A pair of Sam Houston State football players will have the chance to live out their dreams after signing free-agent contracts with two NFL teams.

Running back D.D. Terry and wide receiver Michael Malone didn’t hear their names called during the NFL Draft this weekend but apparently the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins saw something in the two former Bearkats to ink a deal.

Terry will try to earn a spot on the Jaguars’ roster, while Malone will be headed to the sunny beaches of Miami.

After coming to SHSU has a linebacker from Kilgore Junior College, Terry was moved to running back before the start of the 2006 season. The move paid off, as the Willis product set a new school record for rushing yards in a season with 1,328 yards in only 10 games.

Terry also scored lead the Southland Conference with 15 touchdowns on the ground on the way to being named the league’s offensive player of the year. His performance last year made him a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in Division I-AA.

Malone led the Kats with four touchdown catches last season. He caught 23 passes for 250 yards despite struggling with a leg injury late in the year. The Virginia Tech transfer played two seasons at Sam Houston and caught 15 passes for 196 yards and a score as a junior in 2005.

The SLC did have two players drafted over the weekend. Left tackle Jacob Bender became the first Nicholls State lineman in school history to have his named called, going to the New York Jets in the sixth round (177th overall pick).

Bender was a two-time All-SLC first-team selection and was named to the 2006 Sports Network All-America third team.

Central Arkansas defensive end Jacob Ford was also drafted in the sixth round Sunday, going to the Tennessee Titans with the 204th overall pick. After transferring from the University of Memphis, Ford had a stellar career for the Bears, recording 17 sacks and 32 1/2 tackles for a loss in two seasons. He was invited to the NFL Combine in February.

UCA also had two other players sign free agent contracts. Offensive lineman Justin Jones inked with the New York Giants and safety Jasper Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys.

McNeese State offensive lineman Brent Pousson also signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns.

Northwestern State had three players sign as free agents. Defensive tackle Tory Collins and receiver Derrick Doyle will be heading to the Chicago Bears, while corner back Chad Johnson was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings.



Another Bearkat earns SLC softball honors

The awards keep piling up for the Sam Houston State softball team.

Second baseman Lauren Burns picked up her second Southland Conference hitter of the week honor after helping the Bearkats to a 5-1 record in a pair of league series.

Burns hit a walk-off solo home run to lead SHSU to a series sweep over archrival Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, her second of the game. She also had a pair of doubles and another home run in the a couple of wins over Texas-San Antonio on Saturday, as the Bearkats secured a spot in the SLC postseason tournament.

Southeastern Louisiana’s Rachel Ray received pitcher of the week honors. Ray tossed seven shut-out innings to lead the Lady Lions to a 1-0 upset over No. 5 LSU on Wednesday night. In the victory, Ray tied the school’s single-season record for wins and the single-season school record with her seventh shutout of the year.

Mavericks, Lumberjacks take baseball awards

Texas-Arlington’s Dillon Gee and Stephen F. Austin’s Jared Pitts were named the Southland Conference pitcher and hitter of the week, respectively, Monday.

Gee tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Mavericks to a 7-0 victory Friday over Northwestern State. He only allowed four base runners and struck out 10 Demon batters.

Pitts hit three home runs to help the Lumberjacks take an SLC series two games to one over Nicholls State this past weekend. He hit a solo shot in Friday’s 9-4 victory before going a perfect 5-for-5 with a three-run homer, a grand slam and eight RBI in a 15-8 win Saturday.



Nicholls State’s Bathie to play in World University Games

Nicholls State forward Ryan Bathie has been selected to represent the Australia basketball team at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok this summer.

Bathie, a native of Melton South, Australia, set a school record with 86 3-pointers made last season on the way to averaging 12.5 points a game. He was the only Colonel last season to start all 30 games for Nicholls on the hardwood and finished the season third on the team in field goals made (131), rebounds (135) and assists (77).

Bathie also led the Colonels in blocks with 17.



Corpus hopes to name new hoops coach this week

Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi athletic director Brian Teter told the Corpus Christi Caller Times the university could name its new men’s head basketball coach either today or Wednesday.

In a story posted on the Caller’s Web site, the job is down to four finalist who include Texas Tech assistant Chris Beard, former Miami coach Perry Clark, Notre Dame assistant Gene Cross and Islanders associate head coach Andy Helton.

 Corpus has been searching for a new coach for a couple weeks after Ronnie Arrow was hired to return to South Alabama.