Former Boise State tailback Ian Johnson and former Boise State wide receiver Vinny Perretta reached free-agent agreements with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday evening.

Johnson's wife, Chrissy, and agent, Bruce Tollner, confirmed his contract. Perretta and his agent, Buddy Baker, confirmed his.

Tollner said Johnson chose among 12-15 suitors after the draft concluded. The deciding factor: the best situation for earning a roster spot. The Vikings have two veteran tailbacks — Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor — and a third tailback with no game experience (Albert Young).

The recruiting war included head coaches, position coaches and general managers, Tollner said. That took some of the sting out of Johnson, the Broncos' top NFL prospect this year, not getting drafted.

"I think (Johnson) was excited to be able to choose among 12-15 teams," Tollner said. "At the end of it, he sounded very fired up, even though he went as a free agent."

Johnson will be reunited with Peterson, the opposing star running back in the Fiesta Bowl, and Perretta, a good friend whom he played with for five years at Boise State.

"That's sweet," Perretta said. "I love playing ball with Ian."

Perretta chose the Vikings over the New York Jets and Jacksonville, he said. The Vikings were the one team to fly him out for a pre-draft visit. He gives the Vikings at least nine receivers, but it's not a star-studded group.

"The receivers coach told me he would see me again," Perretta said. "The whole situation was right. It was the best opportunity to make a football team."

Wide receiver Jeremy Childs, who set a school single-season record with 82 catches in 2007, has reached a free-agent deal with the San Diego Chargers, he and his agent said.

Wide receiver Julian Hawkins has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, he and his agent said.

"This is a total dream," Hawkins said. "It's a dream finally coming true — not just for me, but for my whole family."

And tight end Chris O'Neill is headed to Jacksonville this week for a free-agent workout. He had hoped to land a contract, but is determined to make this opportunity count.

"Boise State, we've always got to prove ourselves," O'Neill said. "Someone always thinks someone is better than us. They always pick us not to win the WAC, to finish second. We always go show them it's different — that we can play with the big boys, that we can win the WAC all the time. Now we've got to go do it in the pros."

Also, I talked to Idaho draft pick Eddie Williams a few minutes ago. Williams, who tore his right ACL against Boise State last season, says he will be ready for training camp.

"It put a big speed bump in my plans," he said of the injury, "but a lot of hard work went into it, I had a good trainer and a good doctor and I was able to come out of it."

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Boise State was shut out of the NFL Draft on Sunday for the first time in four years.

Tailback Ian Johnson and wide receiver Jeremy Childs, both of whom were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, now will angle for the best free-agent situation possible and try to make a roster the hard way. Former Broncos who have made good careers as undrafted free agents include safety Quintin Mikell and defensive back/returner Chris Carr.

Article Written By: Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com