Bowser and Jones Sign With Cardinals and Chiefs

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If this is a double post, I apologize.

AKRON - After being invited to rookie mini camps on a tryout basis, University of Akron football players Deryn Bowser and Andre Jones have signed free agent contracts with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.

Bowser, who has been assigned #10, and Jones, who has been assigned #32, officially signed one-year contracts on May 17. Jones will be attempting to make the team as a cornerback/special teams player.

For a complete list of current Zips in the NFL, CLICK HERE. Playing professionally in the CFL are Dennis Kennedy (#32 Edmonton Eskimoes), Jabari Arthur (#88 Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Jermaine Reid (#99 Hamilton Tiger-Cats).

Bowser, who missed the final six games of his senior season (2009) due to injury, still lead the team with five touchdown receptions and ranked fourth on the team in receptions with 21, while his 307 receiving yards ranked third on the squad. Bowser was on pace for an impressive season prior to a season-ending injury during the Buffalo game in week six. He caught the Zips' lone score at Penn State to open the season, then, in week two, made his mark in Akron history by scoring the firs touchdown in InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field history. Bowser would go on to score twice more in the 41-0 victory while hauling in a total of eight passes for 86 yards.

The Los Angeles native was a third team All-Mid-American Conference pick in 2008, catching 64 passes - which ranks sixth on the UA single-season list - for 785 yards and four scores. He ranked sixth in the MAC and 60th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (65.42), while ranking eighth in the league and 46th in the nation in receptions per game (5.33). Bowser was named MAC East Player of the Week, catching five passes for 7 yards and making one of the more dramatic catches in Wagon Wheel history. Down four with a minute-and-a-half to play and the Zips' facing 4th-and-11, Bowser elevated to make a highlight reel touchdown reception to put Akron up three - a game the Zips would win in overtime.

In one-and-a-half seasons at Akron, Bowser had 85 career receptions, to rank 17th on the UA all-time list - for 1,092 yards with nine TDs.

Jones, one of the most versatile athletes in college football over his career, will first attempt to make the Chiefs playing corner back. In his career, Jones started at both safety spots, both corner back spots and wide receiver, while playing quarterback in the "wildcat" as well as being one of the nation's most dangerous punt and kick returners. In one game alone at Syracuse this past fall, Jones started at receiver, played corner back, played quarterback and served on the special teams. In his career, Jones scored by fumble recovery (64-yard strip and return), by reception, by rushing and by kick return.

Despite playing just half of his senior season (2009) at wide receiver, Jones still tied for the team lead in touchdowns (5), led the team in receiving yards (553) and ranked second on the squad in receptions (33). He caught four TD passes and rushed for one, that coming at quarterback in the Zips win over Can't State. He was named third team All-MAC at wide receiver by Phil Steele Magazine. He had two games with over 100 yards receiving yards, a career-high 154 on six catches at Northern Illinois and 114 on eight receptions at Bowling Green. And, despite playing just six games on defense, Jones still ranked 15th on the team in tackles with 21.

As a junior, Jones' first season at wideout, he was named third team All-MAC by the league's coaches catching 47 passes - 15th on the UA single-season list - for 678 yards, playing just 10 games at receiver. He led the Zips and ranked third in the MAC with seven TD receptions. He was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week for getting five receptions for 100 yards and a score in a win at Army.

His first two years at Akron was spent on the defensive side, where he ranked no lower than fourth on the team in tackles. Also, he led the MAC and ranked 11th in the NCAA in punt returns in 2007, averaging 14.5 per attempt (16 attempts for 232 yards). Also that season, he did not have enough attempts to rank among the NCAA nor MAC leaders, but averaged 32.8 yards on his nine returns. One of his returns has gone down as one of the greatest in school history as he took a lateral from Alphonso Owen as part of an 89-yard, game-winning free kick return at Western Michigan (39-38).

For his career, Jones caught 80 passes for 1,231 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 games at wide receiver. On defense, in 28 games at safety and corner, Jones registered 184 tackles, including 4.5 for losses and one sack, with seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. On special teams, Jones returned 36 career punts for 348 yards (9.7 avg.) and 29 career kicks for 686 yards (23.7 avg.). In 10 rushing attempts, Jones gained 85 yards for an average of 8.5 yards per carry.