Gunter hoping for free-agent sequel
Journey of Shields noticed
Green – Sam Shields’ rapid development with the Green Bay Packers has not gone unnoticed on the University of Miami campus.
Shield’s journey from undrafted free agent to $10 million-a-year cornerback is well-known in the football program and it’s part of the reason another Hurricane cornerback decided to take a shot in the NFL with the Packers.
Ladarius Gunter, a 6-1 ½, 202-pound undrafted free agent, agreed to terms with the Packers and will be one of around 20 UDFAS looking to make the 53-man roster the way Shields did in 2010.
Even though the Packers used their first two draft picks to take Damarious Randall of Arizona State and Quinten Rollins of Miami (Ohio), Gunter and his agent, Malki Kawa, felt like Gunter would get a fair shot to make the team.
“We saw what Sam Shields did,” Kawa said.
Gunter, a junior college transfer, played three seasons at Miami and started 30 games, including all 13 in 2014. Early on, he was pegged as a safety and played there some, but he eventually settled in at corner.
Unlike Randall and Rollins, Gunter is a big corner with long arms and press coverage ability. His 40yard dash time of 4.69 seconds probably scared teams
Bay off, although at the Senior Bowl he, by most accounts, had a good week.
He wasn’t a splash player at Miami, but he did have a very solid junior season with 46 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions, a forced fumble, nine passes defensed and a return touchdown off a blocked field. He suffered a scary neck injury against Pittsburgh, but only missed one game.
His senior season wasn’t as productive, which might have led to him not being drafted.
Gunter said he was comfortable playing both press and zone coverage and would be able to do whatever the Packers asked of him. Like Randall, he has experience at safety and could move there if things don’t work out at corner.
But he is the only corner above 6-feet tall on the roster, so he could carve out a spot on the team if he covers well. Not being drafted at least allowed him to look around and find a team that might be a good fit.
He picked a team that gave Shields a shot.
“It kind of did,” Gunter said of how Shields’ rise influenced his decision. “I want to just do the same, come in and compete and help the team win.”
The Packers signed four other undrafted free agents that the Journal Sentinel did not report on Sunday.
They are: outside linebackers Jermauria Rasco of Louisiana State and James Vaughters of Stanford and wide receivers Javess Blue of Kentucky and Jimmie Hunt of Missouri.
Rasco, 6 feet 3 inches and 252 pounds, said the Packers were the best fit from among his multiple offers. A two-year starter at defensive end, he led the Tigers in sacks last season with four. He had 10 in his career.
Vaughters (6-2, 248), chose the Packers late Saturday night. He finished with 12 1/2 sacks, including 6 1/2 in 2014, as a two-year starter at outside linebacker. He made four starts at inside linebacker in 2012.
Bess (5-11 ¾, 188), caught 29 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He ran the 40-yard dash in a reported 4.56 seconds and had a 33-inch vertical jump.
Hunt (6-0, 208), caught 40 passes for 698 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior at Missouri. He battled through knee and shoulder injuries, the latter of which resulted in surgery that knocked him out of the Citrus Bowl.
Another signee appears to be Oklahoma State defensive tackle James Castleman. The school reported he had agreed to terms with the Packers, but the Journal Sentinel could not confirm it.
The Packers also have a number of tryout players coming in. Among them are: Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, Sacred Heart cornerback JD Rousell, BYU safety Sky Povey, Colorado State-pueblo defensive lineman Josh Bredl, Southeastern Louisiana receiver Chris Mallott, Buffalo tackle Jake Silas and Central Michigan guard Andy Phillips.