April 18, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior offensive tackle Brad Messina (Bogota, N.J.) was signed to a free agent contract on Tuesday by the NFL Washington Redskins. Messina, whose 32 career starts were the most by any of Maryland's offensive lineman last season, joins Maryland teammate Delbert Cowsette (Cleveland, Ohio) among Terrapins to join the nearby Redskins in recent days.

He also joins roommate Jamie Wu (St. Charles, Ill.) who signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons, on Monday.

Together with Wu, like Messina a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick in 1999, the duo helped guide Maryland from the league's ninth-rated rushing offense in 1997, to its best last season. Further, Messina and Wu guided the Terps to an ACC-low 11 sacks in 1999.

Messina's signing follows the two-day NFL draft in which Maryland teammates Lewis Sanders (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Cowsette were selected in the 4th and 7th rounds, respectively. Sanders was the first pick of the second day of the draft, chosen by the Cleveland Browns.

Other Maryland players expected to ink free agent deals this week include WR Jermaine Arrington (Landover, Md.), CB Renard Cox (Richmond, Va.), OLB Erwyn Lyght (Westfield, N.J.) and TE John Waerig (Philadelphia, Md.).

75 Brad Messina OT
Bogota, N.J. (Bogota)
6-5, 288, R-Senior, 3V
Family Studies

MARYLAND: Second-team All-ACC... fifth-year senior whose 32 career starts led all Maryland offensive players... third-year starter... NFL prospect... Maryland's most experienced offensive lineman... played a key role in Maryland's rushing improvement the last two seasons... athletic player who has the ability to be one of the ACC's best tackles... three-year starter on offensive line unit which reduced sacks by 50 percent in 1998, and nearly 70 percent again in 1999 (56 in 1997, 30 in 1998, 11 in 1999). 1999: Senior co-captain who started all 11 games... co-anchored Terp offensive line with Jamie Wu, helping guide Maryland's NCAA 12th-ranked rushing offense and allowing just 11 sacks through 11 games... helped protect the nation's second-ranked freshman quarterback while creating running room for the nation's fifth-rated runner. 1998: Ten-game starter... played all 11 games, but did not start vs. Georgia Tech... redshirt junior who was shifted to left tackle after starting the entire 1997 season at left guard ... made great strides in his new role during spring ball despite his inexperience playing the position. 1997: An 11-game starter at left guard. 1996: Did not see any action. 1995: Redshirt season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Bogota High School in 1995 ... was an All-East selection by BlueChip, National Recruiting Advisor and Tom Lemming ... was an all-state choice following his senior season when he played on the offensive and defensive lines ... totaled 75 tackles as a senior ... threw the shot put and discus ... high school coach was Jamie Bittner.

PERSONAL: Brad Edward Messina... born Feb. 11, 1977 ... son of Barbara and Ronald Messina ... majoring in family studies.