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Football's Lucky Whitehead Has Signed with Dallas
5/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 2, 2015
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Atlantic University's Rodney "Lucky" Whitehead has signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.
Whitehead is the second FAU player to sign a professional NFL contract in 2015. Fellow senior D'Joun Smith was taken on Friday by Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the third round, making him the highest draft pick in FAU's history.
Whitehead played two seasons at FAU and flourished as a senior with a team-leading 76 catches for 706 yards. He tallied six touchdown receptions as a senior and another on the ground. The speedy receiver also recorded 21 carries and 20 kick returns.
Whitehead averaged 24.6 yards as a kick returner, which led Conference USA most of the season. He was ranked statistically in several national categories and was named first-team C-USA. The Virginia native was named FAU's Offensive MVP at season's end. FAU quarterback Rusty Smith was the first FAU player to be drafted and he was taken in the sixth round by the Tennessee Titans in 2009. An FAU Owl has signed a professional contract with an NFL team each of the last 12 seasons since 2004 and has had at least one player on an NFL roster since 2009. Whitehead is the second wide receiver in the program's history to sign with an NFL team. Lestar Jean, who signed with the Houston Texans in 2011 as a free agent, was the first. Jean played with the Texans from 2011-13 and was then picked up by Minnesota in 2014.
For 2015 FAU football season tickets, call 1-866-FAU Owls or visit www.fausports.com. All FAU football games can be heard live on ESPN West Palm 106.3 at FAUsports.com or via the ESPN app. Fans also can follow the team via Twitter at @FAUOwlAthletics.
Players to Sign Professional Contracts
Brian Pare, Free Agent Chicago Bears (2004)
Chris Laskowski, Free Agent Indianapolis Colts (2005)
Kevin Fischer, Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005)
Jared Allen, Free Agent Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005)
Quentin Swain, NFL Europe (Berlin) (2005)
Willie Hughley, Free Agent Cleveland Browns (2006)
Nello Faulk, Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars (2007)
Mark Myers, CFL (2007/Jets 2008)
Lawrence Gordon, CFL (2007)
Taheem Acevedo, Free Agent Kansas City Chiefs (2007)
Casey McGahee, CFL (2007)
Troy Pindell, CFL (2007)
Jervonte Jackson, Free Agent Philadelphia Eagles (2008)
Frantz Joseph, Free Agent Oakland Raiders (2008)
Jason Harmon, Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars (2009)
William Rose, Free Agent Tennessee Titans (2009)
Rusty Smith, Sixth Round Tennessee Titans (2009)
Rob Housler, Third Round Arizona Cardinals (2010)
Lester Jean, Free Agent Houston Texans (2011)
Michael Lockley, Free Agent Jacksonville Jaguars (2011)
Alfred Morris, Seventh Round Washington Redskins (2012)
Kevin Cyrille, Free Agent Minnesota Vikings (2012)
David Hinds, Free Agent Miami Dolphins (2013)
Keith Reaser, Fifth Round San Francisco 49ers (2014)
Randell Johnson, Seventh Round Buffalo Bills (2014)
Adarius Glanton, Free Agent Carolina Panthers (2014)
D'Joun Smith, Third Round Indianapolis Colts (2015)
Lucky Whitehead, Free Agent Dallas Cowboys (2015)
Players Mentioned
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