Three Blue Raiders ink NFL deals

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Three former Middle Tennessee football standouts have been signed as undrafted free agents in the NFL. RB Phillip Tanner, DE Jamari Lattimore and DT Jarrett Crittenton will be reporting to NFL camps this week.

Tanner, a native of Dallas, Texas, has inked with the Cowboys while Lattimore will be teaming up with former Blue Raider Erik Walden in Green Bay. Crittenton was selected by the Seattle Seahawks.

Tanner, a second team all-conference player in 2010, led the Blue Raiders in rushing a year ago with a career-best 928 yards on 160 attempts and 13 touchdowns. One of four permanent team captains, Tanner tallied five 100-yard rushing games and ended his career ranked fifth all-time in rushing touchdowns.

Lattimore, the 2010 SBC Defensive Player of the Year, ranked seventh nationally last year with 11.5 quarterback sacks. The Miami, Fla., product also added a personal-best 68 tackles to go with 15.0 tackles for loss, 10 hurries, two forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks.

Crittenton, who came on strong the last four games of the 2010 season, had a career-high 30 tackles while ranking second on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss.

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