CHICAGO, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Jeff Samardzija, a record-setting wide receiver for the Notre Dame football team, has signed a five-year contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs organization.
Samardzija was projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick in April's NFL Draft but instead of waiting to hear which football team selected him, he'll be at baseball spring training in Arizona.
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The Cubs announced the signing Friday.
Chicago drafted Samardzija in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. Over 50 pitching appearances for the Fighting Irish, he was 21-6 with a 3.82 earned run average.
On the football field, Samardzija set Notre Dame records for receiving yards (2,593) and receiving touchdowns (27).
