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The Baltimore Ravens signed the following 13 Rookie Free agents today.
Brandon Barnes
No. 62
Guard
6-2, 315
Grand Valley State
Born: 2/28/85 in Detroit, MI
Brandon Barnes signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08...He was honored as the 2007 recipient of the Gene Upshaw Award, given to the best offensive lineman in the NCAA Division-II ranks…Was a 2007 All-American, garnering honors from 9 different news services/publications in his final 2 seasons…Since 2004, when Barnes became the starter at RT, the Lakers compiled a 50-4 record and captured 2 NCAA D-II National Championships and 3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference titles…Started 10 games at RT as a junior in 2006…Was an Associated Press 1st-team All-American, Daktronics 1st-team All-American, Don Hansen's Football Gazette 1st-team All-American, College Sports Report 1st-team All-American and D2Football.com 1st-team All-American in 2006...Daktronics 1st-team All-Northwest Region...Don Hansen's Football Gazette 1st-team All-Northwest Region...Was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year...Was a 1st-team All-GLIAC...Key figure in an O-line that allowed just 23 sacks in 15 games and 355 pass attempts...Helped the Lakers’ offense average 391.9 yards and 35.5 points per game…Was a 1st-team All-GLIAC selection in 2005...Key performer at RT that helped the Lakers’ offense average 211.4 rushing yards per game and 220.3 passing yards per game...Part of an O-line that allowed just 12 sacks in 313 passing attempts…Named Honorable Mention All-GLIAC in 2004...Voted 2004 GVSU Most Improved Player...Started all 13 games at RT as a red-shirt freshman...Key figure of an O-line that yielded just 22 sacks in 13 games...Concluded the year ranking as the Lakers' most consistent offensive lineman…Redshirted in 2003…Prepped at John J. Pershing (Detroit, MI) HS...Earned All-Detroit Public School City League honors...Was a team captain his senior year…Majored in computer engineering at Grand Valley State…Full name: Brandon Franklin Barnes.
Patrick Carter
No. 15
Wide Receiver
6-3, 200
College: Louisville
Born: 2/6/85 in St. Petersburg, FL
Patrick Carter signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08...Played in 20 career games as a WR at Louisville (2005-07) after spending the 2003-04 seasons at Georgia Tech…Posted 36 catches for 464 yards and 5 TDs during his collegiate career, including a career-high 26 grabs for 396 yards as a senior at Louisville…Top game that season came against Utah when he recorded a career-high 9 catches for 154 yards and 1 TD...As a junior in 2006, he missed 4 games with an ankle sprain, but still managed to return 17 punts for 107 yards and catch 5 passes for 68 yards…Season highlight came in an Orange Bowl win over Wake Forest when Carter threw a 21-yard TD pass to Anthony Allen…Sat out the 2005 campaign after transferring from Georgia Tech…Seeing most of his time on special teams in 2004, he was the Yellow Jackets’ top punt returner and gained 218 yards on 26 returns…Recruited as a dual-threat QB to Georgia Tech, he also saw action under center in 1 game, relieving Reggie Ball in Tech’s season-opening win over Samford...In that contest, Carter registered 2 rushes for 22 yards, but his only pass attempt was incomplete...Redshirted as a true freshman in 2003…Majored in communication at Louisville…Carter was a standout QB at Lakewood (St. Petersburg, FL) HS, where he earned PrepStar All-Region and honorable mention All-State honors as a senior…A team captain, he threw for 2,304 yards and 21 TDs during his final prep campaign, adding 300 yards and 4 scores on the ground…Anchored his school’s 2003 state championship relay team in the 4x100 meters...Older brother, Tim Carter, plays WR for the Cleveland Browns.
Piotr Czech
No. 2
Punter
6-5, 210
College: Wagner
Born: 8/18/86 in Olesnica, Poland
Piotr Czech signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Saw action in 44 career games at Wagner, scoring 235 points (109 PATs and 42 FGs) and posting 252 punts for 9,517 yards with a long of 70...Czech’s 37.9 career punting average is a school record…Played in all 11 games, booting 64 punts for a career-high 2,573 yards, including a career-long 70-yarder, as a senior...Also connected on 16 of 19 FGAs (career-high 84.2%), including a school-record 56-yarder, while posting a career-high 75 points...Earned 1st-team All-NEC honors as a kicker and 2nd-team honors at punter…Received Don Hansen's Gazette All-American honors as a junior after punting 67 times for 2,565 yards and connecting on 9 of 15 FGs...Second-team All-NEC Punter as a junior in 2005...Punted the ball 54 times for 2,048 yards, while placing 19 inside the 20-yard line...Led NEC kickers with 5.9 points per game and 32 PATs...Tied for the league lead by connecting on 11 of 16 FGAs…Ran a 31-yard fake punt at Robert Morris…Won the NEC Track Outdoor Championships in the triple jump with a leap of 14.35 meters and also competed in the high jump…Played in all 11 games and was a perfect 31-of-31 on PATs and connected on 6 of 13 FGAs as a freshman...Majored in chemistry with a minor in biology…Prepped at Keyport (NJ) HS…Name is pronounced PEE-tur…Full name: Piotr Michal Czech.
Benjamin Dato
No. 6
Punter/Kicker
6-2, 205
College: Fordham
Born: 5/6/86 in Wyomissing, PA
Benjamin Dato signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08..Strong-legged athlete who excelled as a punter and kickoff specialist in college…Two-time All-America honoree (2006-07) who set Fordham’s career punting average record (44.6 ypp) as well as the single-season punting yards record (2,992) during his senior campaign…A 2-time 1st-team All-Patriot League selection, he led the conference and was 3rd in the NCAA Div. I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) in punting average in both 2006 and 2007…In his career, he punted 125 times for 5,579 yards for the 44.6-yard average…As a senior in 2007, he earned 1st-team FCS All-America honors by CollegeSportsReport.com and The Sports Network, in addition to 2nd-team All-America accolades by the Associated Press…A 1st-team All-Patriot League selection for the 2nd straight season, he led the league and ranked 3rd in the NCAA FCS (10th in all of the NCAA Division I), averaging 44.7 yards per punt…Punted 67 times for 2,992 yards, with 26 punts being downed inside the 20…Dato’s 2,992 punting yards set a Fordham single-season record…Was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week twice in 2007…He helped the Fordham PR squad record the highest net punting averaging in all of NCAA Division I football (40.5 ypp)…As a junior (2006), he was named 3rd-team All-America by the Associated Press…Also garnered honorable mention All-America by The Football Gazette…A 1st-team All-Patriot League selection, he played in all 11 games at punter and handled kickoff duties…Punted 58 times for 2,587 yards, an average of 44.6 yards, to lead the league…Did not have a punt blocked in 2006 while placing 4 inside the 20...Named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 9 after punting 8 times for 396 yards (49.5 avg.) against Colgate…Appeared in all 11 contests as a sophomore in 2005, handling KOs and long FGs…Converted his only FG attempt of the year, a 44-yarder against Lehigh, for his 1st collegiate points…Saw action in 11 games as a freshman as the team’s KO specialist…Majored in business administration with a concentration in communications at Fordham…A graduate of Wyomissing (PA) Area HS…Lettered in football, soccer and track and field…Was named to the 1st-team All-Pennsylvania Class AA football squad as a punter during his senior season…Also earned Intra-County 1st-team honors at kicker and punter that year…Set the school record with a 53-yard FG…Received the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence as a senior.
Sean Dumford
No. 68
Tackle
6-5, 293
Eastern Kentucky
Born: 11/11/84 in Findley, OH
Sean Dumford signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08...Started all 12 games as a senior in 2007, earning 1st-team All-Conference for the 4th straight year…Led an O-line that helped EKU average 212.6 rushing yards per game, most in the league…The line also held opponents without a sack in 5 of 12 games…Started all 11 games in 2006, making the transition from RT to LT…Earned 2nd-team All-Ohio Valley Conference accolades…Helped the Colonels pile up more than 340 yards of offense in the final 6 games…Started all 11 games at RT in 2005…He was the only sophomore offensive lineman named to the 1st-team All-OVC…Started all 11 contests at RT in 2004…Named 2nd-team All-OVC following an outstanding debut season…Was 2nd on the team with 89 knockdown blocks…Had a stretch in which he registered 12 or more knockdowns in 3 straight games…His season-high 20-knockdown performance came at Vanderbilt…Redshirted his 1st year in 2003…Was a 1st-team All-Conference and All-District as a senior at Washington Court House (OH) HS…He was also honorable mention All-Ohio…Helped the football and basketball teams to undefeated regular seasons in 2001…Also lettered in track…Full name: Sean Laurence Dumford.
Adam Kraus
No. 61
Guard
6-6, 295
Michigan
Born: 9/10/84 in New Orleans, LA
Adam Kraus was signed by the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…He played in 39 career games, making 35 starts along the O-line for Michigan...Started 26 straight games to finish career, 21 at LG and the final 5 contests at center...A 2-time All-Big Ten 1st-team selection (2006-07)...Switched from TE to O-line prior to the 2004 season…Started all 13 games, the 1st 8 at LG and the final 5 at center in 2007…Was an Academic All-Big Ten Conference selection and an All-Big Ten 1st-team pick as a senior...Was the 2007 Robert P. Ufer Bequest recipient as the senior football player that shows the most enthusiasm and love for the game...Was also the Paul Schmidt Award winner as the Michigan player that displays an unshakable courage and love for the game…In 2006, was an All-Big Ten 1st-team selection by the media and an All-Big Ten 2nd-team selection by the coaches...He started all 13 games at LG…Played in 3 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2004...Attended Brother Martin (New Orleans, LA) HS...Was a 3-year starter and 4-year letterman, finishing his career with 38 receptions for 492 yards and 2 TDs as a TE...Listed as an All-American, the No. 7 TE in the nation and the No. 10 player in Louisiana by SuperPrep...Rated as the No. 25 offensive lineman in the nation by TheInsiders.com...Named to PrepStar’s All-American list...Named to Louisiana Super All-State team by MaxEmfingerRecruiting.com...Selected team's top offensive lineman as a junior and senior...Earned Louisiana All-Catholic League honors as a senior...Was also a 2-year starter and 3-year letterman in basketball, averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds a game his senior year...All-District selection as a senior...Was a sports management and communications major…Full name: Adam Michael Kraus.
Scott Kuhn
No. 47
Tight End
6-6, 257
College: Louisville
Born: 4/16/86 in Burlington, KY
Scott Kuhn signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Saw action in 44 games, including 6 starts in his 4-year Louisville career...Used primarily as a blocking tight end, Kuhn still pulled in 24 receptions for 245 yards (10.2 avg.) and 4 TDs for the Cardinals…Saw action in 12 games, including a career-high 4 starts as a senior, producing career highs with 15 receptions for 171 yards and 2 TDs...Posted a career-long 27-yard reception against Pittsburgh...Appeared in all 13 games and recorded 2 starts as a junior...Recorded a career-high 3 receptions for 47 yards and a 1 TD against Middle Tennessee...Appeared in 12 games and had 2 receptions for 9 yards and 1 TD as a sophomore in 2005…Appeared in 7 games as a reserve TE, but did not record a catch…Graduated with a degree in communications...Was a 3-year letter-winner in football and basketball at Conner (Hebron, KY) HS...Earned 1st-team All-Region accolades after catching 20 passes for 200 yards and 3 TDs as a senior…Selected to the Kentucky Post 3A-4A All-Star team and was voted to the CPC Sports Northern Kentucky All-Star squad...Was also the leading rebounder on the basketball team...Earned Most Valuable Player honors at the Hacks Sports hoops Tournament…Full name: Scott Ryan Kuhn.
Jameel McClain
No. 48
Linebacker
6-1, 256
College: Syracuse
Born: 7/25/85 in Philadelphia, PA
Jameel McClain signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Totaled 170 tackles (82 solo), 21.5 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 3 FRs, 1 FF and 1 INT in his 4-year career at Syracuse…Was 1 of 9 players to start all 12 games as a senior and posted a career-high 77 tackles (39 solo), 1 sack, 1 FR and a blocked FGA…Recorded a career-high 9 tackles, including 2 TFL at Connecticut…Named to the All-Big East 2nd-team as a junior as he finished 2nd in the conference and 18th nationally with a career-high 9.5 sacks…Was a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s best defensive lineman…McClain started every game as a junior, posting 69 tackles, including 39 solo, 14.5 TFL, 1 FF and 1 FR…His 14.5 TFL are good for 6th on the SU single-season list…Saw action in 10 games, primarily on special teams as a sophomore, netting 20 tackles and a sack…Played in 11 games as a freshman and had 11 tackles and a FR…Was a dual major in communications and rhetorical studies and sociology…Totaled 230 tackles, 22 sacks, 8 FFs, and 13 FRs in his career at George Washington (Philadelphia, PA) HS…McClain posted 111 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 FFs, and had 5 FRs as a captain in his senior season…Earned All-Conference, All-Area, All-Northeast, All-State honors and was his team’s defensive MVP as a senior…Jameel was a grade school boxer, training in the city’s gyms and competing in Golden Gloves tournaments around the area…He compiled a 6-1 record of 6, which was by decision…Jameel’s 1st pair of boxing trunks were given to him by Smokin’ Joe Frazier…Full name: Jameel Leshawn McClain.
Joe Reitz
No. 46
Tight End
6-7, 256
College: Western Michigan
Born: 8/24/85 in Fishers, IN
Joe Reitz signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Reitz was offered college football scholarships by a number of MAC schools and Indiana University, but decided to play basketball at Western Michigan...Reitz played in 128 games at Western Michigan, including 126 starts, and ended his career 3rd on the Broncos all-time scoring (1,713 points) and rebounding (939) lists…Reitz finished his career making 576 of 820 free throws, both WMU records, and his 576 produced a new MAC conference record...Averaged 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a senior…Earned ESPN the Magazine 1st-team Academic All-America, ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV 1st-team, 2nd-team All-MAC, academic All-MAC honors as a junior, all while leading WMU in scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.6)...Set a new school record for free throws attempted in a season (219)…Named 2nd-team All-MAC and Academic All-MAC and MAC Player of the Year by MAC Report Online as a sophomore…Was 2nd in the MAC in rebounding (7.4) and 5th in scoring (15.5)…Named to MAC All-Freshman Team in 2004 when he ranked among the league leaders in rebounding (15th, 5.5 rpg.) and produced 4 double-doubles on the year...Started 32 of the team’s 33 games...Graduated with a degree in finance…Three-year letterwinner in football and basketball at Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, IN) HS...Was the 1st player in school history to be named an Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star (basketball)...Also earned Hamilton County Player of the Year and was an All-State selection by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (basketball) as a senior…Garnered All-Conference and All-County accolades during his career...Was also a 2-time member of the All-Metro North team...Finished 4th in the school’s record book in points (946) and rebounds (511)...Member of conference, county and sectional championship squads during his tenure...Averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a senior in 2003-04, while shooting 64.2 percent from the field…Member of National Honor Society and academic honor roll…Name is pronounced RIGHTS…Full name: Joseph David Reitz.
Brad Roach
No. 8
Quarterback
6-6, 245
College: Catawba
Born: 3/4/85 in Williamston, NC
Brad Roach signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08..Finished his collegiate career ranked No. 2 on Catawba’s all-time passing list in yards (7,874) TDs (62) and completion percentage (608 of 1,099 for 55.3%)...In 37 games, he compiled a 212.8 passing yards-per-game average, the best career mark in school history…As a senior in 2007, he was named the South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in leading Catawba to an 11-2 record, a league title and a berth in the NCAA Div. II Playoffs...Earned AFCA All-American team honors after setting season passing records for yards (3,322), TDs (32) and efficiency rating (153.4)…Top highlight came when he sparked Catawba to a 55-49 win at Carson-Newman after trailing 35-13 late in 2nd quarter…Threw for a career-high 486 yards in that win, completing 37 of 64 passes with 4 TDs and 0 INTs…Tossed for 340 yards and a school-record 5 TD passes in the opening round playoff win over Albany State...During his junior season (2006), he totaled 2,250 passing yards and 14 TDs on 178-of-339 passing…His 335-yard, 3-TD performance against Carson-Newman earned him SAC Player of the Week honors...Ranked 3rd in SAC and 26th in NCAA Div. II in total offense...He also reached 200 yards passing and threw for a TD in 8 of 10 games started…In 2005, he threw for 2,302 yards, the 4th-best passing season in school history, and 16 TDs while completing 206 of 384 passes…His 384 attempts set a school record...Played in 3 games in 2004, but did not attempt a pass or rush...Redshirted as a freshman in 2003…A sport management major at Catawba, he was a member of the 2003 SAC Honor Roll...A 2-year starter at Williamston (NC) HS, he was a 2-time All-Area and All-Conference performer...Also garnered All-State honors as a senior, finishing his career with 5,401 passing yards and 49 TDs...Additionally, Roach helped guide Williamston to 2 conference titles and 2 state runnerup finishes...His brother, Kevin, plays WR at East Carolina.
Ernie Wheelwright
No. 12
Wide Receiver
6-5, 215
College: Minnesota
Born: 7/10/84 in Columbus, OH
Ernie Wheelwright signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08..Finished his collegiate career as one of the most decorated WRs in Minnesota history...Playing in 49 games (44 starts), he completed his Gophers career ranked No. 3 in school history in all-time receptions (159) and receiving yards (2,434)…Wheelwright also finished No. 2 on Minnesota’s career receiving TDs list (26) and tied for 3rd with 6 100-yard receiving games…He tied the school record for consecutive games with a TD catch, snagging scores in 7 straight contests (between 11/4/06 – 9/15/07)…As a senior in 2007, he registered the 2nd-most catches in Minnesota history, reeling in 66 grabs – 1 short of Eric Decker’s 2007 total of 67…With his 66 catches, Wheelwright earned 775 yards and 9 TDs through the air, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in 3 games…In one of his best outings on the season, he posted 7 receptions for 116 yards and 3 TDs at Northwestern...Also hauled in 9 passes for a career-high 123 yards and 1 TD vs. Illinois…As a junior, he caught 26 balls for 437 yards and 5 TDs…Came on late in the season, snagging a TD pass in each of the last 4 games…Finished the Indiana tilt with 3 catches for 116 yards (38.7 ypc), including scoring strikes of 64 and 37 yards...During his sophomore campaign in 2005, he finished as the team’s leading receiver in yards (568) and tied for the team lead with 37 receptions and 5 TD catches…Closed out the year by posting 7 receptions for 120 yards against Virginia in the Music City Bowl…In 2004, he garnered The Sporting News Freshman All-American honorable mention honors and was an All-Big Ten honoree as the conference’s most productive wideout…Led the Gophers in receiving TDs (7), as his 1st 3 career receptions all produced scores…He shattered the school’s freshman receiving records for yards (654) and TDs (7) while posting 30 catches on the season…Top game came when he had 3 passes for 104 yards and 2 TDs at Michigan State, scoring from 58 yards and 35 yards out…Also posted 6 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD at Wisconsin...Redshirted his freshman season in 2003…Was an inter-college program major at Minnesota…Prepped at Walnut Ridge (Columbus, OH) HS where he earned All-City, All-Conference, All-Area and All-State accolades in both his junior and senior seasons…Tallied 24 receptions for 875 yards and 13 TDs as a senior…On defense, he racked up 5 INTs and 15 PD at DB that season…Also played baseball and basketball…Full name: Ernest Lamour Wheelwright.
Isaiah Wiggins
No. 79
Guard
6-4, 290
Illinois State
Born: 12/15/84 in Chicago, IL
Isaiah Wiggins signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Started 10 games as a senior in 2007…Was an All-Gateway Football Conference 1st-team selection and earned the Gateway Offensive Lineman of the Week (10/15/07)…Contributed to an O-line that paved the way for 2,194 rushing yards, marking the 3rd-straight season the Redbirds rushed for more than 2,000 yards...The line also only allowed 20 sacks, good for 3rd in the conference…Played in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Classic as a senior…Named to the All-Gateway Football Conference 1st-team in 2006...Started all 13 games at LT...Blocked for a rushing offense that averaged 170 rushing yards per game...Helped RB Pierre Rembert rush for over 100 yards in 12 games and over 1,700 yards...Protected for the No. 1 passing offense in the GFC (228 yds/gm)...The Redbirds' offense finished ranked No. 8 in the country with 397.5 yards per game...Earned the league's offensive lineman of the week for his effort on 9/24/06 in victory over Murray State (35-14)…Started all 11 games at LT in 2005...Blocked for the No. 1-ranked passing offense and No. 2 rushing offense in the GFC…Played in all 11 games and started the last 4 at center as a red-shirt freshman in 2004...Played 374 snaps on the season...Helped the Redbirds’ passing offense rank No. 1 in the league and No. 37 nationally…Redshirted as a true freshman in 2003…Was a 2-time All-Conference selection at Prosser (Chicago, IL) HS...Was the team captain his junior and senior seasons…Was an information systems major at Illinois State…Full name: Isaiah Ben’L Wiggins.
Lorenzo Williams
No. 72
Defensive Lineman
6-0, 304
College: Missouri
Born: 10/23/84 in Midwest City, OK
Lorenzo Williams signed with the Ravens as a rookie free agent on 5/9/08…Saw action in 50 career games, including 39 starts at Missouri…Posted 139 tackles (79 solo), 19 sacks, 8 FRs and blocked 4 kicks in his 4-year stint with the Tigers…Williams’ 19 QB takedowns put him 3rd on the school’s all-time sacks list…Recorded 33 tackles, including 20 solo, and led the team with a career-high 6.5 sacks, 10 TFL and 3 FRs as a senior…Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 by both league coaches and media voting as a junior in 2006...Recorded 53 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 6 sacks at nose tackle that season...He also recovered 3 fumbles, forced 2 more and ranked 3rd on the team with 7 QB pressures...He added 2 PD and led the team with 2 blocked kicks, blocking FGAs in consecutive games...Moved to DT as a redshirt sophomore in 2005 after playing at DE in 2004, and coming to MU originally as a LB...Started all 12 games at DT and netted 35 tackles, including 9.5 TFL (-53 yards), 5.5 sacks (-33 yards) and ranked 2nd on the team with 3 FFs, 2 FRs and 6 QB hurries as a sophomore...Also was a special teams standout, leading the team with 2 blocked kicks...Named 1st-team Freshman All-Big 12 by The Sporting News, playing in all 11 games and registering 21 tackles, including 3 TFL and 1 sack...Was also credited with 2 QB hurries on the season...Redshirted in 2003...An outstanding multi-sport athlete who lettered in football, track, basketball, wrestling and baseball at Midwest City (OK) HS...Had 127 tackles, including 42 TFL and recorded 6 sacks as a senior in 2002…Also added 12 FFs, 8 PD, 6 FRs and 2 INTs...Named to the Oklahoma Blue Chip team and All-State team as a senior...Was an honorable mention All-State pick as a junior, after amassing 137 tackles, including 51 TFL...A standout discus thrower who placed 3rd in the Junior Olympics and 2nd at the USATF Nationals...A member of the National Honor Society who was pursued by several Ivy League schools for his academic abilities.
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