COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Four members of the University of Maryland football team have signed free agent contracts with National Football League teams following the draft held last weekend.
Kicker Brad Craddock (Cleveland), safety A.J. Hendy (Miami), running back Brandon Ross (Minnesota) and offensive lineman Andrew Zeller (Detroit) have signed rookie free agent contracts and will report to camp.
Seven players from the 2015 Maryland squad have been drafted or signed by NFL teams this spring. Previously, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected defensive back Sean Davis in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was the third round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, while defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson was chosen in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks.
Craddock, the 2014 Lou Groza Award winner, made 57 field goals on 70 attempts during his time at Maryland. He earned First Team All-Big Ten and All-America honors in 2014.
Hendy appeared in 42 career games at Maryland with 18 starts. He started all 12 games as a senior in 2015 and ranked fourth on the team with 76 tackles (48 solo). As a junior in 2013, Hendy earned Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors after recovering two fumbles and returning an interception for a 28-yard touchdown against West Virginia on September 21.
Ross finished his Terp career with 2,543 rushing yards (fourth-most in Maryland history) and 19 touchdowns on 486 carries in 43 games. He added 40 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns. Ross, who garnered 2015 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors, closed his collegiate career with a bang by totaling 423 yards in his final two games. He rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Indiana and for 173 yards and three scores against Rutgers. He posted touchdown runs of 79 and 75 yards against the Hoosiers and had a game-winning 80-yard dash against the Scarlet Knights.
Zeller, who earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten accolades as a senior, was a major contributor his entire Maryland career, playing in 47 career games with 31 starts. He helped the Terps average 182.5 rushing yards per game last season, the most for a Maryland squad since 2003. The Terps also eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards last season for the first time since 2011. Zeller helped Ross lead the Big Ten with 6.4 yards per carry.
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