MarQueis Gray News

Quarterback MarQueis Gray of the University of Minnesota, will try to make the 49ers as a tight end and special teams player.

That bodes well for the Minnesota Golden Gophers , who are coming off a bowl-bound 6-7 campaign and are entering their third season with Kill as head coach.

A running back, wide receiver and quarterback at Minnesota, the 6-3, 240-pound free agent is now transitioning to another new position.

Minnesota announced in December that Shortell would be departing the program , though Shortell's father told the Star-Tribune at the time his son felt he would not get a chance to play after losing his starting job in October to freshman Philip Nelson .

We found out the name of the most intriguing member of the 49ers' crop of undrafted free agent signings shortly after the draft when British discus thrower and football neophyte Lawrence Okoye announced that he'd signed with San Francisco.

The 49ers have announced the signing of 12 undrafted free agents. Among the most intriguing names are defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye and offensive tackle Luke Marquardt, hulking athletes whose football experience ranges from none to little .

The 49ers this week will release the names of the dozen or so undrafted rookies they signed, and on Friday they will begin a three-day rookie minicamp.

Former quarterback MarQueis Gray and cornerback Troy Stoudermire signed free agent contracts with NFL teams.

Former Gophers quarterback MarQueis Gray was not selected in the NFL draft on Saturday, April 27, but he tweeted Saturday night that he had signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent.

British discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, who visited the 49ers before the draft, will sign with the team as an undrafted free agent, he announced on Twitter.

Format: The Gophers will split into two teams and play 15-minute quarters. The Maroon team will feature most of the first-string players, including quarterback Philip Nelson and defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman.

In fact, the Gophers have had just two players selected in the last five drafts .

Former University of Minnesota quarterback and wide receiver MarQueis Gray has been working out in anticipation of this week's NFL draft.

In all seriousness, though, that's the mentality the Gophers wanted their offensive players to have for spring practice.

It's Thursday, so it's time for another mailbag. Remember to keep those questions coming during the offseason.