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BUFFALO, NY - A pair of University at Buffalo defensive linemen who were the cornerstones of the Bulls' defensive turnaround in 2001 hope to now find a niche in the National Football League. Defensive tackles Bob Dzvonick (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) and Omari Jordan (Cleveland, OH/Collingwood) signed free agent contracts with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens, respectively, this week.

Bob Dzvonick

Dzvonick and Jordan were part of a defense that finished fourth in the Mid-American Conference in total defense last season and helped the Bulls cut their points allowed from 452 in 2000 to 286 last season (an average of 41.1 points per game to 26.0). That allowed the duo to follow the footsteps of several former teammates, as Buffalo has now seen two players drafted (Ed Ellis and Drew Haddad) and eight others signed to free agent NFL contracts since the 1996 season.

Dzvonick was a four-year letterwinner who started 35 of 39 games during his Buffalo career. He was named a captain prior to the 2001 season but saw his senior season cut short when he suffered a broken bone in his leg at Eastern Michigan in week eight. Despite the injury, the Pittsburgh native trained hard and impressed NFL scouts with his strength and productivity.

One of the strongest UB players from his arrival on campus, Dzvonick, 6-1, 285, started in his very first game as a true freshman and made an immediate impact on the UB defense. For his career, he made 126 tackles, 16 for losses for 64 yards, and had four quarterback sacks. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery - versus Central Michigan this past year - in his career.

Omari Jordan

Jordan, meanwhile, appears to have his best football ahead of him, something that made him attractive to the Ravens. He came to Buffalo in 1999 with little weight training and finished his career at 6-6, 305 pounds and is still getting stronger. In a league where big, strong run stuffers have come in vogue in recent years, Jordan filled just that role for the Bulls last season. The Cleveland native recorded 24 total tackles - four of them for losses - and tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles while starting all 11 games.

Dzvonick and Jordan join 2001 graduate Noah Burroughs as free agent signings this spring. Burroughs recently signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a safety after spending time in the New York Jets training camp last summer after signing a free agent contract. They join former UB draft choices Ed Ellis (fourth round, 1997), entering his second season at offensive tackle with the San Diego Chargers and his sixth in the NFL, and Drew Haddad (seventh round, 2000), who is entering his second year with the Indianapolis Colts as a wide receiver/punt returner after originally being drafted by the Buffalo Bills.

"We're thrilled that Bobby and Omari are getting what every player hopes for when they start playing football, and that is an opportunity to play in the NFL," said UB head coach Jim Hofher. "It's a goal that not many achieve, and it is a tribute to the work that they have put in to this point that they have this chance. Our staff wishes them all the best as they continue to pursue their dreams."