May 6, 2006

DAVIS, Calif. - Tight end Daniel Fells, a preseason All-America selection for the UC Davis football team last season, was one of 12 rookie free agents who signed contracts with the Atlantic Falcons earlier this week, the National Football League team has announced.

Additionally, Nolan de Graaff, who switched from tight end to linebacker for his senior season last year, has been invited to the San Diego Chargers mini-camp in June.

Fells, preseason first-team All-American by The Sports Network, was named to the All-Great West Football Conference second team after catching 10 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. He enjoyed his best game against No. 7 New Hampshire in the season-opener, grabbing three passes for 67 yards. Injuries sidelined him for five games before he returned late in the season, scoring his only touchdown on a 19-yarder against Northern Colorado in the final game.

Fell was a first-team all-league selection as a junior, finishing fourth on the team with 35 receptions for 520 yards and a score. He had five catches in each of the last five games, totalling 334 yards. Fells caught 14 passes for 279 yards and a pair of scores as a sophomore in 2003.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound de Graaff is from nearby Granite Bay High School, playing his first three seasons as a tight end on the offensive side of the ball before switching to linebacker his final year. As a tight end, he had 16 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns in 2003 and five catches for 85 yards as a junior.

Last season, de Graaff finished with 38 total tackles, including 17 solo, collecting 3.5 sacks for 24 yards in losses. He highlighted his year by intercepting a pass during the Aggies' 24-7 loss to Eastern Washington and returning it 50 yards for a touchdown. He was named to the All-GWFC second team.