Six Badgers ink free agent deals
April 28, 2009 | Football
Six former Badgers signed free agent contracts with teams around the NFL after the conclusion of the 2009 NFL Draft. Andy Kemp, P.J. Hill, Jonathan Casillas, Mike Newkirk, Chris Pressley and Bill Rentmeester all signed free agent deals while Jason Chapman and Dave Peck were invited to tryout with NFL teams.
Kemp, a 6-6 guard from Menasha, Wis., started 36 career games on the UW offensive line and signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2008 and joins former UW kicker Taylor Melhaff who signed with the Vikings in December. Two members of the Vikings' coaching staff have UW ties with former Badger Darrell Bevell serving as the quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach Jim Hueber held the same position for 10 years at Wisconsin. Hueber coached Kemp during his freshman season in 2005.
Hill and Casillas both signed free agent contracts with the New Orleans Saints. Hill, who entered the draft after his junior season, ranks third all-time on UW's career-rushing list with 3,942 yards. The East Elmhurst, N.Y., native joined Ron Dayne as the only players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of their first three seasons.
Casillas, a 6-2 linebacker from New Brunswick, N.J., was a three-year starter for the Badgers and finished with 246 career tackles.
Newkirk was one of three defensive linemen the Rams signed after the draft. The Ladysmith, Wis., native earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior and finished with 152 career tackles and 29 TFLs.
Badger fullbacks Pressley and Rentmeester both signed contracts in the AFC. Pressley signed with the Cincinnati Bengals while Rentmeester heads west to the San Diego Chargers. Pressley and Rentmeester rotated time blocking for Badger running backs and both were key components on UW's special teams. Pressley finished his UW career with 25 carries for 103 yards while Rentmeester had 26 carries for 116 yards and was named UW's special teams player of the year in 2008.
Chapman and Peck were both invited to try out with teams in the NFC. Chapman, a 6-4 defensive tackle, will work out for the Washington Redskins while Dave Peck, a 6-5 longsnapper, will try out with the Chicago Bears. Former Badger Casey Rabach is currently on the Redskins roster and Dan Buenning was traded to the Bears last season.
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