May 1, 2006

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State cornerback Jarrett Bush, defensive end John Chick and offensive lineman Donald Penn have all signed NFL free agent contracts it was announced on Monday.

Bush, a first-team all-WAC selection this past fall, will be a member of the Carolina Panthers, while Chick, another first-team all-WAC pick a year ago heads to the Houston Texas and Penn, a four-year starter and second-team all-WAC selection in 2005, will be a part of the Minnesota Vikings.

Bush had an outstanding senior season, recording 50 tackles while breaking up 13 passes and recording two interceptions. The 6-1, 192-pounder from Vacaville, Calif. ranked sixth in the NCAA in passes defended last season.

His interceptions came against UNLV and Fresno State, while he had a season-high three passes broken up against Louisiana Tech.. Bush had a season-high seven tackles against San Jose State and recorded at least five tackles in six of USU's 11 games last year.

Chick, who was a first-team all-Western Athletic Conference defensive end in 2005, was a four-year starter on the Aggie defense. The 6-4, 248-pounder spent three years at defensive end after playing at linebacker as a junior.

Last year Chick, a Gillette, Wyo. product, ranked fifth in the NCAA with 12.5 sacks. He finished the year with 48 tackles, including 19 for loss. His tackles for loss numbers ranked 10th in the country as well.

Chick was a four-year starter and in 2002 became the first USU freshman to start a season opener in nine years. Chick finished his Aggie career with 163 tackles, with 39 for loss, including 23.5 sacks.

Penn, a 6-5, 315-pound offensive tackle, capped his Aggie career by playing in the Hula Bowl after earning second-team all-WAC honors. Penn, who is from Playa Del Rey, Calif., started 41 consecutive games and 42 in his collegiate career.

Penn began his starting streak in the third game of his freshman year before having it end in the 10th game of last year.