Sept. 10, 2004
ATLANTA–Twenty former Georgia Tech players, including six players from last year’s team, open the National Football League season on active rosters or practice squads.
Linebackers Daryl Smith (Jacksonville) and Keyaron Fox (Kansas City), tackle Nat Dorsey (Minnesota) and defensive lineman Tony Hargrove (St. Louis), all of whom were drafted last spring, have made active rosters, while wide receiver Jonathan Smith is on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad.
Two other players from last year’s Tech team also made practice squads after going the free agent route. Tight end John Paul Foschi was cut by the New York Jets, but was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Cornerback Jonathan Cox was cut by San Diego and then signed to the Chargers’ practice squad. Last year’s all-ACC center Hugh Reilly was in camp with Tennessee but was cut.
Former Tech all-America quarterback Joe Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up, returns to the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, where he will back up Peyton Manning. Hamilton began his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then spent time in NFL Europe before playing last spring with the Arena League’s Orlando Predators.
The veteran of Tech’s NFL contingent is defensive end Marco Coleman, who enters his 13th NFL season after signing with the Denver Broncos. His teammates include a pair of former Yellow Jacket defensive backs in Nick Ferguson and Chris Young, as well as Foschi.
Two former Jackets play in for the hometown Atlanta Falcons in Pro Bowl linebacker Keith Brooking, entering his seventh season, and wide receiver Dez White, who joined the Falcons this offseason after four years in Chicago.
Jackets in the NFLPlayer, NFL Yr., Current TeamKeith Brooking, 7th, Atlanta FalconsJoe Burns, 3rd, Buffalo BillsKelly Campbell, 3rd, Minnesota VikingsFelipe Claybrooks, 3rd, Cleveland Browns (practice)Marco Coleman, 13th, Denver BroncosJonathan Cox, R, San Diego Chargers (practice)Nat Dorsey, R, Minnesota VikingsNick Ferguson, 9th, Denver BroncosJohn Paul Foschi, R, Denver Broncos (practice)Keyaron Fox, R, Kansas City ChiefsJoe Hamilton, 4th, Indianapolis ColtsTony Hargrove, R, St. Louis RamsWill Heller, 2nd, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTony Hollings, 2nd, Houston TexansNick Rogers, 3rd, Green Bay PackersDaryl Smith, R Jacksonville JaguarsJonathan Smith, R, Buffalo Bills (practice)Travares Tillman, 5th, Carolina PanthersDez White, 5th Atlanta FalconsChris Young, 3rd, Denver Broncos
