The Green Bay Packers Monday signed guard William Whitticker, the club's second of two selections in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.
Whitticker, a 6-foot-5, 338-pound lineman out of Michigan State, is the second Packers draft choice to sign a contract. The club signed guard/center Junius Coston (fifth round) May 16.
A four-year letterman (2001-2004), he was a three-year starter for the Spartans (2001-02, '04). A right guard at Michigan State, he will look to immediately win a spot as a backup and provide depth to the Packers' interior offensive line, an area that saw the free agency departure of two starters (Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle).
All told, Whitticker saw action in 48 career games, starting 31 contests at right guard. He registered 222 pancake blocks as a Spartan.
Packers rookies are scheduled to report for training camp July 25 and practice for the first time July 26.
The two preseason roster reduction dates, mandated by the NFL, are Aug. 30 (to 65 players) and Sept. 3 (to 53 players).
