The toughest break by a MWC potential draftee was Wyoming cornerback Julius Stinson, a first-team, all-conference performer. Two days before the draft last week, he was working out when he went up for a pass and ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Here's a list of initial free agents signed from the MWC: DB Brian Bonner (TCU), San Diego; LB David Hawthorne (TCU), Seattle; OL Chase Ortiz (TCU), Cleveland; DB David Roach (TCU), New Orleans; QB Caleb Hanie (CSU), Chicago; DE Jesse Nading (CSU), Houston; P Jimmie Kaylor (CSU), Atlanta; WR Damon Morton (CSU), Carolina; LB Kelly Poppinga (BYU), Miami; DE Jeremy Geathers (UNLV), New Orleans; WR Travis Brown (UNM), Seattle; T Devin Clark (UNM), Seattle; T Devin Clark (UNM), Washington; DB Steve Tate (Utah), Tampa Bay; WR Derrek Richards (Utah), Tampa Bay; OL Jason Boone (Utah), New Orleans; Martail Burnett (Utah), Minnesota; OT Gabe Long (Utah), Houston; TE Wade Betschart (Wyoming), San Diego; and P/K Billy Vinnedge (Wyoming), San Diego.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com