This is a list of the undrafted free agents the Raiders have signed. I will be updating it for each signing as word comes out of the signing. Several undrafted free agents over the years have been good players for the Raiders, so one of the names here could be a contributor in the near future.
Sterling Moore, CB, SMU
Hometown kid out of Oakland (Deer Valley HS). A Juco transfer from Laney college. Arrived at Southern Methodist as a junior and made an immediate impact with 11 passes defended. On the smaller side at just 5-11, 204. Tight man cover guy. Speedy with return skills (4.54 40). Went out with a knee injury for the final two games of his junior season. That knee injury lingered into his senior season and cost him a lot of game his senior season.
Alan Pelc, OG, North Carolina
Has played every position on the interior line. Made 33 straight starts beginning in his sophomore season, missing his final two starts with a shoulder injury. Was on the 2010 Outland Trophy preseason watch list after a junior season with a team best 78% grade and 38 knock down blocks. Is not very phyical or athletically gifted. His value may be as a versatile backup guard.
Mason Brodine, DE, Nebraska-Kearney
He is a tall lanky player at 6-7, 255 lbs, who has played both tight end and defensive end, though he projects as a defensive end at the professional level. He set a school record 23.5 sacks over his four seasons there.
Ben Lamaak, C/OG, Iowa State
All Big 12 second team and 2010 Outland Trophy Preseason watch list. Another versatile interior lineman the Raiders have signed in this UDFA period. He may not have been draft worthy as a center but the Raiders intend on adding him to the competition at guard.
Chris Francis, LB, Baylor
A second generation NFL player. His father and uncle both played in the NFL. He didn’t start his first game until his senior season. He is 6-0 and a very solid 235 pounds. Can squat 600 pounds and bench 400 pounds. Was the Bears’ starting middle linebacker last season in what was shaping up to be a good season until they lost their last three regular season games and then lost to Illinois in the Texas Bowl. The collapse no doubt lowered his stock.
James McCluskey, FB, Boston College
Missed all of the 2009 season with a torn Achilles tendon. 6-2 and a bruising 252 pounds, he will enter camp with a good shot of becoming the blocking fullback to complement receiving fullback Marcel Reece. This is a great acquisition.
Zac Etheridge, S, Auburn
Known for his hard hitting and solid tackling. He suffered a serious neck injury in 2009 that required surgery but he was able to recover by the end of the 2010 season. Was considered a mid-round draft talent by some. Has starter potential if he can improve his coverage skills.
Jordan La Secla, QB, San Jose State
Has a strong arm and shows patience in the pocket. Sports Illustrated had him as a sleeper of sorts, saying that he was dragged down by a poor receiving corps.
Bani Gbadyu, LB, PSU
This guy has a tremendous story. He was born in war-torn Libya and when he was 10 years old, he and his father escaped revolution and took a boat to America to start a new life. It took him until his senior season to become the fulltime starter. But when you are the starter at ‘Linebacker U’, even one season as fulltime starter is impressive.
Eddie Mcgee, QB/WR, Illinois
Definitely a project. He is projected as a receiver but has the kind of abilities that are worth taking a chance. Has a lot of speed with the ability to be a wildcat option as well. At this point, he has nothing but upside at the receiver position. He was switched to wideout from quarterback his senior season and played sparingly.
Lou Eliades, OG, Penn State
Tore his ACL and was out his entire senior season at Penn State. As we know, ACL tears can end careers. Then again, he could recover. He was shaping up to be a fine guard prospect prior to the injury and if he is able to completely recover, he could be a find as a UDFA.
Derrick Jones, WR, California (PA)
A top prospect out of Long Beach Poly. Was the primary receiving target of talented QB in Josh Portis. He, like Portis, was highly recruited out of high school. He signed a letter of intent to USC but never backed out and played two seasons at Oregon. Has blazing speed but has character concerns that forced him to transfer from Division I to Division II California (PA). If he truly has grown up, he could be a lethal receiving tool.
Steven Goulet, WR, Ohio
Goulet was a fifth year senior with the Bobcats last season who caught 21 passes for 230 yards. But what’s more important is that he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis with his 4.42 forty yard dash time. We’ll have to wait and see if he can catch better than Darrius Heyward-Bey. This guy is a longshot to make it past the first round of cuts in August.
Jamie Cumbie, DT, Clemson
He was released from the Clemson football team after he was arrested for “assault of a high and aggravated nature.” If you read the police report, Cumbie is very lucky he is not in prison for murder as the victim barely survived the attack. And oh yeah, he outweighed the other guy by an estimated 100 pounds. He came to the school as a Parade All-American and left as a black mark. But I suppose everyone deserves a second chance. As for his on-field play: in his junior season, he tallied 53 tackles in 13 games with just 3 starts. He stands 6-7 but at 290 lbs is on the lighter side for a defensive tackle.
Cody Habben, OT, Washington
Started nearly every game at right tackle for the Huskies in his final three seasons at Washington. He was Honorable Mention Academic All Pac10 in 07 and 08 and Pac-10 Honorable Mention in 09. At 6-8, 250 lb, he needs to add a lot of weight if he hopes to play offensive tackle in the NFL. But he has the frame for it and long arms. He could use a lot of time in the weight room to gain the weight and power he would need.
Derrick Hill, DT, Cal
Was the Bears starting DT/NT for most of his final two seasons there. He missed several games his junior season. His biggest play last season came against the top ranked Oregon Ducks when he broke through a double team to sack Oregon QB Darren Thomas and force a fumble. He then fell on the ball in the endzone for a score. Cal came closer than any other team that season to beating the undefeated Ducks and it was due in large part to the play of Hill. He received the game ball for his efforts in that game.
The Raiders had shown interest in QB Pat Devlin out of Delaware but he ended up signing with the Dolphins. They also reportedly showed interest in Ohio State WR Dane Sanzenbacher who signed with the Bears.
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