Packers announce signings of rookies

The Packers have officially announced the signing of seven of their draft choices and several of their undrafted rookie free agents, staying on task with all other 31 National Football League teams that have made quick work in signing rookies because of the changes is the CBA and the rookie salary cap.

Those changes made holdouts and long negotiations with rookies a thing of the past.

Below you will find the official press release sent out by the Packers with the announcement of all signings to date …

PACKERS SIGN SEVEN DRAFT CHOICES

The Green Bay Packers signed seven of their draft choices. The signings were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.

Jerel WorthyDE6-2

308

Michigan StateHuber Heights, Ohio

2b

Casey HaywardCB5-11

192

VanderbiltPerry, Ga.

4a

Mike DanielsDT6-0

291

IowaBlackwood, N.J.

4b

Jerron McMillianS5-11

203

MaineHillside, N.J.

5

Terrell ManningLB6-2

237

North Carolina StateLaurinburg, N.C.

7a

Andrew DatkoT6-6

315

Florida StateFort Lauderdale, Fla.

7b

B.J. ColemanQB6-3

231

Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga, Tenn.

Here is the listing and descriptions of all the undrafted free agent rookies signed by the Packers:

West VirginiaGermantown, Md.Duane BennettRB5-9

213

MinnesotaO’Fallon, Ill.Jaymes BrooksG6-2

300

Virginia TechNewport News, Va.Nic CooperFB5-10

249

Winston-Salem StateClinton, N.C.Tommie DraheimC6-4

309

San Diego StateLakeside, Calif.Cameron FordTE6-3

245

Wake ForestAnderson, S.C.Eric LairTE6-2

238

MinnesotaHouston, TexasMike McCabeT6-5

313

Holy CrossWatertown, Conn.Dezman MosesLB6-2

249

TulaneWillingboro, N.J.Dale MossWR6-3

213

South Dakota StateBrandon, S.D.Sean RichardsonS6-2

216

VanderbiltLinden, Ala.Marcus RiversWR6-3

218

BuffaloLackawanna, N.Y.Dion TurnerCB5-11

194

Southern UtahOakland, Calif.Marc TylerRB5-11

226

Southern CaliforniaWestlake Village, Calif.

 Barclay, 23, tied a school record by appearing in 52 career games with 40 starts. A three-year-starter at left tackle, he was named first-team All-Big East by the coaches in 2011. Barclay also earned first-team all-conference honors from Phil Steele and ESPN.com. In 2011, he helped the Mountaineers post 6,104 yards of total offense, good for No. 17 in the country.

Bennett (first name is pronounced Doo-on), 22, started all 12 games for the Gophers in 2011 and led the team with 639 rushing yards and three TDs on 166 carries (3.8 avg.). He finished his career with 2,126 rushing yards, good for No. 13 all-time in school history. In 2007, he earned Freshman All-Big Ten honors from Sporting News as he posted 370 yards rushing in conference play, No. 2 among Big Ten freshmen.

Brooks, 22, was a three-year starter at right guard for the Hokies, finishing his career with 42 consecutive starts. As a senior, he opened all 14 contests and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. Brooks also was named second-team All-ACC as a junior when he started all 14 games at right guard.

Cooper, 23, rushed for 3,430 yards in his career, the fourth-best mark in school history. In 2011, he helped lead the Rams to a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title and the Division II semifinals, rushing for 1,808 yards and 22 TDs on 267 carries (6.8 avg.). It was the third-best single-season rushing total in school history. Cooper added 22 receptions for 233 yards (10.6 avg.) and two TDs as a senior, and finished his career ranked third in school history for the most total touchdowns with 43.

Draheim (Dray-hime), 23, earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a senior, becoming the first Aztec offensive lineman to be named first-team all-league since Brendan Darby in 2003. A three-year letterman, he helped SDSU rank 10^th in the country in 2011 in fewest sacks allowed (0.83 per game) and blocked for Ronnie Hillman, who finished No. 3 in the country with 1,711 rushing yards on the season. Draheim started 33 games for the Aztecs, including 30 consecutive starts to end his career.

Ford, 23, started a career-high 10 games as a senior and caught 12 passes for 99 yards (8.2 avg.) and three TDs. He appeared in all 12 games with six starts as a junior in 2010 and caught 11 passes for 120 yards (10.9 avg.). Ford played in 38 games with 19 starts at Wake Forest and finished his career with 34 receptions for 347 yards (10.2 avg.) and three TDs

Lair, 22, was a four-year letterman for the Gophers, appearing in all 12 games with three starts as a senior. He caught 11 passes for 168 yards (15.3 avg.) and a TD in 2011. As a junior, Lair played in 12 games with 11 starts and hauled in 39 passes for 526 yards (13.5 avg.) and two TDs. He finished his career with 51 receptions for 706 yards (13.8 avg.) and three scores.

McCabe, 23, was a first-team All-Patriot League selection and a first-team All-New England choice in 2011, the third straight season he earned all-conference honors and the second straight he was named all-region. He started all 11 games at left tackle as a senior, helping the Crusaders average 400.9 yards of offense per game. McCabe played in 47 career games with 36 starts along the offensive line, including a streak of 34 straight to end his career.

Moses, 23, was a two-year starter at defensive end for the Green Wave after transferring from the University of Iowa. He started 22 of 23 games played at Tulane, including all 13 in 2011, and finished his career there with 114 tackles (59 solo), including 24½ tackles for loss, 15½ sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Moses was a second-team All-Conference USA selection as a senior when he registered 52 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and 9½ sacks. Despite playing just two seasons at Tulane, his career sack total ranks No. 5 in school history.

Moss, 23, played just one season of college football after lettering four years in basketball for the Jackrabbits. In 2011, he played in 11 games with nine starts and caught 61 passes, tied for the team lead, for a team-high 949 yards (15.6 avg.) and six TDs. Moss earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors and was also selected to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team. He registered four 100-yard receiving games on the season.

Richardson, 22, was a three-year starter for the Commodores and finished his career with 256 tackles (156 solo), including 18 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception and 10 passes defensed. As a senior, he started all 13 contests and finished No. 2 on the team with 63 tackles (41 solo). Richardson set career highs as a junior in tackles (98), tackles for loss (seven) and passes defensed (five).

Rivers, 22, posted a career-best 60 receptions for 615 yards (10.3 avg.) and two TDs as a senior on his way to earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors. As a junior, he registered a career-high 690 receiving yards on 50 receptions (13.8 avg.), which led the team, and tied for the team lead with five TD catches.

Turner, 22, was a two-time All-Great West Conference first-team selection at cornerback after playing safety his first two seasons. As a senior, he posted 69 tackles (48 solo), including four tackles for loss, four passes defensed and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. Reynolds posted 54 tackles (36 solo), including 2½ for a loss, a fumble recovery and an interception as a junior.

Tyler, 23, rushed for 1,751 yards and 15 TDs on 334 carries (5.2 avg.) during his career while adding 29 receptions for 245 yards (8.4 avg.) and two scores. He finished No. 2 on the team in 2011 with 568 yards and four TDs on 122 carries (4.7 avg.), while adding 11 receptions for 108 yards (9.8 avg.). As a junior in 2010, Tyler led the team with a career-best 913 rushing yards on 171 carries (5.3 avg.) with nine TDs. He also had 17 catches for 127 yards (7.5 avg.) and a score, giving him a team-high 10 total TDs on the season.