1 running back. Some were lower-rated players that got a great education and the coaching staff helped mold them into a star in college and an NFL player now. 2017 position ranking: No. While he initially committed to Arkansas State after deciding to leave Missouri, Deion Sanders convinced him to go to Jackson State, where he was one of the leaders of a defense that allowed just 13.5 points per game in 2022. In the end, Sewell signed with Oregon after quickly striking up a relationship with new coach Mario Cristobal. He opted out in 2020, but was still able to slide in as the last pick of the first round. Now a mini sensation, Sproles started to get the attention of every team in the NFL. Of course, this San Diego running back tops the list. But he missed the entire 2006 season due to an ankle injury, and he fell off the radar again. In 2004, Welker signed with the Chargers, but was later cut. Born in Menomonie and a graduate of Mondovi High School, Krumrie was a three-time All-Big Ten selection at Wisconsin and a 12-year pro. This story was originally published April 29, 2022, 5:10 PM. His best season was in 2007 when he recorded 96 tackles and multiple turnovers. 31 overall prospect in the nation. Starks was expelled from that school following a theft, but he found new life at Oklahoma State University. "I felt all along that I could play with anybody," said Strange, a five-year starter at Chattanooga and first-team FCS All-American as a senior. He was drafted in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Penei Sewell was the top player from the state of Utah in his recruiting class and ranked as the fifth-best tackle in the country. Rodman would experience a growth spurt and he found a college home at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He has speed and moves like no one else in the NFL. 6 wide receiver. "It hasn't been easy, but I always truly did believe that I'd get here. And a handful of those players have North Texas ties, whether they played here in high school or . After sorting through dozens of offers, Sewell whittled his choices down to four: Alabama, Oregon, USC and Utah. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the athletes who were either not noticed or not highly recruited coming out of high school. Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles; We're Social.for Statheads. Data Provided By "And that was an unofficial visit because he got to bring some guests," Strange said. Fields would back away from his PSU pledge and ultimately sign with Georgia. He knew that once his opportunity came, he needed to stand out with his performance because of where he was coming from. Predicting the quarterbacks every move, he knows when to use his speed to make a move on the ball. At that point (December 2016), Fields was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals. "A lot of people run 4.4s, you know? He ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, had a 39-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump. Elliss, who had originally committed to Mississippi State, had more than 20 scholarship offers, including from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. Iosivas said he felt like the path he took was much more difficult than most, and it has formed who he is. Minnesota brought Bateman, a four-star recruit out of Georgia, up to the Twin Cities in the class of 2018. Lead Draft Writer. Sewell initially planned to make his choice during the fall of his senior year, but Willie Taggarts decision to leave Oregon for Florida State caused him to reevaluate. You don't need to be big if you can outrun everybody. Life is funny, sometimes. But the Bulldogs saw him as a defensive back and were able to land the signature of the Georgia state champion track star in February 2017. T.O. Well before he was the best rebounder in the NBA and a charismatic and controversial figure who should maybe give more thought to the heads of state he hangs out with during his free time, Dennis Rodman was undersized and even rejected by basketball and football teams. Darrell Green went to college at what was known, at the time, as Texas A&I University, which kinda/sorta sounds like an online school that would email you a degree when you were finished taking classes. Finally in 2008, he got his chance. They would make up for it with seven playoff wins in Bagent's final three seasons. Big college programs passed on the quarterback and Romo ended up playing for Eastern Illinois University. 360-754-5473. Check out the highlights from South Dakota State's tight end Tucker Kraft. 12. "I think the experience [of] being a student athlete at Princeton is something that you can't really get anywhere else, or even other Ivy League schools," he said. Yes I know. "We had played for a Division II national championship in 2015, and I really believe that it came down to him having a chance to play in front of his family and friends." The Maryland native took a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy, but stayed committed to Virginia Tech. The only problem is Sanders has never played a full season in his career. Winfield became apt at creating turnovers and bringing pressure to the quarterback. The No. Originally an LSU sprinter, speed was a natural talent for Holliday. He thus ended up at Northern Iowa, he became a NFL castoff, he worked stocking shelves as he attempted to keep his dreams alive in the Arena Football League, and he ultimately shocked the football world by leading both the St. Louis Rams and the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl appearances. He has slightly below 4,000 kick/punt return yards in his career. So what the heck is the catch here? After that, he was picked up by the Dolphins, playing as their third receiver. "Where he explodes on film is through his blocking," further explained the man they call "Coach Stig." . 4 overall. The Jets guaranteed Leonhard a starting job, and he agreed. Can street race king Perez challenge Verstappen for the title? -- Bill Connelly. Team analysis | Scouting reports He is one of the best receivers in the league today. He is relatively short for a receiver, but not too much shorter. Another example is an admittedly disappointing showing at the draft combine, only to be followed up with a gap-closing performance at SDSU's pro day in front of 23 NFL talent evaluators. Even though Romo has gone on to break multiple franchise records, he receives criticism because of the fact that he has never won a championship and also because he has made costly mistakes late in seasons. Jaylen Waddle was one of three five-star recruits to sign with Alabama during the 2018 cycle. Despite setting a single-season school record for total yards in 2001 (2,466 total . Some thought A&M, which had just hired Jimbo Fisher, might swoop in and snag Waddles signature, but the speedster ended up going with the Crimson Tide. As a rookie he recorded 1,448 all-purpose yards working as a receiver and punt returner. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Nope. ended up attending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played multiple sports. Each story from each five-star recruit to guys with just one FBS offer is unique. And he did. After nearly a year as a BC commit, Paye received a late offer from Michigan and it was too much to pass up. 26 running back. But he is pretty short and really productive. 2018 position ranking: No. All Player Colleges, High Schools. Walter Payton #34 of the Chicago Bears celebrates on the field as the Bears win the NFC Championship. "[He] changes direction and has good body control and wants to come off the ball and be the most violent person in the nation," NDSU offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl told North Dakota's Inforum after Volson's NFL combine performance. You know Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt as maybe the best defensive player in the NFL and a superstar who has cashed in on a massive contract and on numerous endorsement deals. But those who know Kraft, and especially Kraft himself, will tell you that he does his best work where there is work that must be done. That's a mindset formed from being the youngest of three boys, where every ball in the yard and biscuit on the table represented a battle of brothers. The man who became a Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants was a hoss who played football in Texas. Before he committed to Tulsa in August of 2016, Collins had just one other offer and it came from Central Oklahoma, a Division II school. Tracking fifth-year options for 2020 first-rounders: Which were picked up, and which were declined? The aforementioned Anudike-Uzomah, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Eric Scott Jr. and Ronnie Bell were selected during the draft. He started at a high-level Division II school for four years and brought his team to two playoff semifinals -- he's not a yards-over-success guy. Kadarius Toney was a quarterback at Blount High School in Alabama, but colleges recruited him as an athlete. He found this with the New York Jets. At 5'5", Holliday is the smallest player in the NFL. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. 14. 9 strongside defensive end. Warner won the Most Valuable Player award for Super Bowl XXXIV. Offers poured in for the Florida native, and Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Miami and Ohio State were all heavily in the picture. -- Harry Lyles Jr. Aubrey Miller Jr. saw every side of college football there was to see. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) For more go to NFL.com/Draft365. The steady stream of scouts who came through campus marveled at Williams' fluidity and size. Hailing from Oakland, Alijah Vera-Tucker decided to head south to Los Angeles for his college football career. This 5'7" Goliath can do what every NFL player wants to be able to do. He caught the national title-winning touchdown as a freshman and won the Heisman Trophy and another national title as a senior. I just can't wait to show it." Krumrie, who later became an assistant NFL coach . For many players, high school football is the end of their playing careers. The story of how Tom Brady fell to the New England Patriots and the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft has been told and retold on television shows and in articles. "We always fixed plenty," said Strange, who was primarily focused on gaining weight earlier in his career. Kraft sliced more than a 10th of a second off his 40-yard dash (from 4.69 to 4.5), and added 2 inches to his vertical jump (36.5) and five pounds to his body. While at Idaho, Elliss had to overcome significant knee injuries with outside help, as the school's rehabilitation services were mostly shuttered because of the pandemic. Because of that, attending Stanford was his goal because of its standing as a Division I program in the Pac-12 that also has high academic standards. Etienne became a star for the Tigers, eventually finishing his college career as the ACCs all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing TDs, total TDs and yards from scrimmage. ", Miller said the biggest thing he got out of Jackson State and Sanders was "playing for a coach who's a pro. He nevertheless went undrafted and Girardi had to play his way up through an affiliate of the New York Rangers before he received a shot in the National Hockey League. He had been sidelined six weeks by leg injuries suffered during the very first drive of the campaign, a 7-3 loss at Iowa. He accumulated 1,765 all purpose offensive yards, and 16 offensive touchdowns. Now a Pro-Bowler and known as one of the best backs in the game today, Jones-Drew is the perfect example of NFL superstar talent in a smaller body. College scouts and coaches were left wanting more for whatever reasons, though, and George was ignored by the top programs in the NCAA. He was mainly an unbelievable kick/punt returner who started to get noticed for his ability. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Rousseau opted out of the 2020 season, but put up huge numbers in 2019: 54 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State. That deal is widely viewed as one of the worst trades in the history of Major League Baseball, as Jeff Bagwell went on to have a career that may land him in the Hall of Fame. He lowered his interception rate every season while maintaining ridiculous production -- he's not a finished product. With the explosion of websites, podcasts and analysis of the NFL draft, it can be hard to go unnoticed if you're a Power 5 player with some potential. BYU entered Wilsons recruitment late, but Wilson quickly jumped on the offer and signed with the Cougars. Rivals rating: 4 stars, not in Rivals 250. But that doesn't stop this deep threat from burning defenders game after game. Using his speed and shiftiness, he always seemed to get pass defenders. "My motor is always running because I don't know how else to do it but work," Kraft said shortly before he returned to the South Dakota State lineup this past midseason. They will outrun, jump over, and maybe even beat down the larger opponents. 1:16. He generated interest from larger schools that could have provided a greater platform to test his skills, but Williams decided he didn't need that. 1 outside linebacker. He earned a scholarship after making the Wisconsin roster and Watt is now a football star who will be noticed just about anywhere he goes. A few years later, he was the first offensive lineman selected in the NFL draft. "I think the combine showed that as well, I'm just a really well-rounded athlete and all aspects of how I play and how I am.". Add in a COVID-canceled 2020 season that resulted in a six-game 2021 spring season. Leatherwood ended up as the No. ", The main reason for his belief? Smith is a nine year veteran that still has a lot of gas left in his tank. He placed in national track competitions. Of the 38 cornerbacks at the NFL combine, Williams' NFL Next Gen stats evaluation score ranked him No. Brady instead stuck it out and eventually won the starting job, and just about every decision he has made since then has worked out rather well for him. That came in December of 2015 when Paye made a verbal pledge to Boston College over UMass and Rhode Island. In 2008, Rice was drafted by . At 6-3, 195 pounds, Williams possesses a rare combination of size and agility, even by NFL standards. You may not know that Brady's difficulties go all the way back to his high school days. 1 pro-style quarterback. Though still a young player at 29, he can still make up for those missed years. The move paid off in a big way. The second half of 2015 will be rough for Nelson, as he will miss the entire NFL season because of a torn ACL. Collins made the transition to linebacker in college and thrived, earning multiple national awards as a redshirt junior in 2020. He understands how to read quarterbacks and make the play. Smith holds all sorts of records and awards for his receiving/punt and kick returning abilities. But when he took up football, college coaches began swarming. And once he stayed local and chose Miami, the coaches there molded him into a pass-rusher. As a 245-pound defensive end/linebacker coming out of Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, Strange flew under the radar during the recruiting process. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Given the way he finishes blocks and just about everything else, nobody's betting against him. Good thing for Nelson that somebody saw what he could become, as Nelson has been a stud for a quarterback who will be mentioned later in this list. Lauren Smith is a sports reporter at The News Tribune. In the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, Welker received over 1,100 yards each year. Despite some of the medical concerns, the Dolphins grabbed Phillips in the first round. After going through a couple of seasons involving limited playing time with Buffalo and Baltimore, Strong Safety Jim Leonhard decided it was time to go somewhere where they would start him for his ability and forget about his size. Winfield became well known for his bone crushing tackles on the field. College football reporters Ryan McGee, Harry Lyles Jr. and Bill Connelly take you inside the unconventional path taken by four of these prospects. . We did Princeton, Brown, Yale and Dartmouth and then Princeton and Dartmouth pretty much offered me on the spot after the camps," Iosivas said. Graham was initially a basketball player and he played that sport while at the University of Miami. "But that doesn't stop me as well. And while that was an impressive run, he understands he might not be looked at the same as other players. However, he didn . See all 259 picks | Team by team This means that out of the approximately 1.2 million high school football players in the United States, only 0.02% to 0.025% make it to the NFL. He receives the play call and then explains the play to the rest of the group. Chase put up modest numbers as a true freshman before emerging as a star in 2019 with 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 TDs to help LSU win a national title. Robinson: Pack to blame for Rodgers draft day stink bomb, QBs Lawrence, Wilson, Lance go 1-2-3 in NFL draft, Darrius Rucker spotted at Lawrences draft day party, Wetzel: Why now? "If you can play, they'll find you," said Luther Elliss, who spent nine seasons with the Detroit Lions and five seasons as an assistant coach at Idaho. Backup Linemen: OT Charles Leno, Bears (6' 3", 306 pounds), G/C David Andrews, Patriots (6' 3", 306 pounds) Both are quality starters. Can street race king Perez challenge Verstappen for the title? Now he is off to Jacksonville as the No. Sidney Crosby was seen as hockey royalty and The Next One years before he first held up a jersey of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sproles absolutely exploded against the Colts, running for two touchdowns, one being the game winner. But he also brings a predictable unknown to the table when it comes to pass blocking. Christian Darrisaw had three offers, all from FCS programs (Central Connecticut State, Morgan State and North Carolina Central), before Virginia Tech came into the picture. (From first-round quarterbacks Trey Lance and Carson Wentz to linemen such as 2021 second-rounder Dillon Radunz and Billy Turner, a starter for the Green Bay Packers now with the Denver Broncos, plenty of prospects have done just that of late.). Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles; We're Social.for Statheads. The road to the NFL away from the Power 5 spotlight and through the Football Championship Subdivision or even Division II presents its own set of obstacles, from lesser facilities and amenities to the challenge of catching the eye of pro scouts. In 2009, he started at his role of Strong Safety for all 16 games of the season. Other than his hometown team, Turner's only other listed offers on Rivals were Alcorn State, Army, Brown, Cornell and Texas Southern. From that game forward, Strong ran his way to an invitation to the NFL combine. Jackson is the opposite of Ray Rice. In his lone season at Miami, Phillips had 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. A native of the state of Washington, Joe Tryon initially committed to Washington State in August 2016. But a string of injuries ended up cutting his time in Westwood short. The Bison are an FCS dynasty, winners of nine of the past 11 national titles and purveyors of a unique brand of precise and physical play. Active Coaches: Bill Belichick, . The four-star prospect chose USC as a high school junior and remained committed to the Trojans even as schools like Texas A&M and Washington continued to recruit him. 2017 position ranking: No. Zach Wilson is the son of a Utah football player but he ended up at rival BYU. He spent his freshman season as the backup at UGA and eventually chose to transfer to Ohio State. I know he hasn't even started playing in the NFL yet, but I could not pass up on this Texans rookie. Their stories are different but share a common thread: They played far from the bright lights of the big-time college football programs, but didn't give up their dream of playing in the NFL. Paul George put up impressive numbers during his high school career and he won multiple awards for his performances on the court. It's just a chip on my back mentality." Terrell Owens was a freak athlete in high school, but he was not seen as an elite football player worthy of starting for one of the bigger programs in college football. Former Idaho defensive tackle Noah Elliss is poised to follow his father's footsteps to the NFL, and he's nearing his lifelong dream despite having played only 11 collegiate games. He was so low on the depth chart at Michigan at one point that he considered transferring. The NFL is a big man's league. Some of the entries were high-profile high-schoolers. Published: Apr 29, 2023 at 12:16 PM. In other words, the lure of the transfer portal was never really a lure in his eyes. He jokes now that even as a lifelong Tennessee Volunteers fan who never missed a home game as a kid, the only way he could get on campus as a recruit was to tag along with a high school teammate. "I remember watching my dad play, and I remember him coming out of the tunnel and that made me at that moment want to be like him and get there. This 2 time Pro Bowler has made his mark in the NFL. And he did fairly well by anyone's standard. He had the most receptions (103), receiving yards (1,563), and receiving touchdowns (12). Anudike-Uzomah, who . If you're not a 6'5", muscle-strapped male fast enough to blow past offensive linemen while . 30). In his career so far, he has 740 tackles, 32 turnovers, 2 defensive touchdowns, 71 deflected passes, and even a few blocked field goals. Even in the era of Hudl film, a pro-style prototype quarterback evidently can get overlooked. According to Jake Steinberg a 22-year old college student who has developed a reputation as notable marketer for NFL players did . 30 Greatest Small School Players in NFL History. In 2020, he was voted a second-team all-SEC selection by the league's coaches. The school was real and so was Green's talent, and he became one of the best defensive players to ever play for the Washington Redskins and also an ageless wonder who remained a superstar late into his career. He has been named the "quarterback" of the Jets number one ranked defense. 2017 position ranking: No. And in 2017, seven players from area high schools were taken. He was listed as the third string running back. "Coming from Miami--the competition is just different," said Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper. But most people forget to imagine how small this receiver really is. These are the stories of players who toiled away from the bright lights, but through hard work and dedication still attracted the attention of NFL scouts and are hoping to hear their names called during the 2023 NFL draft on April 27-29 (coverage begins at 8 p.m. After graduating from LSU, Holliday decided to enter the NFL draft. You see him walking around with the other offensive linemen, he fits." He is a whole lot lighter though. Rounds 2-3. Our team of college football reporters -- Chris Low, Heather Dinich, Bill Connelly, Harry Lyles Jr. and Kyle Bonagura -- share the stories of some small school draft prospects who, through hard work, determination and resolve, are bucking the odds in taking an unconventional path to the draft. But he wanted to play quarterback and North Dakota State, which sent Carson Wentz and Easton Stick to the NFL, was the best fit. 50, Man United in pole position for top four, but can't take their eyes off Liverpool, The VAR Review: Red cards for Jota, Skipp; Richarlison penalty claim, Zags, Vols have gained spots in men's WTE Top 25, Titans quarterback Will Levis opens up about emotional draft day, After hoopla of going No. His size isn't a problem -- by comparison, Georgia's Jordan Davis is listed at 6-6, 340. He is now one of the most-feared defensive players in the league and a man who makes the Pro Bowl squad pretty much every year that he plays. The coaching staff at Central Michigan instead saw a tight end in Watt and he played that position until he chose to return to his home state and walk onto the University of Wisconsin football team. The stars featured in this rundown were culled in part from the NFL's latest Top 100 players list. Watson was, like so many FCS stars, a late bloomer. -- Bill Connelly, Four small-school NFL draft prospects you should know for 2023, Nikola Jokic dominates Suns as Nuggets go up 2-0, Devils blank Rangers for 1st series win since 2012, Serena announces she's pregnant with 2nd child, Snoop Dogg joins Sparks' bid to buy Senators, LeBron 'locked in' as rivalry with Steph resumes, Harper ready: 'Body has been very good to me', Jets bolster OT group by signing veteran Turner, Ohio halts betting on Alabama baseball games, Calipari thanks Bryants for package honoring Gigi, 'This is probably his best shot': Why the time is now for Harden and the 76ers. As with Watson, what we know about Volson is almost universally positive. He had to split his carries with both Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain. Later in the process, though, Tryon received offers from Oregon, Utah and Washington. He was not offered scholarships from any massive schools to play that position, though, and he attended Kansas State University without even a roster spot promised to him. An incredible athlete who had the size and hands to play the tight end position for such a big school, Graham had to walk onto the Miami football team to have an opportunity to play. pic.twitter.com/mu1GfDyjGF, Bruh give Tyson Bagent the Harlon Hill. So, in 2007, Welker signed with the New England Patriots. In 2009, he was named the sole starter for the Ravens as the every down back. ", "Of course, he knows the ins and outs of pro football if you talk about the NFL, you talk about college football, he was a high guy at all levels," Miller said. In the end, Smith bypassed the local school and picked Alabama. Even though he has had a very large number of injuries, Sanders has still managed to succeed. A lanky cornerback known for his speed, Eric Stokes was recruited at a variety of positions. But thanks to a late growth spurt, he got NDSU's attention. He totaled 20 pass breakups and made a highlight reel interception against Justin Fields and Ohio State in the 2020 Big Ten title game. The numbers speak for him. ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App). 2 weakside defensive end. The rumors swirled all the way up to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, and Harris apparently had three plane tickets with him during that trip: one to Alabama, one to Michigan and another back home to California. And how did he stay there for four seasons, 17,034 yards, 159 touchdowns and 44 wins? Bagent had offers from a couple of FCS schools, but Shepherd was an obvious draw. The Eagles realized this small rookie's talent and set him up for the starting role. He switched to psychology and earned his undergraduate degree in 2020; he is now halfway to his master's degree in engineering management. He would rather play football for LSU. "No one is going to outgrind Tucker Kraft.". Rivals rating: 3 stars, not in Rivals 250. A month later, he picked the Hokies and stuck with that commitment even after several other Power Five offers came in. -- Chris Low. XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. Etienne, a native of Jennings, Louisiana, was a three-star recruit who pulled in a slew of offers from across the country. -- Kyle Bonagura, 'If you can play, they'll find you': How small school NFL draft prospects fought to get noticed, Nikola Jokic dominates Suns as Nuggets go up 2-0, Devils blank Rangers for 1st series win since 2012, Serena announces she's pregnant with 2nd child, Snoop Dogg joins Sparks' bid to buy Senators, LeBron 'locked in' as rivalry with Steph resumes, Harper ready: 'Body has been very good to me', Jets bolster OT group by signing veteran Turner, Ohio halts betting on Alabama baseball games, Calipari thanks Bryants for package honoring Gigi, 'This is probably his best shot': Why the time is now for Harden and the 76ers. A historic 2023 NFL Draft is in the books for the Jacksonville area, and with it, a host of college football players from here are set for some new addresses . Opponents had to commit to stopping the run -- NDSU would just keep hammering teams with the ground game until they did so -- which meant Watson was generally left to beat overmatched cornerbacks and distracted safeties. He then recorded 2,041 all-purpose offensive yards and 8 touchdowns. At UGA, Stokes became a full-time starter in 2019.
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