Sunday, May 1, 2016

NSU's King signs with Dallas Cowboys



NORFOLK, Virginia – Norfolk State University All-American linebacker Deon King signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys following this weekend's NFL Draft.

The Cowboys were one of several NFL teams to host King on pre-draft visits. The three-time All-MEAC linebacker had the opportunity to visit team headquarters and meet with Dallas front office personnel and coaches last month. King will report to the team for rookie training camp later this month.

"I'm excited to get a chance to play for the Cowboys," King said. "But I'm still hungry to prove myself and make the 53-man roster."

King is the third Spartan player in the last two years to sign as a free agent with an NFL team. Last spring, safety Keenan Lambert (Seahawks) and linebacker Lynden Trail (Texans) inked deals with teams immediately following the draft. After being cut by Seattle, Lambert went on to play in five games with the Oakland Raiders last season before being released. Trail finished the 2015 NFL season on the Washington Redskins' practice squad and remains under contract with the team.

As a senior in 2015, King led all of Division I (FCS and FBS) with 163 total tackles after moving from outside to inside linebacker. King also tallied 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

A slew of accolades came King's way following his senior season. He became NSU's first-ever winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top FCS defensive player in the country. He also became the Spartans' first-ever consensus FCS first-team All-American, earning honors from STATS, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press (AP) and the Walter Camp Foundation. King was also selected as the 2015-16 Norfolk State Male Athlete of the Year.


Matt Michalec, Asst. AD/Communications
COURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

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