SEARCY – The Oakland Raiders announced Monday that they have signed former Harding punter/kicker Eddy Carmona to a National Football League free agent contract.

Carmona, a native of Charleston, Ark., was one of seven free agents signed by the Raiders after they participated on a tryout basis in the team rookie mini-camp last weekend.

Carmona played his first three seasons at the University of Central Arkansas before transferring to Harding as a senior. In the 2011 season, Carmona averaged 38.3 yards per punt, made 46-of-49 PATs and 10-of-13 field goals, including a Harding-record 62-yard field goal against East Central.

Carmona, who earned 1st Team All-Great American Conference and 2nd Team All-Super Region 4, is only the second Harding special-teams player to earn an opportunity to play in the NFL. The other was Tom Ed Gooden, who was drafted as a kicker in the 14th round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders have only one other kicker on their current roster, 13-year NFL veteran Sebastian Janikowski. Punters on the Oakland roster include 13-year veteran Shane Lechler and rookie free agent Marquette King, who played at NCAA Division II Fort Valley State.

If Carmona makes the Raiders' regular season roster, he will be only the second Harding player to appear in the NFL. Torrance “Tank” Daniels played in 27 games for three teams over a four-year career from 2006-09, winning the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2008.

Carmona is the second Harding player to sign a contract with the Raiders organization. In 1979, Harding running back Mike Vanlandingham signed a free agent contract with Oakland.

Oakland's next official mini-camp takes place from June 12-14.