University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Football Has Four Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts
4/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Southern Miss Football Has Four Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts
Hattiesburg, Miss. -
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss had four more players >from one of its most successful senior classes sign free agent contracts to play in the National Football League today. Leo Barnes signed with the Tennessee Titans, Shawn Mills with the Atlanta Falcons and Keon Moore and DeQuincy Scott with the San Diego Chargers.
The number of Southern Miss football players that were either drafted or signed free agent contracts now totals eight. Cedric Scott (4th round - N.Y. Giants), Raymond Walls (5th round - Indianapolis Colts), Daleroy Stewart (6th round - Dallas Cowboys) and John Nix (7th round - Dallas Cowboys) were drafted on Sunday in the NFL's Amatuer Draft.
Barnes was selected a Football News' second-team All-American, a first-team all-Conference USA selection by the coaches and media and by The Sporting News and was selected to participate in the East-West Shrine Game in January. He earned defensive most valuable player honors in the game.
He led the Golden Eagles in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (14). He led the nation in interceptions returned for touchdowns (3) and was among the national leaders in interceptions. He also was second on the team in total tackles (104) and unassisted tackles (71).
In the GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl on Dec. 20, Barnes finished with four tackles, one pass breakup and returned his fifth interception of the season for touchdown (50 yards), earning the Russell Defensive MVP of the game.
Mills was invited to participate in the 2001 NFL Player Combine. He started all 11 games as a senior, leading the Golden Eagles in receiving with 55 catches for 713 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 13.0 yards a catch and had a long reception of 62 yards. His best game of the season was seven catches for 151 yards at Tulane. He also had 84 yards on only four catches against Memphis and 81 on six grabs against Oklahoma State. Mills finished sixth in C-USA in receptions per game and fifth in receiving yards per game and was ranked 46th in the nation in receptions per game.
Moore was also invited to participate in the NFL Player Combine. He sarted 10 of 11 games as a senior. He finished with 36 total tackles, including one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and one interception and was second on the team with 11 pass deflections. His best game of the season was seven total tackles in the Cincinnati game. He had three pass deflections against both Memphis and South Florida.
Scott was a first-team All-Conference USA selection by both the coaches and media as well as The Sporting News. He started all 11 games as a senior last season, finishing fifth on the team with 32 solos, 35 assists for a total of 67 stops, 32nd on the C-USA tackles list. He also had five sacks totaling 31 yards and 12 tackles for losses totaling 56 yards. He was consistent throughout the season with seven games of six or more tackles, including three games with eight each. His best performances of the season was eight tackles, including a quarterback sack and two tackles for loss at Oklahoma State and eight tackles including a quarterback sack against Memphis.