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Lynch, Lehnortt will get shot at pros
By CRAIG PHILLIPS
Derrick writer

Oil City High School graduates Ben Lynch and Adam Lehnortt will get their first taste of the NFL when mini-camps open over the next few days.

Both West Virginia University products were undrafted and will enter the NFL as free agents.

Lynch, who signed with the Washington Redskins, will travel to Ashburn, Va., April 28 for the team's mini-camp that runs April 29-May 1.

Lehnortt, who struck a deal with the San Diego Chargers, will fly to the West Coast on May 5 to participate in the team's mini-camp on May 6-8.

SI.com rated Lynch, a nose tackle in college and first-team All-Big East selection, as the 39th-best prospect at defensive tackle in the draft. He had 42 tackles as a senior with eight tackles for losses and one sack.

Lynch was contacted Monday by the Redskins and will make the three-hour drive from Morgantown, W.Va., to their training facility on Thursday for a physical. The team's rookies will practice twice a day on Friday and Saturday before holding a final session on Sunday.

“(Washington) hasn't drafted any defensive linemen the past two years, so I'm glad I'm getting a shot,” Lynch said. “I'm excited and it will definitely be an experience.

“Very few people get this chance of a lifetime,” he continued. “Their coaching staff likes hard-working people so I should fit in there.”
Washington is one of 26 of the 32 NFL teams to hold their initial mini-camp this weekend.
Lehnortt, who played middle linebacker for the Mountaineers, followed up a 135-tackle effort as a junior with 66 tackles this past season.

He had 12 tackles for losses and two sacks. SI.com rated him the 23rd-best prospect at inside linebacker.

Lehnortt received a call from Chargers linebackers coach Greg Manusky at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Manusky, who recently bought a house in Titusville, was in contact with Lehnortt throughout the draft process and free-agent signing period.

“I've had conversations with (Manusky) the past week,” Lehnortt said. “I'm excited.”
It may work as an advantage for Lehnortt that San Diego is one of the last teams to hold their initial mini-camp.

Asked about the hamstring injury that limited his ability to work out at West Virginia's “Pro Day,” Lehnortt said he is 85- to 90-percent and should be at full strength before leaving for San Diego.

He added he was ready to take on the challenge and prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.

“It's a long way from home … a long way from Oil City,” he said.

And, it's a journey he will be happy to make.

Posted 4.27.05