Football: Three FAU players receive NFL offers as undrafted free agents

Trey Hendrickson was the lone Owl drafted.

Max Jackson

FAU tight end Tyler Cameron (3) eyes up Marshall defender Tiquan Lang (21) as he picks up five yards in the third quarter of last Saturday’s 33-17 loss. Cameron had 111 receiving yards on the day – more than all other Owls receivers combined. Photo by Max Jackson|Staff Photographer

Hans Belot Jr. and Ryan Richman
April 30, 2017

Several former Owls hoping for their professional football chance did not hear their names called on stage during the 2017 NFL Draft like #103 overall pick and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, but three of them eventually received the phone call they were waiting for.

The trio of players to sign undrafted free agent contracts include offensive lineman Dillon DeBoer, who will join the new Los Angeles Chargers, tight end Tyler Cameron, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens and defensive tackle Shalom Ogbonda, who will team up with former teammate Brandin Bryant for the New York Jets.

 

Ogbonda recorded 53 total tackles in his first three years at FAU, nearly tying that mark with 52 tackles in his senior year. He also had 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in his last year.

Ogbonda’s best game as an Owl was against Ball State University on Sept. 24, 2016, when he racked up nine tackles plus a sack. Despite his strong performance, the Owls lost 31-27.

In DeBoer’s junior year, he played 87 snaps, and had a season-high 9.5 knockdowns in Gainesville against the Florida Gators. He also received a 92 percent assignment grade versus the University of Miami.

DeBoer’s senior year was just as impressive. He led the offensive line against Marshall, helping clear the way for the team’s two 100 yard rushers that game — then freshman Devin Singletary with 111 yards and then junior Gregory Howell with 109 yards.

Cameron transferred from Wake Forest University after his sophomore season and switched from quarterback to tight end. He later recorded 41 catches for 509 yards in his two years at FAU and scored his lone touchdown in week one of the 2016 season versus Southern Illinois University.

Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.

Ryan Richman is a contributing writer for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @rydogg_818.