NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State teammates
Lynden Trail and
Keenan Lambert, two key cogs in the Spartans' No. 2 ranked defense in the nation this year, will continue their football careers at the highest level as the pair inked free agent contracts with National Football League teams on Saturday.
Trail, a 6-7, 265-pound linebacker, agreed to a free agent deal with the NFL's Houston Texans. Lambert, a 6-1, 215-pound safety, did likewise with the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
Trail, who transferred to NSU from the University of Florida in 2012, was a first-team All-MEAC selection in each of his three seasons in the green and gold. A native of Miami, Fla, Trail was a first-team FCS All-American as a junior in 2013 and a second-team All-American as a senior in 2014 by The Sports Network, and earned honorable mention recognition by Beyond Sports Network in 2012. Trail was also a finalist as both a junior and senior for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the top defensive player in the FCS. He won NSU's Male Athlete of the Year award each of the last two years, as well.
In his three years at NSU, Trail amassed 255 total tackles, 41 for lost yardage and 19.5 sacks. He also deflected 16 passes, forced eight fumbles, recovered five fumbles and intercepted a pair of passes. Trail also caught three touchdowns as a receiver in red-zone offensive situations as a junior.
Trail capped his career by becoming the first Spartan to ever play in the Senior Bowl. He also participated at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Lambert was a four-year stalwart in NSU's secondary, playing in 47 games and starting 40 times. He played primarily at strong safety his first three years before starting the final nine games of his senior year at free safety. A hard-hitting defender, Lambert earned first-team All-MEAC honors as a senior, when he recorded 52 tackles and three interceptions.
In his career, Lambert totaled 206 tackles, 10 for lost yardage, and eight interceptions. He forced four fumbles and deflected 26 passes as a Spartan. Lambert played in the Medal of Honor Bowl in South Carolina following the 2014 campaign.
In Seattle, Lambert will be reunited with his brother, Seahawks Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor. The two brothers were both stars at Maury High School in Norfolk.
With Trail and Lambert as two of the standouts, the Spartan defense ranked second in the nation among FCS teams this year in total defense, allowing just 251.2 yards per game. Both Lambert and Trail were also recognized as black college All-Americans after the 2014 season.
