Seven former ASU players go undrafted, reportedly sign in free agency following draft
May 11, 2014, 12:00 AM | Updated: 2:00 am
Though there names were not called in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft, three former Arizona State players have signed with pro teams in the immediate wake of the draft.
According to reports posted to Twitter, senior defensive back Alden Darby has signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent.
I'm proud to say I am officially a San Diego Charger !!! I grew up a Charger fan and now I'm playing for them. God is good !!!! 🙏🙏🙏
— Alden Darby (@Pic6Darb) May 10, 2014
Darby grew up in Long Beach, Calif. and was a two-time All Pac-12 player, accruing 10 career interceptions in 50 games (28 starts) for ASU.
Fellow Sun Devils defender Chris Young, a senior linebacker from Seattle, has also reportedly signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans.
S/O to the bro @CYThaCinco headed to Houston to play for the Texans #EatYoungBoyEat!!!
— Marion Grice (@TheMarionGrice) May 10, 2014
Young earned second-team All Pac-12 honors in 2013 and was the conference’s Player of the Week in late November of that year.
Senior defensive end Davon Coleman, meanwhile, has reportedly signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
I'm proud to say I'm officially a Dallas Cowboy! Dreams really do come true
— Davon Coleman (@ColesWorld43) May 11, 2014
A Cleveland native, Coleman tallied 166 career tackles while at ASU, starting all 13 games for the Sun Devils in 2013 while earning honorable mention All Pac-12 honors.
Another Sun Devils defensive back, Robert Nelson Jr., was reportedly signed by the Cleveland Browns following the draft.
ASU former CB RT @NELSON_ISLE Proud to say that I'm a #ClevelandBrown!!!! #UnDrafted I'm more hungry then I have ever been in my life….
— Devils Digest (@DevilsDigest) May 11, 2014
Nelson was a first team All Pac-12 defender in 2013, tallying nine career interceptions at ASU, where he spent two seasons after transferring from Western Kentucky in 2011.
And yet another ASU defensive signed with an NFL team following the draft, becoming the seventh player from coach Todd Graham’s defense to go pro in 2014, when Jarrid Bryant signed with the St. Louis Rams.
Former ASU CB signed as a free agent RT @BMagee58 My boy Jarrid Bryant to the Rams show time !!
— Devils Digest (@DevilsDigest) May 10, 2014
Bryant, a junior cornerback, transitioned from receiver over the course of his career in Tempe.
On the other side of the ball, offensive lineman Evan Finkenberg reportedly signed with the Miami Dolphins.
Congrats to Evan Finkenberg going to the Dolphins!! Forks up!
— Todd Graham (@CoachGrahamASU) May 10, 2014
Finkenberg, a fifth-year senior, recorded 47 career starts and 61 appearances at right guard and left tackle, earning first-team All Pac-12 honors in 2013.
And fifth-year senior tight end Chris Coyle is now primed to join Young in Houston, according to a personal tweet.
Officially a Houstan Texan! God is great! #houstantexans #herewecome
— chris coyle (@BIGCsundevil87) May 11, 2014
Coyle logged a decorated career for the Sun Devils, finishing third on the school’s all-time tight end receptions list with 92 catches. The Westlake Village, Calif. product played in 40 career games, twice making All Pac-12 teams, including a first team honor in 2013.
