• HERO Sports NFL Free Agent Tracker
Following the NFL Draft, five former Ohio Valley Conference football players signed undrafted free agent contracts. The five players join former Tennessee State offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the Seventh Round.
The signees included two players from Southeast Missouri in defensive lineman
Josh Avery and wide receiver
Kristian Wilkerson, as well as UT Martin wide receiver
Jaylon Moore, Jacksonville State wide receiver
Josh Pearson and Tennessee State wide receiver/return specialist
Chris Rowland.
Avery signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He recorded 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in three years with the Redhawks. He played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 18, 2020 at Rose Bowl Stadium.
Wilkerson, a native of Memphis, signed with the Tennessee Titans. Wilkerson broke SEMO's all-time career records in receiving yards (3,540) and receiving touchdowns (33). He caught 219 passes with an average of 16.2 yards per catch during his college career. Wilkerson was also a four-year starter who also broke the school's single-game record with 263 receiving yards at UT Martin in 2018. Wilkerson also ranked second in OVC history in receiving touchdowns and fourth in receiving yards.
Moore signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent the past four seasons at UT Martin where he was a preseason all-conference pick by both The CFB Network and Phi Steele in 2019. Despite having his season interrupted by injury, he accumulated 16 receptions for 292 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. His best game came against nationally-ranked Austin Peay where he returned from injury to tally five receptions for 87 yards and three touchdowns. During his tenure at UT Martin, Moore tallied 92 receptions for 1,492 yards while his 18 career touchdowns rank third in program history. Additionally, he averaged 16.2 yards per reception. His breakout campaign came during his junior season in which he tallied 52 receptions for 799 yards and eight touchdowns. In addition to his football career, he was also a member of the UT Martin track and field program as a sprinter.
Pearson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who signed quarterback Tom Brady in the offseason. He earned All-America honors for the second year in as many seasons in 2019 and wrapped up a record-breaking two seasons on the field for JSU with a school-record 30 touchdown catches that rank among the top 10 in OVC history. His 13 touchdown catches in 2019 are the second-most in a season in school history to his school-record 17 set in 2018. This season saw him lead the FCS in touchdown catches for the second-straight season and haul in 59 catches for 943 yards, tying Joey Hamilton (1998) for the fifth-most in a season in JSU history. He participated in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 18 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif., and had a solid showing at JSU's Pro Day the week before COVID-19 shut down spring practices and pro workouts across the country.
Rowland signed with the Atlanta Falcons after being the OVC Offensive Player of the Year and a unanimous FCS All-American. He ranked first nationally in total receiving yards (1,437) and receiving yards/game (119.8), second in all-purpose yards (175.83 yards/game), third in receptions/game (8.7) and 22nd in kickoff returns (25.0 yards/return). Named first-team All-OVC as both a wide receiver and return specialist, Rowland became just the second player in OVC history to catch 100 passes in a season. As a return specialist he is one of just two FCS players to return both a kick return and a punt return for a touchdown this season. He had six games with 200-plus all-purpose yards during the season, including a season-high 267 against Jackson State. He had six games with 10-plus receptions, including a season-high 14 for 146 yards against Murray State and 11 for a season-high 202 yards and two scores against FBS foe Middle Tennessee.
OVC Players Who Signed NFL Undrafted Free Agent Contracts
Josh Avery, Southeast Missouri (Seattle Seahawks)
Jaylon Moore, UT Martin (Baltimore Ravens)
Josh Pearson, Jacksonville State (Tampa Bay Bucs)
Chris Rowland, Tennessee State (Atlanta Falcons)
Kristian Wilkerson, Southeast Missouri (Tennessee Titans)