It was an exciting weekend for former local prep football players and former Blue Raiders. Three former Middle Tennessee football players signed undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams. Tailback Benny Cunningham inked a contract with the St. Louis Rams, safety Jajuan Harley agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks and offensive lineman Micah James was invited to camp with the Atlanta Falcons.

Two former local prep standouts were drafted over the weekend, the first since Fernando Bryant from Riverdale was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999. La Vergne graduate Quinton Patton from Louisiana Tech was the 31st pick of the fourth round by the San Francisco 49'ers. Siegel grad and UT-Martin footballer Montori Hughes was the sixth pick in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts.

Four more locals who prepped in Rutherford County signed free agent deals. La Vergne's Sherman Carter and Collins Ukwu along with Carson Tinker, a former Riverdale standout and Adam Smith, a former Blackman Blaze, will have a chance to play in the NFL. Carter with the 49'ers, Ukwu with the Minnesota Vikings, Tinker with Jacksonville and Smith with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.