MAC FOOTBALL STUDENTS AIM FOR NFL CAREERS
MAC Students Sign Free Agent Contracts With NFL Clubs

With the 2020 NFL Draft completed, many former MAC football student-athletes have either signed or agreed to NFL rookie free agent contracts with various NFL clubs.  Over the next several days this list will continue to grow as NFL teams announce their free agent signings.

Former MAC Students Signed To NFL Contracts
Ball State; LB Ray Wilborn, Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo; DE Ladarius Mack, Chicago Bears
Buffalo; OL Evin Ksiezarczyk, Atlanta Falcons
Eastern Michigan; DB Kevin McGill, Los Angeles Rams
Eastern Michigan; OL Steven Nielsen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami; DL Doug Costin, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ohio; OL Austen Pleasants, Jacksonville Jaguars
Toledo; TE Reggie Gilliam, Buffalo Bills
Western Michigan; RB LeVante Bellamy, Denver Broncos
Western Michigan; TE Giovanni Ricci, Carolina Panthers
Western Michigan; OL Luke Juriga, Philadelphia Eagles

MAC Students Selected In 2020 NFL Draft
5th round, 149th overall    OL Danny Pinter (Ball State) by the Indianapolis Colts
7th round, 248th overall    K Sam Sloman (Miami) by the Los Angeles Rams


Ball State:
Cardinals Linebacker Ray Wilborn Signs With Atlanta

MUNCIE, Ind. – Another Ball State football player is continuing to take strides towards playing at the next level as linebacker Ray Wilborn signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons this weekend. Wilborn was only on the Ball State squad for two years, but his presence was certainly felt on the defensive side of the ball. In his first year with the Cardinals in 2018, Wilborn led the team in tackles (83) and tackles for loss (10.5) while playing outside linebacker. He recorded an interception in the contest at No. 8 Notre Dame and nearly returned an interception for a score against Northern Illinois in the early portion of the league schedule.  Full Story...

Buffalo:
Mack Signs With Chicago Bears

BUFFALO, NY – Former University at Buffalo All-MAC defensive end Ledarius Mack signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Mack had a breakout season for the Bulls in 2019. A second-team All-MAC selection, he led the Bulls with 12 tackles for loss and ranked third on the team and the MAC with eight sacks. He also added a team-best three forced fumbles. A team captain, he was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after registering three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and returning a fumble for a touchdown in UB's win at Akron. His sack on the game's final play sealed the Bulls' first ever bowl win – defeating Charlotte, 31-9, in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl. Full Story...

Ksiezarczyk Signs With Atlanta Falcons
BUFFALO, NY – Former University at Buffalo All-MAC left tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. Ksiezarczyk, a local product from West Seneca, NY, was a three year starter for the Bulls at left tackle. He was a two-time All-MAC selection who started 39 games over his career. He was named an All-MAC First Team selection in 2019 after anchoring an offensive line that allowed only eight sacks to rank second in the nation. His offensive line unit was named honorable mention for the Joe Moore Award as one of the top 15 offensive line units in the nation. He was an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2018. Full Story...

Eastern Michigan:
McGill Signs With Los Angeles Rams

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Former Eastern Michigan defensive back Kevin McGill has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. A team captain during the 2019 campaign, McGill earned Third Team All-MAC honors after an impressive regular season in which he finished with 29 tackles, five pass breakups, two tackles-for-loss, and an interception. A  fixture on the preseason watch lists with Bednarik Award, Nagurski, and Thorpe Award Watch List selections, McGill was a Second Team All-MAC honoree in 2018.  Having started 40 of 50 career games, McGill is tied for the most passes defended in an EMU career with 28 (21 breakups, 5 interceptions). He compiled 125 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and three fumble recoveries in his career. Since 2017, McGill has the fourth lowest passer ratings allowed at 48.4 of any active Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) cornerbacks with a minimum 500 snaps.  Full Story...

Nielsen Signs With Jacksonville Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Former Eastern Michigan University offensive lineman Steven Nielsen has signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A 2019 First Team Preseason All-MAC preseason pick from both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele's College Football Preview, Nielsen started all 13 games for the Green and White on the offensive line in 2019. His unit was responsible for a regular season in which the EMU offense racked up 25 touchdown passes, an all-time school record, 3,370 yards of passing offense, second in school history, and 349 total points, which ranks fourth in EMU history. Overall, Nielsen played in 49 games in his Eagle career, and helped Eastern reach three postseason bowl games (Bahamas - 2016, Camellia - 2018, Quick Lane - 2019), as well as three consecutive wins over Power Five opponents (Rutgers - 2017, Purdue -  2018, Illinois - 2019). He received Third Team All-MAC honors following the 2018 season.  Full Story...

Miami:
Costin Signs With Jacksonville Jaguars

OXFORD, Ohio -- Doug Costin, a three-year starter for the Miami University football team, has agreed to a free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Costin earned first team All-MAC honors in 2019 after registering 58 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had seven tackles and two tackles for loss at Ohio and was named the team's Defensive MVP, helping the RedHawks to their first MAC Championship since 2010. In his career, Costin played in 50 games, recording 178 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 32.5 tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles.  Full Story...

Ohio:
Pleasants Signed by Jacksonville Jaguars as Undrafted Free Agent

JACKSONVILLE -- The National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars officially announced the signing of former Ohio football standout offensive lineman Austen Pleasants as an undrafted rookie free agent. Pleasants saw action in 41 career collegiate games on the offensive line, starting the final 33 contests. After redshirting his true freshman season in 2015, he played in four games 2016, then 11 in 2017, starting the final seven at right tackle. He started all 13 games at right tackle in 2018 before moving to left tackle for his redshirt senior campaign in 2019. Pleasants capped off his final season by earning All-MAC Second Team recognition. His senior season included a two-yard touchdown run on a trick play in a matchup against Northern Illinois on Oct. 12 at Peden Stadium in Athens.  Full Story...

Toledo:
Gilliam Signs With Buffalo Bills As A Free Agent
TOLEDO, Ohio - Former Rocket tight end Reggie Gilliam signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday shortly after the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft.  Though he was listed at tight end in college, Gilliam will be playing fullback for the Bills. Gilliam did a fair bit of blocking in the backfield in his college career, so he said he is ready for the challenge. Gilliam was a two-year starter at tight end at Toledo, earning second-team All-MAC honors in 2018. He caught three touchdown passes that season and led the country and set the school record with four blocked kicks. Full Story...

Western Michigan:
Bellamy Signs With Denver Broncos As A Free Agent

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Former Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent. The MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award recipient as the league's MVP and MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, Bellamy led the nation in rushing touchdowns in 2019 with 23. In 48 career games with 29 starts, he rushed 617 times for 3,720 yards (6.03) and 35 touchdowns, caught 57 passes for 370 yards (6.49) and one score and returned 19 kickoffs for 358 yards (18.84). Full Story...

Ricci Joins Panthers As A Free Agent
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Former Western Michigan tight end Giovanni Ricci has agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent. A two-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award in 2019, Ricci was a four-year letterwinner for the Broncos. In 45 career games with 21 starts, Ricci tallied 98 receptions for 1,114 yards (11.37) and 11 touchdowns.  Full Story...

Juriga Agrees To Terms With Philadelphia
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Former Western Michigan offensive lineman Luke Juriga has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles to join the NFL organization as an undrafted free agent. Juriga, a 6-4, 298-pound center from Aurora, Ill., started all 52 career games played. He was an honorable mention All-America selection in 2019 by Phil Steele and a three-time All-Mid-American Conference choice (second team in 2017 & first team in 2018 & 2019), four-time Academic All-MAC honoree and three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete (2017-18-19).  Full Story...