if only as a training camp body.

[39thebeast]

Bernard is SJ's boy his backup way back in the day I think at Oregon State. Fear the dreads. We are really trying to make him happy, must mean we are getting nothing done with that contract or actually getting something done we got his past blocker in scheuning and past back up in Bernard. I really like Hall and I think he has a shot to make it. MARC MARGO!!! Nick's boy from high school. McAnderson I believe also has a shot, Bernanrd also might if SJ hooks his boy up.

[Mooselini]

the beast makes a point...i hope steven jackson is getting a contract...we have quite a bit of rbs now...

[Keenum]

I really hope Caddell can stick around. He made that game winning TD against Arkansas in that incredible game earlier this season (I was there, and that was the best football atmostphere I've been in when he made that catch).
Anyway, he's got the frame, but he has got to add on some muscle. He's quick, runs a 4.45 40, and was a fantatsic punt returner in high school.

[eric2810]

Yeah The Rams should try to get a deal done with Steven Jackson soon. Hopefully from now or during the season, as long as it isnt tooo late. i really hoped the Rams would of picked up a Chris Johnson type player in this draft, to have a nice speed and power combo. By the way, what is Bernard's 40-time?

[rams_fan247]

i got this info from sportingnews:

5-8 5/8
204lb
4.73 40 time

[Nick]

Went to high school with Magro and watched him play here at WVU. He's a capable football player and knows how to get to the QB when sent in on a blitz, but I don't think athletically he has enough to really stick with us. Personally I was pulling for us to land Schmitt, but he had to go and become a Seahawk...

[tomahawk247]

ive just noticed from looking on KFFL that some of these UDFAs signed for us with a contract not containing a signing bonus. In fact i wouldnt be surprised if that was the case for all of them. Which explains why we couldnt land any of the more prominant UDFAs

[laram0]

Not 1 quarterback????

What's going on in that department?

[HUbison]

Bernard is SJ's boy his backup way back in the day I think at Oregon State.

He must have backed him waaaaaay up. Bernard was a senior at Boca Raton Community High School when S-Jack left Oregon State.