Quartet Of Flashes Sign Free Agent Contracts
7/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio -- It took some patience thanks to the NFL lockout that dragged on for 132 days, but years of hard work finally paid off for four Kent State senior football players who now get to realize their dream of playing professionally.
Kirk Belgrave (Atlanta Falcons), Brian Lainhart (Cincinnati Bengals), Cobrani Mixon (Detroit Lions) and Monte' Simmons (San Francisco 49ers) all signed free agent contracts earlier this week. The quartet pushes the number of Golden Flashes currently on NFL rosters to 13.
Belgrave, a native of Norfolk, Va., made 19 stops in 10 games at cornerback last year after making 40 tackles the previous year.
A Cincinnati native, Lainhart finished his career as the active Football Bowl Subdivision leader with 17 interceptions. A three-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree at free safety, he was second on the team with 88 stops and a pair of interceptions in 2010. Former Kent State standout Rico Murray is also a member of the Bengals.
Mixon, a teammate of Lainhart's in both high school and college, joins fellow former Flash Jack Williams as a member of the Lions. A two-time first team All-MAC performer at middle linebacker, he finished third on the team last season with 82 tackles despite missing a game due to injury. He also ranked fifth in the MAC with 6.5 sacks and ninth with 11.5 TFL, while recording two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Simmons was a disruptive force from his defensive end position, tying for third in school history with 21.5 sacks, while ranking eighth with 38.5 tackles for loss. The Swissvale, Pa., native tallied 5.5 sacks, 10 TFL and 38 total tackles in just nine games last year.
The quartet helped Kent State rank third nationally in tackles for loss, fourth in rushing defense, eighth in sacks and 10th in total defense.
The Flashes kick off the 2011 season on Sept. 3 at Alabama before returning home to host Louisiana Sept. 10 at Dix Stadium. Call (330) 672-2244 for season ticket information.
