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Happy birthday Jay Bellamy

From Perth Amboy and Matawan High School, Jay Bellamy went on to Rutgers and the NFL. Born July 8, 1972, Jay's birthday is today.
Jay's NFL bio page
Jay in Wikipedia
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Surgery for Brian Leonard

Brian Leonard is making use of the off season to get his body in shape, with some surgery on his shoulders:

Running back-fullback Brian Leonard underwent surgery Friday in New York on both shoulders. The surgery was considered relatively minor, more of the cleanup variety.

“It’s a fairly simple procedure to both his AC joints,” coach Scott Linehan said.

The shoulders bothered him as the season wound down, with Leonard seeing most of his playing time as an undersized blocking fullback over the second half of the season. Leonard, the Rams’ second-round draft pick last April, isn’t expected to miss any of the team’s offseason and preseason work as a result of the surgery.

Also in camp: Chris Baker

Chris Baker is also at camp with the Patriots. From The T&G: "Nonroster invitees are Air Force linebacker Denny Poland, Georgia Tech wide receiver Chris Dunlap, Rutgers wide receiver Chris Baker and Oregon running back Chris Vincent."
Here's how the Sun Chronicle put it: "The workouts Saturday morning inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse included four players who had not signed contracts and were in for a look. The rookies among them were wide receiver Chris Dunlap of Georgia Tech and running back Chris Vincent of Oregon, while non-rookies in the same boat were wide receiver Chris Baker of Rutgers and safety Denny Poland of Air Force."

An 03 freshman, a Patriots draft pick

Justise Hairston started his freshman season, in 2003, at Rutgers and continued playing until  he transfered for his senior year to Central Connecticut. Now he is at minicamp with the Patriots, the team that picked him in the sixth round.
From The Cape Cod Times:

In his only season at the 1-AA level, Hairston made everything look easy by rushing for 1,847 yards and 20 touchdowns. He finished eighth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top 1-AA player.

Now, he has to prove he can match some of that success in the NFL.

Hairston is 6-1, 210 pounds. He originally made a splash in the Big East in 2003, rushing for 550 yards and eight touchdowns as a Rutgers freshman. After he was sidelined by a knee injury, he lost his spot, first to Brian Leonard, a second-round pick of the Rams this season, and later to Ray Rice.

From SouthofBoston.com:

A standout at Connecticut's New Britain High School, Hairston lettered for three seasons at Rutgers, breaking in with 550 yards and eight touchdowns his freshman year, but seldom hearing his number called after that as he gaines 146 yards on 53 carries, all as a sophomore. Faced with what figured to be a senior year of relative inactivity behind Scarlet Knights Ray Rice and Brian Leonard, Hairston staged his own homecoming, taking a step back in time in returning to his roots in New Britain, but, with that, also taking a step down in competition at Div. 1-AA Central Connecticut.

“It was tough,” Hairston said, reflecting on his decision to leave the Div. 1 level, “but just having an opportunity to play football was my whole focus. Later on, the opportunity to play at the next level came. Originally, I just wanted the opportunity to enjoy football while I could, graduate, and be close to some friends and family. So that's what I did.”

More Mini-camp invites

NorthJersey.com has the complete list:

Brian Leonard (St. Louis Rams), Cam Stephenson (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Clark Harris (Green Bay Packers) were the players drafted, while Ramel Meekins (Indianapolis Colts), Darnell Stapleton (Pittsburgh Steelers), Joe Porter (New Orleans Saints) and Derrick Roberson (Houston Texans) signed free agent contracts and will attend mini-camps. Punter Joe Radigan (Chicago Bears) and wide receiver Willie Foster (Washington Redskins) will attend tryouts at mini-camp this weekend.

update More on Meekins:

(From The Indianapolis Star) "The walk-ons are Ohio State cornerback Antonio Smith -- joining three Buckeyes teammates the Colts picked in the draft -- and Rutgers defensive tackle Ramel Meekins. Smith became a starter as a senior and finished tied for second at OSU in tackles with 71. Meekins had 68 tackles while appearing in all 13 games for Rutgers, which was the collegiate springboard for Brackett, the Colts starting linebacker who also walked on for the Scarlet Knights."

Saints add Joe Porter

Times-Picayune has the Saints free agent class, including a Rutgers grad: "CB Joe Porter - Rutgers University: Porter, who holds the 200-meter Indoor school record and became the 2005 Big East Outdoor Track Champion, played in 43 career games for the Scarlet Knights and recorded 93 tackles, 11 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, five interceptions and four-and-a-half tackles for losses during his four career. Porter was part of a contingent of players who helped the Rutgers program turn the fortunes of the Scarlet Knight around during his four seasons on the New Brunswick, N.J. campus."

Draft ends,3 RU players head to the NFL

The 2007 NFL draft just ended.

Brian Leonard went in Round 2. He'll be a St. Louis Ram.
Cameron Stephenson went in Round 5, chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Clark Harris went in Round 7. He'll play for Green Bay.

Good luck to all the teams and all the players.

Clark Harris to Green Bay

Clark Harris is picked in Round 7 by Green Bay. TE Harris is a huge TE who can block. He did well for the Scarlet Knights, but it's not clear how those skills will translate for pro ball.

Here's a report on how his mother prepared for Draft Day.

And here's the post with the quote predicting that Harris has "his best football ahead of him."

Height: 6′5″
Weight: 261

Consistent and competitive, but needs to work on speed and strength.

Harris filed a diary from the combine, and said this about the bench press: "I did 21 reps of 225 pounds and a long half of a 22nd one. The official count was 21, though. I had tested a couple of times leading up to the combine and every time I was within 20-23, so 21 was a pretty good number for me. It was near the top of what most of the tight ends did. I just hope I impressed the strength guys with my bench and showed the coaches I have long arms and explosion that is good for blocking."

 

Up close with Cameron

STLToday had a closeup look at Cameron Stephenson:
"Because of poor SAT scores, Rutgers guard Cameron Stephenson sat out a year of school after high school, working as a checker and sorter at FedEx to help his family.

His cousin, Keith Akina, who played for the University of Houston, persuaded Stephenson to get back in school. After a stint at Harbor (Junior) College in Los Angeles, Stephenson got a scholarship offer to Rutgers. After a strong senior season for the Scarlet Knights, the strong, physical Stephenson is projected as a mid-round draft pick.

But what if his future NFL team wants him to trim his shoulder-length hair?

"If they want me to cut it, I’ll cut it," he said. "I’m planning on cutting my hair for my wedding day, anyway." "

Guard to Pitsburgh: Cameron Stephenson a Steeler

Cameron Stephenson, Round 5 pick, Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Post-Gazette has live coverage:

The Steelers addressed another area of need with their first pick of the fifth round, drafting Rutgers guard Cameron Stephenson.

Stephenson is a 6-3, 305-pounder who played in the defensive line in 2005. He started every game at right guard last season.

Both starting guards for the Steelers enter the final year of their contracts, All-Pro Alan Faneca and Kendall Simmons.

Mondesi has more:

I was wondering what took so long for the Steelers to draft an offensive lineman, but they finally grabbed one when they took Rutgers guard Cameron Stephenson in round five. There's not too much to say about a fifth round lineman, but I'll try:

A few notes on Stephenson:

--Began his career at Los Angeles Harbor College as a defensive tackle in 2002

--Shifted to offensive tackle when he transferred to Rutgers in 2004

--Second team All-Big East last season

--Allowed just one of the eight sacks given up by the front wall for Rutgers in 2006

More background, from APP:
Stephenson started all 13 games at offensive guard in 2006. The Inglewood, Calif. resident was part of a line that allowed the fewest sacks in the nation and paved the way for one of the nation's top rushing attacks.