Four Huskers Sign Free Agent Contracts

Lincoln - Four Nebraska players have joined NFL rosters this week after signing as free agents following last weekend's draft. A pair of Huskers - defensive tackle Jon Clanton and center John Garrison - have signed with the Tennessee Titans, while split end Wilson Thomas has joined the Kansas City Chiefs and running back Dahrran Diedrick signed with San Diego.

Clanton finished his senior season with 45 tackles, including five tackles for loss and added nine quarterback hurries. The Glendale, Ariz., native started 16 games in his Husker career and totaled 75 tackles. Garrison was a two-year starter at center for the Huskers and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors in both 2001 and 2002. Garrison finished seventh on Nebraska's career pancake list and also started for four years as Nebraska's long snapper.

Thomas ranks sixth at Nebraska in career receptions, finishing his four-year career with 68 catches, including 37 as a junior and 30 receptions for 353 yards and three touchdowns as a senior. An Omaha native, Thomas also played basketball for two seasons while at Nebraska.

A two-year starter at I-back, Diedrick finished his Husker career as the eighth-leading rusher in school history with 2,745 yards. He ran for a Big 12-best 1,299 yards as a junior and earned first-team all-conference honors in the process. As a senior, Diedrick racked up 931 yards rushing and scored six of his 26 career touchdowns.

The four free-agent signees are in addition to four Huskers who were taken in the seven-round draft. Chris Kelsay was selected by Buffalo in the second round, DeJuan Groce went to St. Louis in the fourth round, while Josh Brown (Seattle) and Scott Shanle (St. Louis) were both picked in the seventh round.