Former YSU DB survives final cut

Staff report

A year after beating the odds to make the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad, former Youngstown State cornerback Brandian Ross did it again on Friday, making the Packers’ 53-man roster on NFL cutdown day.

“If God’s not IN IT!!! It won’t Last!” Ross wrote on his Twitter account.

Ross signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent last July and had just a few weeks to make an impression due to the NFL lockout.

After spending all of last season on the practice squad, he became one of two former Penguins in the NFL, joining wide receiver Donald Jones.

Warren Harding High graduate Dan Herron was waived by the Bengals after getting drafted by Cincinnati in the sixth round of April’s draft.

The sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State averaged only 1.7 yards per carry in the preseason. He ran 15 times for 29 yards during the final preseason game at Indianapolis on Thursday night.

Canfield High graduate Sean Baker (Ball State) was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cardinal Mooney High graduate Ishmaa’ily Kitchen (Kent State) was cut by the Baltimore Ravens, although both could end up on the teams’ practice squads if no other team claims them. Both players signed as undrafted free agents in April.

NFL teams are allowed up to eight players on the practice squad. Players can only be signed to the practice squad after clearing waivers.

Fitch High graduate Dan Gerberry, who spent the last two seasons on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, was among the Lions’ final cuts.

Boardman High graduate Steve Vallos, who began his career with the Seahawks and played the last two seasons with the Browns, was cut by the Eagles on Friday.

Six other Mahoning Valley natives remain in the NFL: Bills WR Brad Smith (Chaney), Browns OL John Greco (Boardman), Broncos DL Derek Wolfe (Beaver Local), Colts OL Mike McGlynn (Fitch), 49ers WR Mario Manningham (Warren Harding) and Rams DB Bradley Fletcher (Liberty).

There are also two Mount Union players in the NFL: WR Pierre Garcon (Redskins) and Cecil Shorts (Jaguars).