Cedartown native and University of Georgia graduate Ken Veal has signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers. Veal, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 305 pounds, was one of six Georgia players that was either drafted or taken as a free agent this past weekend.

During his senior season at Georgia, Veal recorded 43 tackles (19 solo) and had three quarterback pressures. During the Georgia Tech game, Veal brought down a season high seven ball carriers. The athletic nose tackle finishes his career at UGA with 104 tackles and 16 quarterback pressures.

In high school, Veal was featured on the cover of the Georgia High School football magazine as one of the state’s magnificient seven. Veal also made the USA Today All-USA honorable mention team as well as the Georgia Class AA All-State team.

Veal, who was coached by John Hill in high school, was also voted onto the Georgia team in the 1998 Georgia-Florida All-Star game.

The Cedartown native started 19 games at Georgia, including 16 in his final two years. Veal, who was redshirted during the 1999 campaign and then had to overcome shoulder surgery in 2001, majored in Child and Family Development at UGA.

Other Georgia players now going into the NFL with Veal are: Ben Watson (taken in first round by New England), Sean Jones (taken in second round by Cleveland), Bruce Thornton (taken in fourth round by Dallas), and Robert Geathers (taken in fourth round by Cincinnati). Kentrell Curry and Billy Bennett followed in Veal’s footsteps as they signed as a free agent after the draft.

Curry signed on with the Cleveland Browns organization and Bennett latched on as a place kicker with the Carolina Panthers.