ASHBURN, VA -- Former University of Delaware standout Rich Beverley, who anchored the Blue Hen offensive line as a three-year starter, has signed a free agent contract with the National Football League’s Washington Redskins.

Beverley (at right) is the fourth member of the 2007 University of Delaware squad who will get a chance a pro football career this coming fall. Quarterback Joe Flacco was the first round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL draft last week while running back Omar Cuff and offensive lineman Mike Byrne signed free agent contracts with the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins respectively.

A 6-6, 305 lb. guard from Cedar Grove, NJ (Southern Regional High School), Beverley earned third team All-Colonial Athletic Association this past fall as he led the Blue Hens to a record of 11-4 and a spot in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game. Delaware also captured the Lambert Cup Trophy and was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference Team of the Year Award.

Beverley, who earned four letters for the Blue Hens and was a biology major with a minor in history, was a four-year starter at Delaware and ended his career having played in 50 games with 40 starts. He started each of the final 37 games of his career.

During the 2007 season, Beverley helped lead an offensive line unit that paved the way for All-Americans Cuff and Flacco. Delaware was among the national leaders and led the CAA in scoring offense (36.2, 11th in NCAA), passing offense (289.5), and total offense (460.6) this past season. In addition, he was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week for his play in Delaware’s 27-7 win over Towson on Sept. 22.

In 2006, Beverley helped Delaware rank No. 2 in the Atlantic 10 Conference in passing (253.0, 9th in the NCAA), No. 4 in scoring (26.3), and No. 5 in total offense (356.5). He sat out as a redshirt during the 2003 season when Delaware captured the NCAA I-AA national title with a record of 15-1.

Washington posted a record of 9-7 during the 2007 season and will be led this season by first-year head coach Jim Zorn. The Redskins selected just one offensive lineman in the recent draft, picking Northern Iowa’s Chad Rinehart in the third round.