Three more former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football players will have a shot at the NFL, and their first chance to prove themselves will happen soon.
Offensive lineman Josh Cardiello, linebacker Dale Warren and defensive back Lucas Webb have accepted invitations to rookie mini-camps set to begin next Thursday, according to news releases from UTC. Cardiello was invited by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Warren and Webb both invited by the Buffalo Bills.
They join fellow former Mocs standout Tae Davis in having a professional football opportunity. Davis, a safety before moving to linebacker last season under first-year coach Tom Arth, signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants this past Saturday after the conclusion of the three-day, seven-round NFL draft in Arlington, Texas.
Webb is a defensive back from Northport, Ala., who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds as a senior this past season, when he earned his fourth straight All-Southern Conference first-team selection. He was the first player in program history to achieve that feat, and he finished his collegiate career with 13 interceptions, tied for the UTC record.
His 51 starts and 272 interception return yards are also Mocs records, his four interceptions returned for touchdowns are a SoCon record and his five defensive scores tied for the conference record. He finished his time at UTC with 228 tackles, 30 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.