JJ Jansen, Travis Thomas Sign FA Deals

The first two undrafted Notre Dame players to sign free agent deals are long snapper JJ Jansen and running back/special teamer Travis Thomas.  Jansen signed with Green Bay and Thomas signed with Cleveland.

Both probably have a pretty good chance at making a roster because they can fill niche roles on a team.  Jansen is a pretty good long snapper and if he finds the right place, he can make an entire career based on long snapping.  Mike Batrum is a guy who comes to mind who has lasted in the NFL for years because he’s been able to be a very effective long snapper.

Travis Thomas will make an NFL roster if he can show in camp that he can be a special teams standout.  His running back skills alone will not get him on a roster and those skills alone probably wouldn’t have gotten him drafted.  Because he’s played a lot of positions though, he has a chance to make a squad as a utility/special teams guy.

UPDATE: Joe Brockington has now also signed a FA deal with the Buffalo Bills.

In This Story

Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog

Comments

3 RESPONSES

  1. KevinMAY 3, 2008 · 3:30PM

    i thinik brockington can be a force in the NFL after a couple of years

  2. JCAPR 29, 2008 · 12:12PM

    All things considered ND has done quite well in the NFL Draft and Free Agency this year.

  3. JackAPR 28, 2008 · 5:27AM

    Add Brockington to the title.