Two former Idaho State football players are starting their professional football journeys in Cleveland.

Former Bengals offensive lineman Brian Fineanganofo has signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns, ISU’s athletic department said Saturday. Former ISU running back James Madison is joining him after earning an invitation to Cleveland’s rookie minicamp, he confirmed to the Journal on Saturday.

Fineanganofo is the second ISU football player in as many years to sign an undrafted free-agent deal on the final day of the NFL Draft. Former Bengals offensive lineman Skyler Phillips signed with Seattle after going undrafted in 2018.

Madison is the third ISU football player in the last two years to get a rookie minicamp invite. JonRyheem Peoples and Mario Jenkins were invited to rookie minicamps last year by the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.

Fineanganofo appeared in 34 games for the Bengals from 2015-18, primarily at left tackle. He helped ISU’s offense rank sixth in the FCS in yards per game and 14th in scoring last season.

The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Los Angeles native was honorable mention all-Big Sky Conference after the 2017 season and earned first-team all-Big Sky honors in 2018. Fineanganofo was also named a second-team FCS All-American by Phil Steele and played in January’s NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Pasadena, California.

ISU said Fineanganofo reports to the Browns on Wednesday.

"It's rare to be that long and athletic and strong. Not too may people have that," said Fresno State assistant offensive line coach Roman Sapolu, who coached Fineanganofo last season at ISU. "He had a goal in mind and, that was one of his goals. He put everything into it."

Madison was a fixture in ISU’s backfield the last two seasons, earning first-team all-conference honors in 2017 and second-team all-Big Sky recognition after last season. His 2,104 career yards rushing rank seventh in ISU history, and his 17 career rushing touchdowns tie for ninth-most in school history. He is one of five players all-time at ISU with two 900-yard rushing seasons, and he did it while splitting carries with fellow running back Ty Flanagan.

Madison said he reports to Cleveland's three-day minicamp Friday.

Madison said he didn't know he and Fineanganofo are both bound for Cleveland until about an hour after he accepted the Browns' minicamp invite.

"It's fun going in with somebody you've known the past five years," Madison said. "That's the first person I met when I first got to Idaho State, one of my best friends."

The Browns’ beleaguered franchise is a trendy pick to make the playoffs in 2019. Last season, quarterback Baker Mayfield set the NFL rookie record for touchdown passes, guiding the Browns to a 7-8-1 record — their best since going 10-6 in 2007.

This offseason, Cleveland traded for former New York Giants superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and signed troubled former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, leading to NFL fans and pundits touting the team’s potentially explosive offense.

Among the seven players Cleveland drafted this year are former Louisiana State cornerback Greedy Williams and former BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki.

Former Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss was the lone Big Sky player to be drafted this year. He was selected in the seventh round by the New Orleans Saints.