Cut were quarterbacks Sam Keller and Jeff Otis, and defensive lineman Tranell Morant.

The three waived players freed up roster spots for draft picks Arman Shields and Trevor Scott, as well as “franchise” free agent Nnamdi Asomugha, who signed his contract tender.

Keller was recently signed, after participating in the Raiders’ rookie minicamp. Morant also won a contract as a tryout at the camp. Otis was with the Raiders in camp last season, waived, and re-signed this offseason.

It’s possible one of the three, likely a quarterback, could be re-signed once persona non grata running back LaMont Jordan’s fate is decided, freeing up a spot.

The Raiders have 80 players participating as camp opens, with Jordan in limbo and international practice squad player Mauricio Lopez taking part. (Lopez will be on the practice squad all year, does not count against the 8-player limit, and is ineligible to be called up.)

The cutdown to 75 players follows the third preseason game, with the cutdown to the final 53-man roster due between the final preseason game and Opening Day.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that an oft-injured, undrafted former college star dazzled Raider fans in preseason 1999, when Scott Dreisbach won a spot on the roster despite a broken leg.

Last night, the Raiders rolled the dice on another oft-injured former college quarterback, signing Nebraska’s Sam Keller, who tried out at the rookie minicamp earlier this year.

Keller, who was not signed after the May session, had failed to win a contract in a tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after April’s draft, and signed a three-year deal with the Arena Football League’s Los Angeles Avengers on May 30.

To make room for Keller on the roster, the Raiders cut fifth-string quarterback Erik Meyer, a free agent signed this offseason.

Keller, whose father is a former NFL player and executive, had a checkered college career.

In 2005, he three 20 touchdown passes in only seven games at Arizona State before going down with a season-ending injury. But in the spring of 2006, Keller was forced to compete with his replacement, Rudy Carpenter. Sun Devils head coach Dirk Koetter named Keller the starter, only to reverse his decision almost immediately — with some urging from players, depending on which rumors you believe.

In the wake of the debacle, Keller transferred to Nebraska, where he redshirted in 2006 and started in 2007 for former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan.

But once again, an injury ended his season prematurely, though he racked up a 2,400-yard passing season.

However, despite more than 5,000 career passing yards in a pair of pro-style offenses, Keller didn’t impress scouts and faced questions about his ego and attitude — he may have been infamous as much for his female companions as his throwing style — and subsequently went undrafted.

Still, it looks like the California native is getting the chance at the NFL he craved.

Going into training camp behind JaMarcus Russell, former Arizona State teammate Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo and journeyman Jeff Otis — who played for quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo at Columbia — it remains to be seen what, if anything, he can make of it.

Sources: Raiders.com, LAAvengers.com, Pro Football Weekly 2008 Draft Preview