Cru Alums To Open NFL Season This Weekend

Two University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football alums will open the National Football League Preseason with their preseason openers this weekend. Nate Menkin and Jerrell Freeman are both bidding to become the first UMHB football alum to open a regular season on an NFL team roster.

Offensive tackle Menkin will make his NFL debut for the Houston Texans when the Texans open the preseason against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday evening. Menkin signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent this spring after playing for the Cru from 2008-11. Menkin capped his UMHB career by taking American Football Coaches Association All-American honors and being voted American Southwest Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. He enters Saturday night's game listed as the #3 left tackle on the Texans' offensive depth chart.

Linebacker Freeman will debut for the Indianapolis Colts when that team faces St. Louis on Sunday afternoon in its preseason opener. Freeman signed a free agent deal with Indianapolis this spring following a standout three-year stint with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Freeman is getting his second shot with the MFL after going through the 2008 preseason with the Tennessee Titans before being released in the final roster move of training camp. He then went on to star in the CFL. Freeman played for UMHB from 2004-07 and closed out his career by taking Al-American honors and being voted D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year following his senior campaign. He enters Sunday's game listed as the #2 left inside linebacker behind current starter Pat Angerer and has also seen extensive action on special teams during the Colts' camp.