FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RAVENS SIGN ALL DRAFT PICKS; MAKE ROSTER MOVES
General manager Ozzie Newsome announced Tuesday that the Ravens officially signed their nine remaining draft choices, ensuring that the entire 2008 draft class was on-field for the first practices of training camp.
After inking WR Marcus Smith to a three-year deal last Friday, the Ravens signed the following players Monday (July 21) evening:
QB Joe Flacco, Delaware – Round 1, 18th overall (5-year deal)
Flacco earned Football Championship Subdivision first-team All-American honors from the NFL Draft Report and Pro Football Weekly as a senior. He started all 26 games he played at Delaware after transferring from Pittsburgh. In just two seasons, Flacco set 20 University of Delaware records, including career records for completions (595) and attempts (938), and season records for completions (331), attempts (521) and yards (4,263). Flacco also holds Blue Hen career marks for yards passing per game (284.2), 200-yard passing games (13), 300-yard passing games (seven), total offense (4,285), and total offense per game (285.7).
RB Ray Rice, Rutgers – Round 2, 55th overall (4-year deal)
A two-time All-America second-team honoree and 2007 Doak Walker Award finalist, Rice decided to forgo his senior season at Rutgers and enter the NFL Draft. In 38 career games for the Scarlet Knights, Rice set all-time school rushing records with 910 attempts for 4,926 yards (5.4 avg.) and 49 touchdowns. Rice is the first player in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three seasons.
LB Tavares Gooden, Miami – Round 3, 71st overall (3-year deal)
In 49 games at Miami, Gooden started nine contests at weak-side linebacker, five on the strong side and 11 in the middle (25 total). He recorded 216 tackles (118 solo) with a 3-yard sack, 11 TFL (-24 yards) and eight QB pressures during his career.
S Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame – Round 3, 86th overall (3-year deal)
A two-time team captain for the Fighting Irish, he helped guide a secondary that ranked third in the nation, allowing only 161.6 passing yards per game in 2007. He started 48 consecutive games and holds the school's defensive backs career-tackles record with 300 (165 solo). Zbikowski scored seven career touchdowns during his career: three punt returns (tied a school career record), two interception returns (tied a school season record) and two fumble recoveries.
T Oniel Cousins, UTEP – Round 3, 99th overall (3-year deal)
Cousins earned All-Conference USA first-team honors and was a Super Sleeper pick by the NFL Draft Report as a senior. He started 24 career games for the Miners at both tackle spots.
T David Hale, Weber State – Round 4, 133rd overall (3-year deal)
A 3½-year starter at right tackle, Hale played in 44 career games, starting 36 straight. Hale earned first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2006 and 2007.
S Haruki Nakamura, Cincinnati – Round 6, 206th overall (3-year deal)
An All-Big East Conference selection as a senior, he started all 36 games he played at Cincinnati. Nakamura posted 237 total tackles (150 solo), 14 passes defensed, seven interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as a Bearcat.
WR Justin Harper, Virginia Tech – Round 7, 215th overall (3-year deal)
Harper played in 51 games at Virginia Tech, finishing his career with 83 catches for 1,338 yards and nine touchdowns. He developed during his senior season, seeing extensive action in 14 games and starting a career-high eight contests.
RB Allen Patrick, Oklahoma – Round 7, 240th overall (3-year deal)
In 36 games at Oklahoma, Patrick started 17 contests. He carried 367 times for 1,906 yards (5.2 avg.) and 14 scores.
Additional Ravens Roster Moves
Waived the following players:
Brad Roach (QB, 6-6, 250, rookie, Catawba)
Lenny Walls (CB, 6-4, 197, 7th year, Boston College)
Signed the following free-agent players:
Adam Bergen (TE, 6-4, 267, 3rd year, Lehigh)
Aaron Walker (TE, 6-6, 270, 5th year, Florida)
Signed the following international player to the practice squad:
Salomon Solano (DT, 6-3, 321, 1st year, Tamaulipas, Mexico)
