GREEN BAY, Wis. – In addition to the 17 undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers signed, they invited 25 players to their rookie orientation camp for tryouts.
The most noteworthy among them was former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, who began his college career as a running back and started only one season (2014) at quarterback.
There's one local player among the group: Iowa defensive lineman Mike Hardy, who is from nearby Appleton (Kimberly High School).
Here's a look at the tryout players by position:
Offense
QB: Sims
RB: Raymond Maples, Army
WR: Chris Humphrey, Kent State; Joe Anderson, Bethune-Cookman
TE: Chris Malott, Southeastern Louisiana; Mitch King, Penn
OL: Hamani Stevens, Oregon; Andy Phillips, Central Michigan; Cole Caruthers, Central Arkansas; Josh Bredl, Colorado State-Pueblo; Cody Harris, Texas-San Antonio; Melvin Meggs, South Alabama; Jake Silas, Buffalo
Defense
DL: James Castleman, Oklahoma State; George Riddick, Norfolk State; Joe Okafor, Lamar; Hardy
LB: Uona Kaveinga, BYU; LeBranden Richardson, Bethune-Cookman
DB: Anthony Wooding, Wake Forest; Christian Milstead, Florida Atlantic; Mike Horsey, UNLV; J.D. Roussel, Sacred Heart; Skye PoVey, BYU
Special teams
Long snapper: Thor Hadfield, Southern Illinois
The Packers currently have 88 players on their roster, including their eight draft picks. That means they have room for two more players. Last year, the Packers signed three of their tryout players – tight end Colt Lyerla, defensive back Charles Clay and defensive end Luther Robinson (who ended up playing in five games last season).
