MINNEAPOLIS — Two former Golden Gophers football players signed with the Green Bay Packers as undrafted free agents.
Running back Duane Bennett and tight end Eric Lair, who both played their senior seasons in 2011 with Minnesota, will cross the border with the hopes of making Green Bay's roster for the 2012 season.
Tweeted Lair: "IM A CHEESEHEAD BABYYYYY! #GoPackers!
The Gophers will have another Cheesehead as Bennett will head to Green Bay along with Lair. Bennett tweeted: "Long time rivals, now they become my new home... Green Bay I'm on my way... Go Pack Go #Blessed."
Lair, a Houston native, caught 11 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown during his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Lair played in all 12 games and made three starts at tight end.
Bennett, who came to Minnesota from St. Louis, was the Gophers' starting running back for all 12 games last season. He finished the year with 659 rushing yards on 166 carries. He scored three rushing touchdowns and also scored a touchdown on special teams when he blocked a punt and ran it into the end zone.
No Gophers were selected in this year's NFL draft. Indiana was the only other Big Ten school without a player drafted this year.
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