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posted 07/23/99
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| Fred Vinson |
With the opening of training camp now only two days away, the Green Bay Packers have picked up the personnel pace, signing two more draft selections today -- cornerback Fred Vinson of Vanderbilt, their second-round pick, and wide receiver Dee Miller of Ohio State, a sixth-round choice.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Ron Wolf also announced that linebacker Mike Morton, signed as an unrestricted free agent April 30, has been traded to the St. Louis Rams for an undisclosed future draft choice. Morton, a fifth-year pro from the University of North Carolina, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders following his selection in the fourth round of the 1995 draft.
Vinson, 5-11and 180 pounds, a two-year starter and four-time letter winner (1995-98), enters the NFL regarded as one of the premier cover cornerbacks to emerge from the collegiate ranks in 1999.
Blessed with superior speed, which earned him the nickname of "Fast Freddie" at Vanderbilt, he closed out his career there with 162 tackles (127 solo), 4 interceptions, 22 passes defensed and 4 fumble recoveries.
Along the way, the 22-year-old Aiken, S.C., native was a key cog in the Commodores' secondary during his 39-game career, helping his team hold 37 of 39 opponents under 300 passing yards, including 25 of 39 under 200 yards through the air. His unit also allowed only one 100-yard receiver in his last 29 games - then-Florida Gator Jacquez Green.
Packers Defensive Coordinator Emmitt Thomas, openly impressed with Vinson's talents, says, "He reminds me of (Washington Redskins cornerback) Darrell Green somewhat, a little bit taller. He has great leaping ability, a real smart guy with excellent speed. He'll match up extremely well with the smaller receivers in the division and conference."
Miller, the first of the Packers' two sixth-round selections, made 132 career receptions for 2,090 yards at Ohio State, totals which rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in school history.
A consensus second-team All-Big Ten selection in 1998, the 6-foot, 198-pound Springfield, Ohio, native finished his collegiate career with a career-high 59 catches for 981 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. En route, he set career highs for receptions (11) and receiving yards (159) in a 38-7 victory over Indiana.
In 1997, his first year as a starter, he led the Buckeyes in yards receiving (981) on 58 catches, also posting a career-best 5 touchdowns.
With the signing of Vinson and Miller, the Packers now have nine of their twelve 1999 draft selections under contract.