Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com Three former Ragin’ Cajuns will extend their careers to the NFL, as wide receiver Jason Chery signed with Carolina, quarterback Michael Desormeaux signed with Jacksonville (as a safety) and running back Tyrell Fenroy inked with Chicago

Originally an undrafted free agent, Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme recently signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $42.5 million with $20 million guaranteed.
Now, three more former Ragin’ Cajuns – all with links to Delhomme – hope to find the same level of success as undrafted free agents.
Quarterback Michael Desormeaux, who last season broke Delhomme’s single-season school record for passing efficiency, was the first to sign a contract when he officially agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday morning.  Desormeaux will transition from quarterback to strong safety with the Jaguars, although the team expects him to contribute immediately on special teams.
The 2008 Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year played quarterback in his final two college seasons, but has experience at wide receiver, defensive back and on special teams as a redshirt freshman and sophomore.  Last season, Desormeaux topped 1,000 yards rushing to become just the eighth quarterback in NCAA history with back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.
Under his guidance, the Cajuns offense led the conference in total yards, rushing yards, yards per game, rushing yards per game, yards per play, third down conversion percentage and touchdowns.  The Cajuns ranked 13^th in the nation in total offense and 24^th in scoring. 
He led all Sun Belt players in total offense and yards per play and was second in the conference in passing yards per attempt, completion percentage and rushing.
The good news for Desormeaux is that Jacksonville had just four safeties on their roster and drafted only one defensive back, a corner.
Highly decorated running back Tyrell Fenroy was the next former Cajuns standout to officially sign a professional contract, agreeing to terms with the Chicago Bears.
Both Delhomme and Fenroy ended their college careers as the greatest in the State of Louisiana at their respective position. 
Last season, Fenroy ended his career as the all-time Louisiana college rushing leader with 4,646 yards after completing his senior season with school records in rushing yards (1,375) and rushing touchdowns (19).
In 1996, Delhomme was the all-time Louisiana college passing leader with 9,216 yards after completing his senior season with school records in passing yards (2,901) and passing touchdowns (20).
The undrafted free agent has racked up 17,877 passing yards with 115 touchdowns and 76 interceptions over 86 NFL games with the Saints (1999, 2002) and Panthers (2003-present).  Delhomme is the Panther’s all-time leader in pass attempts (2,348), completions (1,402), touchdown passes (112) and most 300-yard passing games (nine).
Fenroy hopes to find the success Delhomme has enjoyed, but will join a Bears’ backfield loaded with NFL stars in Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe.
Fenroy became only the seventh player in NCAA history with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons and shattered the UL and Sun Belt records for career rushing yards and career rushing touchdowns.  Fenroy was one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award and the only player outside the BCS on that list.  He was also a semifinalist for the Underdog Award by NationalChamps.net which recognizes the best FBS Mid-Major player in the nation.  He was named National Player of the Week after recording 297 rushing yards and three TD’s in a rivalry game at ULM and was the SBC Offensive Player of the Week three times in 2008. 
Fenroy led the Sun Belt in rushing and scoring, both overall and per game, while placing 9th in the nation in rushing and 5th overall in scoring. He was named to the All-Sun Belt team for the fourth consecutive season and honored as the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.  He was the nation’s active career rushing leader and set the all-time career rushing record in the state of Louisiana en route to being named 2008 Louisiana Sportswriters Offensive Player of the Year.
Wide receiver/kick returner Jason Chery is hoping to be linked to Delhomme’s rocketing spirals on the field, as Chery is in negotiations to sign with the Panthers.
Chery earned second team All-Sun Belt honors at wide receiver after finishing second in the SBC in receiving touchdowns, fifth in receiving yards and seventh in receptions.  He ranked third in the conference in yards per reception among players with at least 40 catches.  His play on special teams also earned Chery recognition on the second team as an all-purpose selection. 
Chery ranked 14^th in the NCAA in all-purpose yards.  He was second in the conference in all-purpose yards and led the SBC in kickoff return yards.  Chery was fourth in the SBC in total touchdowns and ranked first among non-running backs, while ranking 14^th in rushing yards.  He made 14 tackles (13 solo) on kickoff and punt coverage last season to finish his career with 60 tackles in 47 games.  His 3,502 all-purpose yards are third in Cajuns history behind only Fenroy (5,231) and Delhomme’s favorite college target, Brandon Stokley (3,789).
Chery is hoping to make his mark immediately returning kicks and punts.  The Panthers do not have an established return specialist, listing third-year pro Ryne Robinson as their top return man.  After returning kicks and punts in 2007, Robinson missed the entire 2008 season after sustaining a preseason knee injury. 

Mark Jones returned kicks for the Panthers last season, but signed with Tennessee in the off-season.