Following the end of the NFL draft on Saturday, the hunt to add players didn't stop for teams around the league. The opportunity to become an NFL player as an undrafted free agent quickly turned into reality for a pair of former Pima College standouts: Mountain View High School grad and wide receiver Jeff Cotton, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, followed by running back and newest ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Cardinal Sirgeo Hoffman.Â
"A whole lot of hard work and dedication. I got everything out the mud and this is just another stepping stone," Cotton said in a press release.Â
Pima's undrafted free agent signings matched the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats 2020 total, which had Jace Whittaker (Cardinals) and J.J. Taylor (Patriots).Â
During Pima's 2016 season, Cotton received Western States Football League First Team honors after hauling in 43 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. Cotton transferred to Idaho and emerged as the Vandals' top pass-catcher with 1,076 yards this past season. In Idaho's 2019 season finale, the 6-foot-2-inch, 204-pound Cotton recorded a career-high 230 yards and two touchdowns against the NAU Lumberjacks in Flagstaff.Â
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Idaho's Jeff Cotton, left, returns a kickoff as Florida defensive back Robert Clay, right, makes the stop during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Including himself, Cotton joins a Chargers rookie class that is welcoming four wide receivers, including Virginia's Joe Reed and Ohio State's K.J. Hill. Los Angeles also signed Kansas State wide receiver Dalton Schoen.Â
Hoffman played 17 games for the Aztecs in 2015 and 2016, and amassed 609 yards on 159 carries and six touchdowns. Originally from Gresham, Oregon, Hoffman returned home to play for the Portland State Vikings in the FCS. Hoffman finished his PSU career with 1,068 yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons.Â
The Cardinals signed only one other running back, former ASU star Eno Benjamin, who was drafted in the seventh round.Â
The NFL draft concluded on Saturday and the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats were the only team in the Pac-12 to not have a player selected. Considering one of those players not selected was Khalil Tate, a once possible Heisman Trophy candidate in 2018 and Sports Illustrated cover quarterback, who's to blame for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s struggles in the NFL draft? Where will J.J. Taylor and Jace Whittaker begin their NFL journey? Plus, the podcast takes a look at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s recruiting efforts for international basketball players, and the latest with Kerwin Walton.
Contact sports content producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
