The Green Bay Packers Monday signed safety Marviel Underwood and linebacker Brady Poppinga, the team's two fourth-round selections from the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signings.
Green Bay now has eight of its 11 selections under contract, including guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21), linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6), cornerback Mike Hawkins (July 13) and wide receiver Craig Bragg (July 22).
Underwood, 5-foot-10, 197 pounds, was a three-year starter at San Diego state, having played his final 36 collegiate games in succession. He was named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference during his junior and senior seasons. For his career, Underwood tallied 222 tackles (135 solo), including nine tackles for loss with one sack, plus seven interceptions among 20 passes broken up, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Poppinga was a four-year letterman at Brigham Young and earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. A defensive end for his first three collegiate seasons, he was moved to outside linebacker entering his senior campaign. Poppinga posted career totals of 193 tackles (99 solo), including 20 sacks and 39 tackles for loss, in 47 games (25 starts).
The Packers chose Underwood with the 115th overall selection of the 2005 NFL Draft, the first of two picks obtained from Carolina. Green Bay selected Poppinga with the 125th pick overall.
Packers rookies reported for training camp today and practice for the first time Tuesday morning
The two preseason roster reduction dates, mandated by the NFL, are Aug. 30 (to 65 players) and Sept. 3 (to 53 players).
