Ever since Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates created the mold of basketball players becoming star tight ends, teams have taken more and more to looking at the hardwood to find potential football talent at the position.

Just last year, Jimmy Graham became a star with the New Orleans Saints after coming from a basketball background.

Now, the Oakland Raiders are giving it a try, announcing they have signed former Oral Roberts and more recently Cal-State Fullerton basketball standout Andre Hardy to a free agent contract. Hardy, 6-5, 250 pounds, averaged 10.6 points and 8.5 rebounds a game for Fullerton as a junior.

Hardy might not have played much football in a while, but he does have the pedigree, as his father - also named Andre - spent time as a running back in the NFL with the Eagles, Seahawks and 49ers.

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Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com