PRO: The Cowboys drafted Doug Free in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft with the hopes of him developing into a key player on the offensive line. He has spent the past two seasons learning from some of the best in the NFL, including 11-year veteran Flozell Adams and former first-round draft picks Marc Colombo and Leonard Davis.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
4/29/07: Drafted in the fourth round (122nd overall) by Dallas.
2008:
Played in all four preseason games, earning the starting nod in the final game at left tackle.
Was inactive for the first 13 weeks of the season before being active but not playing against the N.Y. Giants (12/14).
Was again active but did not play against Baltimore (12/20) and at Philadelphia (12/28).
2007:
Started at left tackle for Adams in the first preseason game against the Colts.
Suffered a knee sprain during the Indianapolis game and missed the rest of the preseason rehabbing.
Inactive for the first 15 games of the season.
Made his NFL debut at Washington (12/30) at right tackle during the fourth quarter.
Was inactive in the Divisional Playoff Game against the N.Y. Giants (1/13/08).
COLLEGE:
Started all 49 games at Northern Illinois and was a semifinalist for the Draddy Award - which recognizes academic success, football performance, and exemplary community service.
Earned first-team All-Mid American Conference and Academic All-MAC honors as a senior, and was a member of the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch List and earned CBSSportsLine.com �Halfway All American' honors.
Started 13 games for the Huskies, helping them go 7-6 and play in the Poinsettia Bowl against Texas Christian as a senior.
Started 12 games at left tackle and earned first-team All-Mid American Conference honors. Helped the team gain 206.7 rushing yards-per-game, which ranked 16th in the nation, and 441.1 total yards-per-game.
Was also nominated for MAC All-Academic honors and CoSIDA District V All-Academic honors after earning a 3.24 grade point average in industrial technology.
Earned Sophomore All-American third-team honors from College Sports Report and was named second-team All-Mid American Conference by the league's coaches.
Started 12 games at left tackle, helping the team gain 438.8 total yards-per-game. Played a season-high 99 snaps against Eastern Michigan.
Following his redshirt season, was named to the Freshman All-America third-team by The Sporting News. Started all 12 games, including the first two at right tackle, the next nine at left tackle, and the last game at tight end.
PERSONAL:
Douglas Free lettered three times in football at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, Wisc., where he was an honor roll student.
Was a team captain as a senior and was named defensive lineman of the year. Also earned first-team All-Fox Valley Conference honors on offense and defense, first-team Herald Times Reporter all-area honors, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel all-state honors.
As a defensive tackle in 2002, led the team to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth, recording 64 tackles, eight sacks, seven blocked kicks, six forced fumbles, five pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries.
Also had six receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown as a tight end.
COMMUNITY:
2007 Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club.
2008 Poker for Pets for SPCA of Texas.
Annual team Holiday Hospital Visits.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.
Kickoff Luncheon and Dallas Cowboys Family Cookbook benefitting Happy Hill Farm.
