CALIFORNIA (Sept. 5) – With the start of the NFL regular season only days away, an impressive four former California University of Pennsylvania football players – Tommie Campbell (Tennessee Titans), Dominique Curry (St. Louis Rams), Terrence Johnson (Indianapolis Colts) and Josh Portis (Seattle Seahawks) – were selected to the 53-player active roster with their respective teams.
Campbell (No. 37) was selected in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Titans and is listed as the second-string right cornerback behind All-Pro Cortland Finnegan, who was a seventh-round selection in 2006. In four preseason games, Campbell posted eight tackles (seven solo), registered two interceptions and defended four passes. On Aug. 27, the 6-3, 205-pound rookie returned his first career interception 90 yards for a touchdown in a 14-13 victory over the Chicago Bears (video).
Curry (No. 15) made the active roster with the Rams for the second-straight year. Last season, he became the first Vulcan to play in a NFL regular-season game since wide receiver Perry Kemp in 1991. He appeared in the last three games this preseason and is one of seven wide receivers on the active roster with St. Louis. Curry appeared in two games last season and blocked a punt against the Washington Redskins in Week 3 (video) before suffering a season-ending injury.
Johnson (No. 46) made the active roster with the Colts in 2011 after finishing last year on their practice squad. Originally signed as undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots last year, he appeared in all four games this preseason and totaled 16 tackles (10 solo) with one pass defended. Johnson is listed as a reserve right cornerback and second-string punt returner with Indianapolis.
Portis (No. 13) was signed as undrafted free agent by the Seahawks in July and enters the season as the third-string quarterback behind Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst. The 6-3 rookie appeared in three games this preseason, completing 10-of-24 attempts for 124 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Portis also rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries and helped lead Seattle to a 24-17 comeback win over the San Diego Chargers on ESPN in the first preseason game of 2011.
In addition to the Cal U quartet on active rosters, wide receiver Derrick Jones (No. 14) was in training camp with the Oakland Raiders before placed on injured reserve with an achillies injury on Aug. 10.
