After the NFL Lockout ended, former SMU student athletes Sterling Moore, Youri Yenga and Pete Fleps signed as free agents to NFL teams.

Cornerback Sterling Moore signed with the Oakland Raiders. During the Raiders pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, Moore stood out by breaking up a pass and had a sack on back-to-back plays.

In Moore’s SMU career, he played in 19 games during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, making 18 starts at cornerback. He totaled 59 tackles and three interceptions and broke up 19 passes, with a career-high of 11 coming in 2009.

Linebacker Youri Yenga signed with the Atlanta Falcons. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, during training camp, Yenga made thunderous hits and appears to have picked up the base defense.

Yenga started every game for SMU during his final three seasons, completing a total of 234 tackles, 25.5 for a loss of 129 yards, and 13 sacks.

Pete Fleps, a three-year starter at linebacker and captain for the Mustangs in 2010, signed with the St. Louis Rams. Fleps finished second on the team in stops last year with 123, giving him 322 for his career, 20.5 which totaled a loss of 69 yards. Off the field, he was one of 11 Conference USA players selected to the Football All-Academic Team and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2010.

Other former Mustangs to look out for are Aldrick Robinson with the Washington Redskins, Emmanuel Sanders with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bryan McCann, a Dallas Cowboy, and Shawnbrey McNeal with the San Diego Chargers.