LSU ranked No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference and tied for No. 5 in the nation with six players drafted this weekend.
But the list of LSU players signing as undrafted free agents with NFL teams since the draft has increased to nine bringing the total number of former Tigers in the professional ranks to 15.
Safety/linebacker Harry Coleman signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints, joining fourth-round pick and former LSU defensive tackle Al Woods. Wide receiver Chris Mitchell also earned an invitation to the Saints’ rookie camp.
Local draft analyst Mike Detillier said Coleman’s “physicality” and intelligence on the field can benefit the Saints on both defense and special teams.
“In round seven, he was the guy I really wanted the Saints to pick,” Detillier said. “He’s a terrific athlete, a hard-charging kid and a really strong open-field tackler. It will be a numbers game with him … special teams may be his early ticket to the NFL.”
Former LSU offensive lineman Ciron Black was also not drafted this weekend. Black, who played overweight for much of his senior season and suffered from knee soreness, signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Despite the fact that I knew Ciron had some knee concerns and was heavy, I thought somebody would take a shot on him in the seventh round,” Detillier said. “There are players with similar-type ailments who were drafted, so that came as a surprise to me.”
Two former Tigers signed free agent deals with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the draft — cornerback Chris Hawkins and linebacker Jacob Cutrera.Detillier said he was surprised Hawkins was not drafted.
“A lot of friends of mine in the scouting business talked to me a lot about Chris, so I knew he was somebody they had a lot of interest in as a late-round pick,” Detillier said.
Running back Keiland Williams will be joining the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent, a situation Detillier said may not be ideal for Williams because of Washington’s depth at running back with Clinton Portis, Willie Parker, Larry Johnson and P.J. Hill.
Former LSU defensive end Charles Alexander will join the Philadelphia Eagles along with sixth-round selection Charles Scott. Alexander suffered from injuries to his foot, ankle and knee throughout his LSU career, which spanned six years.
Other former Tigers who will make the leap to the NFL this summer include safety Danny McCray, who was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, tight end Richard Dickson, who went to the Lions, and defensive end Rahim Alem, who was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals.
—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected].