The 2008 NFL draft lasted for two days. Through seven rounds more than 200 college players names were called from the country.

However, D.J. Wolfe's name was not one of them. The former Oklahoma Sooner safety watched the draft at his residence in Norman with family and friends around him only to go through the entire process undrafted.

"It was upsetting for a little bit as it got later and later," Wolfe said.

However, Wolfe's story didn't end there like so many other pro football hopefuls. As the draft dragged on, his cell phone kept ringing with calls from his agent and from clubs interested in Wolfe. Not to draft him but as a free agent.

"Except for the signing bonus, you get the same amount of money," Wolfe said. "And you get to pick where you want to go. It benefits you in your favor."

The teams that were showing interest included Dallas, San Francisco, Tennessee and Atlanta. In the end he chose the Falcons over the 49ers because of the money and their defensive back situation.

Wolfe signed a free agent contract with a signing bonus of $10,000.

"They had the biggest signing bonus," Wolfe said. "Their safety situation looks good. They only have Lawyer Milloy, who has been around for 13 years. They just signed Erik Coleman. Those are the only guys with experience. It was a more favorable place to go. They have a new coach, new regime. So there will not be any favoritism as to who plays. Everything is fresh. It's a good thing."

Besides Milloy and Coleman, Wolfe will have to battle the Falcons' third round draft pick Thomas DeCoud for playing time.

"They drafted Thomas, which is cool," Wolfe said. "But that doesn't make me want not want to go there. I love competition. I just don't want to sit back and watch. That's not me."

While the money and the chance at earning playing time were big reasons for Wolfe signing with Atlanta, it was the small touches that put the Falcons over the top of the 49ers' organization, who he had been coached by in the Senior Bowl.

"My family came up from Louisiana and my parents came up from Lawton," Wolfe said. "I had told the Atlanta coaches they would be there and we would be cooking some gumbo. When he called during the draft, the first thing he asked was 'How's that gumbo?' That meant a lot."

Along with Wolfe, former Sooners Lewis Baker (49ers), Joe Jon Finley (49ers), Garrett Hartley (Denver) and Marcus Walker (Vikings), have also signed free agent contracts.

Wolfe, 5-foot-11, 201 pounds, came to Oklahoma as one of the top-rated running backs in the country out of Lawton Eisenhower. However, he was in the same recruiting class as Adrian Peterson. After playing sparingly on offense as a freshman, he was moved to cornerback as a sophomore and junior.

Wolfe switched positions one more time during the preseason to strong safety and had a productive senior campaign and was named to the All Big 12 second team. He ended his career with eight interceptions and 171 tackles.