The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Pair of Former Blazers Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts
4/28/2003 12:00:00β―AM | Football
April 28, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- Former UAB football players Chris Brown and Willie Quinnie have signed free agent contracts with National Football League clubs.
Brown, a defensive back from Atlanta, was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars while Quinnie, a wide receiver from Theodore, Ala., signed on with the Oakland Raiders.
The 6-1, 190-pound Brown made 43 career starts in the secondary at UAB, earning second-team All-Conference USA honors as a senior in 2002. Brown made a career-best 87 tackles last season and finished his career with 246 stops. He also had nine career interceptions, including four this past season. Brown was invited to both the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl following his senior season at UAB.
Quinnie, a 6-2, 180-pound two-year starter at UAB, had 36 receptions in 2002, his second consecutive season with that number of catches. He scored a team-best six touchdowns last season, including three in the Blazers' victory at Army when he set a UAB record with 12 receptions (159 yards). Quinnie had 90 receptions in his career with 10 touchdowns.
Quinnie was also an outstanding punt returner for the Blazers, finishing his career with an average return of 11.0 yards. Quinnie participated in the 2003 Hula Bowl.
