The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed defensive end Rob Meier and running back Shyrone Stith to contracts. Length and terms of the contracts are not disclosed. They become the fourth and fifth of 11 draft choices to sign.
Meier, 22, who was born in Vancouver, British, Columbia, was selected in the seventh-round (241st overall) out of Washington State. The 6-5, 282-pound Meier played in all 46 games in four years for the Cougars, making 25 starts. He registered 133 tackles and 4.0 sacks during his career.
Stith, 22, who was taken two picks later with the 243rd selection overall, played in 33 games with 16 starts during his four seasons at Virginia Tech. He ranks ninth on the school's career list with 2,292 yards rushing (5.1 avg.) on 448 carries. The 5-7, 203-pound Stith scored 21 rushing touchdowns and also caught 13 passes for 116 yards (8.9 avg) and returned 29 kickoffs for 669 yards (23.1 avg.). In 1999, he was a consensus All-Big East first-team selection and became the first Virginia Tech player since Dwayne Thomas in 1993 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
With the signing of Meier and Stith, the Jaguars now have 74 players under contract. Still to be signed are six draft choices and defensive end Tony Brackens, who was designated as a franchise player.
