April 29, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
His name was never called, but it didn't take long for former Illinois State linebacker Cameron Siskowic's phone to ring after the final pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. The phone call was Siskowic's first step in signing a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.
"If I wasn't drafted, Cincinnati was my No. 1 team (for free agency) heading into today," Siskowic said. "They were also my first offer and I took it. With mini camp on Thursday, I feel the pressure already and I'm glad that I continued to work hard in the off-season. Sure, you always want to have your name called on TV, but that didn't happen and my focus right now is to make the Bengals' roster."
Cincinnati finished the 2006 season with an 8-8 record, including losses in its final three games of the season. The Bengals did not pick a linebacker in the draft this weekend, and ranked No. 30 in the NFL for team defense allowing 355.1 yards per game.
The 2006 Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year led the league in tackles the last two seasons. He was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, the top defensive player honor in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), each of the last two seasons. A consensus all-American in 2006, Siskowic was also named the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Classic.
Siskowic joins Laurént Robinson, who was selected in the third round this year's draft by the Atlanta Falcons, Brent Hawkins (Jacksonville Jaguars), Boomer Grigsby (Kansas City Chiefs) and Aveion Cason (Detroit Lions) on the list of former Redbirds in the NFL.
