posted May 1, 2007
Eldra Buckley, UTC's leading rusher for the past two seasons, signed a free agent contract with the NFL's San Diego Chargers Monday.
Buckley will report to the Chargers' headquarters in San Diego on Friday for a two-day rookie mini-camp Saturday and Sunday.
Buckley, a native of Charleston, Miss., ran for 1,230 yards as a junior at UTC in 2005 and 1,204 with seven touchdowns last season. He was voted All-Southern Conference both years.
Buckley received telephone calls from several NFL teams following the draft, asking him to consider signing a free agent contract. Buckley said he chose San Diego because he thought it offered him the best opportunity to make the team.
He is one of 22 other free-agent signees to join the Chargers following the 2007 NFL Draft.
LaDainian Thomlinson, a six-year tailback with the Chargers, was the NFL's Most Valuable Player last season for AFC West Division-winning San Diego.
Buddy Nix, the Chargers' assistant general manager and director of player personnel, was the head football coach at UTC from 1984 to 1992.
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