Bengals sign three tryout players

by Josh Kirkendall on May 3, 2009 1:09 PM EDT in Contracts

After Sunday's practice, the final session during the rookie minicamp weekend, the Cincinnati Bengals signed three tryout players to the roster, writes Geoff Hobson.

Ball State tight end Darius Hill, Central State defensive tackle Pernell Phillips, and Florida long snapper James Smith.

The one you don't note is quarterback Todd Boeckman, who was of several tryout players that the Bengals invited for the weekend.

Hill is a three-year starter, named first-team All-Mac in 2007 and 2008 and considered very one dimensional; a wide receiver in a tight end's body.

Year	GP	Rec	Yds	YPC	TD
2004	RS	-	-	-	-
2005	10	11	136	12.3	3
2006	12	42	741	17.6	10
2007	13	65	926	14.2	11
2008	14	40	670	16.8	7
Totals	49	158	2,476	15.7	31

The knocks against Hill is that he's not very physical, isn't much of a blocker, doesn't get much separation and has very average speed.

Pernell Phillips is a 330-plus pound defensive tackle from Central State.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Who the hell are you watching?

by emdrr on May 3, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

Hill

Not much of “yards after catch” guy.

by BamaBengal on May 3, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

is one of former Bengal, Mike Martin’s Taft High School kids. Phillips, apparently, transferred from Hughes to get involved with Martin’s combination resurrection of the Taft football program/taking at-risk, inner city kids under his wing. Martin, in turn, helped Phillips get into a juco when he graduated the coach of which he then followed to Central State. Nice circle of life sort of story and one hopes this true fireplug- 5-11, 330, manages to make the team in some capacity.

by IgnatiusJReilly on May 5, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions