University of Houston Athletics
Three Former Cougars Sign Free Agent Contracts
4/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 28, 2003
One day after former teammate Hanik Milligan was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, three University of Houston football standouts joined him in the league by signing free agent contracts.
Running back Joffrey Reynolds (Tyler, Texas), wide receiver Brian Robinson (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and safety Jesse Sowells (Houston, Texas) reached agreement with professional teams over the past 24 hours. Reynolds joined the St. Louis Rams, Robinson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans snapped up Sowells to join their teams for training camp this summer.
A First Team, All-Conference USA selection last season after leading the league in rushing with 1,545 yards and 11 touchdowns on 316 carries, Reynolds joins the Rams after a career senior season in 2002. Not only did Reynolds set the C-USA record for rushing yards in a season, but he also rushed for a Houston and league-best 300 yards versus East Carolina last November.
Reynolds recorded eight 100-yard rushing games last season and finished his career ranked third with 13 century games. Overall, Reynolds concluded his UH career with 2,946 yards rushing, which is fourth best, and finished ranked third all-time in all-purpose yards with 3,674.
Robinson concluded his career as a Top 10 receiver, racking up 135 receptions for 1,696 yards in his four-year career. Robinson had his breakthrough season in 2000, when he hauled in a career-best 80 catches for 890 yards and six touchdowns en route to a Conference USA Second Team selection. The 80 catches is tied for seventh best all-time for a season mark.
As for Sowells, the Willowridge High School product started only one season for the Cougars, but the 2002 season put him on the NFL map. Starting all 12 games at strong safety, Sowells finished second on the team in tackles with 101 total stops. Sowells also racked up 10 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles from his safety spot. He concluded his two-year career with126 tackles.
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