May 11, 2004
Notre Dame, Ind. – Three members of Notre Dame’s 2003 football team recently signed free agent contracts with National Football League teams. Defensive tackle Darrell Campbell, defensive tackle Cedric Hilliard and wide receiver Omar Jenkins all signed free agent deals in the days following the 2004 NFL Draft.
Campbell signed with the Chicago Bears following a senior season in which the South Holland, Ill., native garnered 25 tackles (15 solos), 6.5 tackles for losses (32 yards) and three quarterback sacks (15 yards). A product of Thornwood High School, Campbell had a career-best six sacks in 2002 and produced was a starter the entire 2002 and 2003 campaigns, in addition to starting 34 games over his last three seasons for the Irish. Campbell was the 2003 winner of the Nick Pietrosante Award, presented each year to the Notre Dame player who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and pride of the late former Irish All-America fullback Nick Pietrosante. Campbell will graduate next week with degrees in English and computer applications.
Hilliard signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The signing was a homecoming, of sorts, for the native of Arlington, Texas, who recorded 27 tackles in 2003, including 1.5 for losses, along with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup. Hilliard, who started 24 games in his Irish career and was a preseason All-America selection in 2003, is a sociology major in the College of Arts and Letters.
Jenkins signed with the Minnesota Vikings. A native of Dallas, Texas, Jenkins started 24 games the past two years for the Irish and finished ’03 with 36 receptions for 344 yards and one touchdown. He became the 21st person in Notre Dame history to have over 1,000 yards receiving in his career and finished 18th on the all-time list with 1,088 yards. Jenkins is a management information systems major in the Mendoza College of Business.