April 17, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Senior offensive guard Jamie Wu (St. Charles, Ill.) was signed to a free agent contract on Monday afternoon by the NFL Atlanta Falcons. Wu, who played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic following the 1999 season, was a second team All-ACC selection.
Wu's signing follows the two-day NFL draft in which Maryland teammates Lewis Sanders (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Delbert Cowsette (Cleveland, Ohio) were selected in the 4th and 7th rounds, respectively, by the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins.
Wu joins a host of other Terrapin hopefuls who are expected to sign free agent contracts this week.
56 Jamie Wu OG
St. Charles, Ill. (St. Charles)
6-2, 285, R-Senior, 3V
Art Studio
MARYLAND: Second-team All-ACC... one of the Terps' strongest players who is noted for his quickness... NFL prospect... ended his career with 22 consecutive starting assignments... helped make the offensive line one of Maryland's strong points during his senior campaign ... two-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 Brad Messina, 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... ACC offensive lineman of the week after Terps' 45-7 win over North Carolina... recipient of Maryland's lineman of the year honors and "Iron Man Award"... also won the Cook Memorial Award as the senior with the highest GPA. 1998: Teamed with departed senior John Feugill as a strong pair on the right side of the offensive line last season, starting together in all 11 games... helped make the Terrapin rushing game one of the nation's most improved in 1998. 1997: Saw limited action as a sophomore after making the transition from defensive to offensive line ... worked at both guard positions and center during spring. 1996: Registered eight tackles in five games as a defensive lineman ... recovered a lateral against NC State and had one tackle for loss vs. North Carolina. 1995: Redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from St. Charles High School in 1995 ... was an All-America selection by Scholastic Coach magazine and Street & Smith's ... also was a Midwest All-Star by BlueChip and the National Recruiting Advisor ... was team captain and conference MVP as a senior ... was an All-America and all-state performer in track and field ... maintained a 4.0 (on 5.0 scale) high school GPA ... high school coach was Buck Drach.
PERSONAL: Jamieson R. Wu... born Sept. 18, 1977 ... son of Donna and Robert Wu ... majoring in art studio... member of 1999 All-ACC Football Academic Team.
