SMU’s defensive standouts enter NFL free agency (Photo By John Schreiber, The Daily Campus)

Two days, seven rounds and 255 names later, the NFL draft ended with not a single Mustang selected by any team. The weekend wasn’t a total loss, however, as several players were invited to minicamps with the opportunity to try out as free agents.

Defensive back Alvin Nnabuife, who led SMU with four interceptions in 2005, is attending camp with the Oakland Raiders this weekend. He is the only Mustang to have signed an actual free agent contract with a team thus far.

Nnabuife spoke with the Green Bay Packers and Cowboys before the draft and said those teams had considered using a late round pick on him. When they didn’t act, Oakland moved in and signed him as a free agent.

Kicker Chris McMurtray spoke to the Cowboys during the draft and afterward was invited to this weekend’s minicamp at the Cowboys headquarters at Valley Ranch.

“They said if I didn’t get drafted they wanted to talk to me, and then they called me immediately after,” said McMurtray, who will specialize in kickoffs. “I’m gonna go out there and do whatever they tell me to do.”

McMurtray will not be alone at Valley Ranch. SMU’s second leading tackler last season, linebacker D.D. Lee, was also invited to the camp.

Lee’s agent, Jeff Jankovich, said Lee received calls from the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts on the second day of the draft but was most seriously pursued by the Cowboys.

Heading to the Cowboys NFC East rival, the Washington Redskins, will be cornerback Rolando Hunphrey. He will join some 70 other prospective Redskins at their try-out camp in Virginia this weekend. The Redskins struggled with injuries at corner last season and have signed two undrafted free agent corners with whom Humphrey, who had three interceptions and 65 tackles in 2005, will have to compete to earn a roster spot.

For senior players trying to reach the next level who have not yet been invited to camps, there is still hope. Most NFL teams contact a second round of free agents after the first minicamps are completed.

Punter Ryan Mentzel, also represented by Jankovich, has not yet been invited to any camps but is still speaking with the Colts and the Seattle Seahawks about a possible try out.