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PACKERS SIGN RUNNING BACK RONDELL MEALEY, FINAL SEVENTH-ROUND PICK
posted 06/29/00
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| Rondell Mealey |
The Green Bay Packers have signed running back Rondell Mealey of LSU, their fifth and final selection in the seventh round of this year's National Football League draft, to a multi-year contract, Andrew Brandt, the team's director of player finance/football operations, announced today.
The 23-year-old Mealey, 6-0 and 206 pounds, impressed the Packers coaching staff with his performance in the team's offseason minicamps. He had become a starter at LSU in 1999, after playing behind Kevin Faulk and Cecil Collins earlier in his collegiate career, and went on to lead the team in rushing, gaining 637 yards in 170 attempts, a 3.7 average, and scoring eight touchdowns. Possessor of 4.5 speed in the '40,' he averaged 4.9 yards per rushing attempt as a junior, posting 334 yards on 68 carries. He also returned kickoffs prior to his senior season, averaging 22.1 yards for 29 runbacks.
Mealey is the sixth of the Packers' 13 draft choices to be signed thus far. He joins nose tackle Steve Warren of Nebraska, a third-round pick; linebacker Na'il Diggs of Ohio State, the Packers' first of three fourth-round selections; and offensive tackle Mark Tauscher of Wisconsin, defensive tackle Ron Moore of Northwestern Oklahoma State and wide receiver Charles Lee of Central Florida, the team's first, second and third choices, respectively, in the seventh round.
Brandt also announced the signing of defensive lineman Tim Beauchamp, a University of Florida alumnus who has just closed out the NFL Europe League season as a starter for Amsterdam, emerging as the Admirals' sack leader
(6.5). He also ranked fourth on the team's defense in total tackles with 27, 19 of them unassisted, and posted one pass deflection, one forced fumble and added one tackle with the special teams.
Beauchamp, 23, a four-year letterman at Florida, originally was signed by the Cleveland Browns as a free agent April 23, 1999. Later waived August 27, he was out of football for the balance of the '99 season. As a collegian, his career totals included 44 games with 25 starts, 69 tackles
(40 solo), 18 quarterback pressures, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Earlier, Beauchamp was a prep All-America selection
(Parade, Super Prep and Blue Chip Illustrated) as an outside linebacker at New Smyrna Beach, Fla., High School. He also competed as a weight lifter and holds the state record in the clean and jerk (310 pounds).
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