Despite being shut out of the 2005 NFL Draft, NIU had seven players get picked up by NFL teams as free agents Sunday.

“It looks real good for the team and we are getting better players in here and hopefully it will help out recruiting,” said offensive lineman Jake VerStraete, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I talked to everyone and we are all real excited.”

VerStraete inked his contract with fellow offensive lineman Matt McGhghy, who was picked up by the Chicago Bears, on Sunday night at Applebee’s.

Other Huskies who were signed include: quarterback Josh Haldi (Cincinnati Bengals), linebacker Brian Atkinson (Tennessee Titans), wide receiver Dan Sheldon (Arizona Cardinals) and cornerback Rob Lee and tight end Brad Cieslak (Buffalo Bills).

Safety Lionel Hickenbottom has not signed with a team, but will have a three-day workout for the Cleveland Browns this weekend in hopes of getting offered a contract.

NIU, which had four players drafted in the last four years, was not included in the 11 MAC players picked this year.

“Toward the end of the draft [the Bengals] called and said they were interested,” said Haldi, an Ohio native. “Right after the draft was over my agent started going over my options. I fly out Thursday and I’m excited to work with those guys and learn from Carson Palmer and Jon Kitna. I’m excited to go back home and just be on the field and compete.”

As for the Iowa native McGhghy, he said he is very familiar with Chicago and likes his chances of making the team.

“Growing up as a kid you always dream of [playing in the NFL] and now it’s kind of coming true,” McGhghy said. “It’s kind of a long process how I ended up with them. Chicago wasn’t my first choice. Cincinnati and Detroit offered more money, but that didn’t work out. But it wound up this way and I’m pretty happy with that. I think I have a better chance with the Bears to make the team. They didn’t pick any linemen in the draft and I could hopefully go in there early and compete and win the job.”

The first players drafted in Joe Novak’s rein as NIU head coach were Ryan Diem and Justin McCareins, who were both selected in the fourth round of the 2001 draft.

Both were in DeKalb over the weekend for the announcement of the new academic and athletic performance center. Diem and McCareins were two of 14 leadership donors for the $9.5 million facility.

“I talked to Josh earlier and just told him to relax,” said McCareins on Saturday prior to the intra-squad spring game. “Even if these guys don’t get drafted it’s just about getting into camp and showing what you can do.”

One such example was 2004 NIU graduate P.J. Fleck.

A wide receiver, Fleck was undrafted and signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers. After working his way up the depth chart, he finished last season on the 49ers active roster.

In 2002 wide receiver Darrell Hill was selected in the seventh round by the Tennessee Titans.

While no one was selected in 2003, the following year running back Michael Turner was picked in the seventh round by the San Diego Chargers.

In this year’s draft, the Chargers selected star running back Darren Sproles of Kansas State in the fourth round to possibly compete against Turner as a backup to starter LaDainian Tomlinson.

‘05 MAC picks

Rd. Name Pos. Team School

3(67) Charlie Frye QB Cleveland Akron

3(100) Nick Kaczur OG New England Toledo

4(119) Eric Ghiaciuc C Cincinnati Central Michigan

5(147) Alphonso Hodge CB Kansas City Miami-Ohio

5(153) Adam Kieft OT Cincinnati Central Michigan

6(192) Dante Ridgeway WR St. Louis Ball State

6(206) Jonathan Goddard DE Detroit Marshall

6(208) Justin Beriault S Dallas Ball State

6(210) Reggie Hodges P St. Louis Ball State

7(237) Chris Roberson CB Jacksonville Eastern Michigan

7(242) Scott Mruczkowski C San Diego Bowling Green