VERMILLION, S.D. (APRIL 22, 2002) - Two former standouts for The University of South Dakota football team signed free agent contracts with National Football League teams on Sunday night. Punter/kicker Filip Filipovic signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys while offensive tackle Josh Burr signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both Filipovic and Burr will report to rookie camp this weekend. Burr will go to Pittsburgh while Filipovic will report to Dallas.

Filipovic, a punter/kicker originally of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, had a solid career for the Coyotes.

In three seasons at South Dakota, Filipovic had 183 punts for 7,265 yards for an average of 39.7. He had a career long of 66 yards and knocked 35 kicks inside the 20-yard line. The seventh ranked punter in NCAA Division II in 2000, Filipovic, who majored in health, physical education and recreation, finished fourth in the North Central Conference in 2001 with an average of 40.1 yards per kick. He had 53 punts for 2,126 yards, 16 punts inside the 20-yard line and a long of 66 yards.

In 2001, Filipovic pulled double duty for the Coyotes, also serving as kicker. Last fall, he made seven of 10 field goals and 17 of 18 PATs. He ranked third in the NCC by making 62.5 percent of his field goals and he was fifth in the NCC by making 92.3 percent of his extra points.

Burr, 6'9, 330, a team captain for the Coyotes in 2001, was one of South Dakota's top offensive linemen during the past three seasons. He transferred to the Coyotes from the University of Iowa in 1999.

Originally of Lancaster, Wisc., Burr was honorable mention all NCC in 2000 and he earned second-team all NCC honors as a sophomore. He is majoring in mathematics at USD.