TicketsApril 30, 2007
CINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati linebacker Kevin McCullough (Hudson, Ohio/Grand Rapids J.C.) and kicker Kevin Lovell (Hawthorne, Calif./El Camino) have agreed to terms with NFL franchises. McCullough has accepted a contract with the New York Jets and Lovell inked his deal with the St. Louis Rams to become the third and fourth Bearcats to sign this offseason with National Football League teams.
The pair joins John Bowie (Columbus, Ohio/Northland) who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, and Brent Celek (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle), who was chosen by Philadelphia Eagles, as Bearcats taking their game to the next level. The signing of four Cincinnati players from one class to NFL mini-camps is the most since a record 10 Bearcats signed deals in 2005.
For Head Coach Brian Kelly, a total of seven players from 2006 are moving on to NFL camps. Two of those picks came on Day One of the 2007 NFL Draft, including Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley, who went to the San Francisco 49ers as the 28th pick overall. Over the past three years, Kelly has mentored nine NFL draft selections.
One of UC's leaders on defense in 2006, McCullough was a first-team All-BIG EAST Conference selection during his senior season. Cincinnati's leading tackler (72) and leader in tackles for loss (14.5), he received the team's Brig Owens Award as the top defensive back after his senior campaign. A former walk-on, McCullough recorded career highs with 10 total tackles and nine solos, along with three tackles for loss to key the 30-11 win over Rutgers and earned BIG EAST Conference Honor Roll recognition. In another nationally televised contest, he totaled four tackles, 1.5 TFLs and returned a fumble 39 yards for a TD in the win over USF, picking up BIG EAST Honor Roll accolades.
"Kevin McCullough is that consummate blue collar, tough player that loves to play the game," commented Kelly. "He was a very good leader in a very short period of time that I had him. More importantly, he has very good instincts for the football."
Lovell paced the Bearcats with 82 points during his senior season. He split the uprights on all 28 PAT tries during his final campaign and finished his career with 82 consecutive point-after kicks, setting a program record. The California native made his last 11 field goal tries, the third-longest streak in UC history. A dependable performer, Lovell converted a pair of field goals in the International Bowl victory to set a UC record by converting 5-of-5 field goals in bowl games (2004 Fort Worth Bowl, 2007 International Bowl). He tied a Cincinnati single-game record with four field goals at Connecticut, booting the game-winner with 10 seconds to play, and earned BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
"Kevin Lovell proved to me that he can kick under pressure. I like the fact that he is an experienced guy that can go in under adverse conditions and put the ball through the uprights. He has a great chance to be an NFL player."
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