Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign Chaz Sutton as UDFA; Legree to Seahawks

Former South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Chaz Sutton has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Former South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Chaz Sutton is headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, it was reported Saturday night a couple of hours after the NFL Draft ended.

Sutton, who graduated in December and was projected as a very late pick to a non-draftee, played DE in the shadow of the much more touted Jadeveon Clowney. But he more than held his own among the other players on the defensive unit, recording 8.5 tackles for a loss (second on the team) as well as 3.0 sacks (third on the squad). He also added two forced fumbles, recovering one, as he started every game at end. He recorded a career-best five sacks as a junior in 2012 but elected to return for his redshirt senior season.

The Bucs didn’t select a defensive end during the draft, but enter 2014 with Da’quan Bowers, Adrian Clayborn, William Gholston, Michael Johnson, Steven Means and Scott Solomon. Clayborn was fifth on the team with 64 tackles and third with 5.5 sacks behind Lavonte David‘s 7.0.

Also, Jimmy Legree signed as an UDFA with the Seattle Seahawks. Legree, a cornerback who graduated last May, was second on the team with 55 tackles (including 5.5 for a loss) and tied for second with Victor Hampton with three interceptions, while forcing a fumble.