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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 28 • 15 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com R yan Russell extended Purdue's streak to 18 years. The former Boilermaker defensive end was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft May 2 — No. 163 overall by Dallas — pushing Purdue's streak to a dozen-and-a-half years with at least one draftee. But he wasn't the only Boilermaker to find a professional home, as six others received rookie free agent contracts after not being selected. Those include Brandon Cottom (Seattle), Landon Feichter (Cleveland), Gabe Holmes (Raiders), Akeem Hunt (Giants), Raheem Mostert (Eagles) and Justin Sinz (Colts). Two others — Jesse Schmitt (Minnesota) and Antoine Lewis (Baltimore) — had tryouts but were not immediately offered contracts. For Russell, it was a welcome home. The 6-foot-4, 267-pounder is a native of Carrollton, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and says he grew up watching the Cowboys. The first game he attended was in Dallas. "They were an instrumental part in my love for football," he said. "… If I had a choice to pick, like if I was a free agent, I most likely would have picked the Cowboys. The fact that they reciprocate those feelings and had that same belief in me, it's just awesome." Others did have a choice. Although he had other offers after not being drafted, Sinz thought Indianapolis provided him the best opportunity to continue his playing career. Indy has six tight ends on its 90-man roster, including mainstays Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, but the No. 3 spot might be up for grabs. "It sounded like it was a good opportunity," Sinz said following the Colts' first week of offseason workouts. "They have some really good tight ends and they're obviously great to learn from and we have a good tight end room, but it's been a lot of fun. Getting to know the older guys a little bit has been really cool. Obviously I'm just excited to keep learning and trying to get better every day." Sinz came to Indianapolis with at least a minimal guarantee after he had signed a contract hours after the end of the draft. Feichter had no such offers and took a tryout in Cleveland. But that might have worked out, as the safety earned a deal with the Browns following the camp. It'll still be an uphill climb for him, going from the summer's 90-man roster to the fall's 53, but he's happy for the opportunity. "When I was told I was given a tryout opportunity, it's kind of nerve-wracking just because you don't know what will happen," the former Purdue walk-on said. "But then again, I haven't known what's going to happen with my football career ever from the start, with Purdue. But it was good. I'm glad it worked out the way that it did. Trying out allowed me to work harder during that rookie camp and fortunately I was able to make a name (for myself)." NEWS AND NOTES R On April 27, the Evansville City Council voted to honor former Purdue and Collegiate Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese with a street naming. R Tampa Bay will honor former Purdue running back Mike Alstott by putting him in the Bucs' Ring of Honor. The induction ceremony is during the TWIN CITY DODGE P R E S E N TS : B O I L E R M A K E R S I N T H E N F L NFL Streak Hits 18 Tom Campbell Ryan Russell was the ninth Purdue defensive end drafted in the last 18 years, the first since Ryan Kerrigan in 2011.