Toledo, Ohio – Four former University of Toledo players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams tonight following the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft.
 
Cody Thompson (Huron, Ohio) signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jon'Vea Johnson (Gary, Ind.) inked a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, Reggie Howard signed with the LA Chargers and Brock Ruble signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The four join former teammates Diontae Johnson (Pittsburgh – third round) and Ka'dar Hollman (Green Bay - sixth round) who were earlier selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. They were the fifth and sixth Rockets to be drafted in the past three years, joining Kareem Hunt (third round), Michael Roberts (fourth) and Treyvon Hester (seventh) from the 2017 draft, and Logan Woodside, who was chosen in the seventh round of last year's draft.

 Thompson was a two-time, first-team All-MAC wide receiver for the Rockets during his career. He caught 181 passes for 3,312 yards (second all-time at UT) and a school-record 30 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2016, catching 64 passes for a then school-record 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2017, Thompson suffered a season-ending leg injury in what would have been his final campaign with the Rockets. However, because of his injury he was eligible to play an additional season of college football in 2018. He came back to catch 48 passes for 647 yards and 10 TDs, earning first-team All-MAC honors. Thompson also was named second-team Academic All-America in his final season as a Rocket.

Jon'Vea Johnson, also a wide receiver, was a two-time All-MAC pick, earning second-team honors in 2016 and third-team honors in 2018. For his four-year career, he caught 123 passes for 2,224 yards and 24 TDs. This past season, Johnson had 32 receptions for 660 yards and nine scores.

 Ruble played one season for the Rockets after transferring from Florida State. He was the starting right tackle for an offense that led the MAC in scoring (40.4), and second in total offense (444) in rushing (215.9).
 
Howard was a junior college transfer who played two seasons for the Rockets at defensive tackle. As a senior he had 50 tackles and led the Rockets with 15.0 tackles for loss, which tied for fourth in the Mid-American Conference.