SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. –  A quartet of of former Shepherd University All-American football players have signed free agent contracts with NFL team following the completion of the 2023 NFL Draft. Quarterback Tyson Bagent (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg), offensive lineman Joey Fisher (Hagerstown, Md./Clear Spring), running back Ronnie Brown (Baltimore, Md./Dundalk), and tight end Brian Walker (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg) have been signed as free agents.

Bagent has signed as a priority free agent with the Chicago Bears, Fisher has signed as a priority free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, Brown signed as a priority free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Walker signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens.

Bagent completed 400-of-572 passes for 4,580 yards and 41 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 71 yards and five scores. He passed for three touchdowns or more in eight games and passed for more than 300 yards in seven contests. Bagent holds numerous NCAA II records and set the NCAA all-division mark with 159 career touchdown passes.

Fisher, who finished fourth in the Gene Upshaw Award balloting, keyed an offensive line that helps Shepherd rank second nationally in total offense (489.3), second in first downs offense (354), and seventh in passing offense (312.5). 

Walker earned All-America honors in his first season as a full-time starter in 2022. He hauled in 63 grabs for 799 yards and five touchdowns. Walker had three or more receptions in 12 games and averaged 53.27 receiving yards per game. 

Brown had 219 carries for 1,863 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2022. He added 56 receptions for 589 yards and five scores. Brown had 19 kickoff returns for 546 yards, including a 100-yard return for a score against California (Pa.). He rushed for 100 yards or more in nine games and had three games in which he ran for over 200 yards. Brown averaged 185.75 rushing yards in Shepherd's four postseason games.