By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

The football equivalent of the day after Thanksgiving came and went Monday with the Rams adding 19 undrafted free agents to their draft feast of eight additions brought in over the weekend.

Included in the group of additions are four receivers, a running back, one tight end, two offensive linemen, four defensive backs, two defensive ends, a kicker, a fullback, two linebackers and a quarterback.

There are no sons of movie stars such as John David Washington or former big-time college basketball players like Ed Nelson this season, but there seems to be some intriguing names in this year’s group.

The most recognizable name in the group is Iowa quarterback Drew Tate. Tate started three seasons for the Hawkeyes, piling up 8,237 passing yards with 60 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions.

Tate is a bit on the small side (perhaps why he went undrafted) at 6-foot, 192 pounds, but possesses good athleticism and accuracy. He will be expected to compete with Ryan Fitzpatrick for the third quarterback job in training camp.

At receiver, the team brought in four players to compete in training camp, potentially for a sixth receiver spot, or for positions on the practice squad considering the team’s current depth at the position. North Carolina State’s Lamart Barrett, Wake Forest’s Nate Morton, Hofstra’s Shaine Smith and Texas State’s Markee White form the quartet of young receivers that will be joining seventh-round choice Derek Stanley in St. Louis.

Barrett had 77 catches for 845 yards and no touchdowns in his four seasons with the Wolfpack. Morton racked up 117 receptions for 1,650 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons with the Demon Deacons.

Smith played just two seasons for the Pride, but he was extremely productive in his final year after making little impact in 2005. He caught 60 passes for 951 yards and nine touchdowns just a year after making only a single catch for 8 yards. At 6’3 with blazing speed, Smith is the type of project that receivers coach Henry Ellard loves to sink his teeth into.

White did not play for the Bobcats in 2006, but played basketball and football for the team in 2005. White brings tremendous size to the position at 6’7, 205 pounds. In 2005, he led the team with 56 catches for 786 yards and five touchdowns. He graduated after the 2005 season.

After drafting Brian Leonard in the second round to be a hybrid back and backup to Steven Jackson, the Rams added competition at fullback for incumbent Madison Hedgecock in the form of Boise State’s Brad Lau.

Lau was the lead blocker for star runner Ian Johnson in Boise State’s magical run to the Fiesta Bowl win last season and chipped in 47 rushing yards and a touchdown in 2006.

At tailback, the team picked up Robert Hubbard of Nevada. Hubbard had a pair of solid seasons for the Wolfpack, rushing for 996 yards in 2006 to follow a 2005 year in which he posted 719 yards. He scored 21 touchdowns in those two seasons.

At tight end, the Rams added Pittsburgh’s Steve Buches to an already crowded group. Buches’ four seasons with the Panthers netted 52 catches for 591 yards and 10 touchdowns.

On the offensive line, the Rams added a pair of developmental prospects to the interior after drafting Clemson’s Dustin Fry in the fifth round. Washington’s Stanley Daniels and Massachusetts’ David Thompson are the newest projects for offensive line coach Paul Boudreau to tutor.

Daniels moved to guard from the defensive line before the 2003 season and went on to play in 36 games, starting 24. Thompson is a 6’3, 310 pound guard who started at right guard for all 49 games of his career with the Minutemen, where he became one of the most decorated linemen in school history.
 
On the other side of the ball, the Rams added another pair lineman to the mix by signing LSU end Ryan Willis and Albany State's Alton Pettway. Willis was a backup to Chase Pittman (who was drafted over the weekend) for the Tigers but produced when given an opportunity. He had a pair of sacks in 2005 filling in for Pittman and will be expected to compete on the end for the Rams.

Pettway was a "Little All American" in 2006 and a candidate for the Harlon Hill trophy, which is given to the best defensive player in Division II. He finished 2006 with 14.5 sacks and seems to have some sleeper potential as an edge rusher, a spot that the Rams have been looking for help.

It came as a bit of a surprise that the Rams didn’t grab a linebacker in the draft, but they made up for it by signing a pair Monday. Mississippi State’s Quinton Culberson and West Virginia’s Kevin McLee were the newest additions Monday afternoon.

Culberson had a successful stint for the Bulldogs, playing in 42 games with 278 tackles, a pair of sacks and four interceptions. Culberson is a middle linebacker at 6-foot, 236 pounds and could push for a roster spot considering the Rams’ need for depth in the middle.

McLee was a Butkus Award candidate heading into the 2006 season while working on the outside. McLee comes from strong bloodlines. His father, Kevin McLee Sr., played running back for Georgia and had a cup of coffee with Tampa Bay in the NFL. The younger McLee was West Virginia’s leading tackler last season with 79 stops, adding three sacks and an interception.

At defensive back, the Rams added at least one player at each position with Alabama free safety Jeffery Dukes, Kent State strong safety Andre Kirklan, Arkansas cornerback Darius Vinnett and Villanova cornerback Terrance Reaves coming on board.

Dukes led the Tide with 74 tackles in 2006 and picked up three interceptions in 12 starts. He could challenge for a roster spot because of the Rams’ need for depth at free safety behind starter Oshiomogho Atogwe.

Kirkland was an all conference performer for the Golden Flashes for his performance as a senior when he posted 104 tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He will get a shot to compete with Jerome Carter for a backup safety spot.

Vinnett is only 5’9, but is sticky in coverage and possesses good speed. He struggled with knee tendonitis in 2005, but bounced back in 2006. Vinnett clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and has potential to compete for one of the final roster spots at corner or a spot on the practice squad.

Reaves played safety and cornerback for the Wildcats, with equal success on both sides. At 6'1, 205 pounds, Reaves figures to compete at any and all secondary positions.

While there isn’t much need for help at kicker considering Jeff Wilkins’ continued production, the Rams did find another leg to ease his load during this year’s training camp, signing Cincinnati’s Kevin Lovell. Lovell set a school record for consecutive extra points by converting 79 in a row and finished with 73 points to lead the Bearcats in 2006.