Draft Eligibility

Another Draft, another crop of underclassmen. Deciding to forgo your senior season (or junior season for some) can be rewarding for Top Prospect players. In fact, a hearty amount of NFL stars are former early entry draftees. If you were a sure top pick, would you risk an injury in your senior season? I’ve seen it happen. With Top Prospects this decision to leave school early is very understandable.

But what about those players that declare and then never pan out; some guys can be nasty at Michigan but just can’t handle the NFL … it happens. Then they find themselves drafted and cut, signed and cut or sitting at home playing Playstation waiting for the phone to ring. Once you’ve declard - there’s no turning back - sometimes you wonder what some of these guys are thinking (Maurice Clarrett).

Now lets take this to another level. What about players from lower divisions or even Junior College ranks that declare? The odds are tremendously stacked up against them. There are a few different reasons for these athletes to exit college, sometimes you simply have no choice like the Chicago Bears DT Alfonso Boone. He was originally enrolled at Central State (Ohio) but was forced to leave when the school dropped football. He found himself at Mt. San Antonio JC where he had to declare for the 2000 NFL Draft because his 5yrs of eligibility ran out. Alfonso Boone is still around and is having a solid career. He’s one of the few lucky ones.

Other players have screwed up so many times that they have no other choice but to get the heck out of college and try to grab as much money as they can from the NFL before they end up in jail … anyone remember Cecil Collins?

Then there are athletes that simply think that they have the stuff to jump to the next level, maybe they do, but remember that there is a big lack of respect for small schools. Sure you got athletcism, but can you play with the big boys? Players like WR Tyrone Jordan from Valdosta State (2004 Draft) and last years entry’s RB Derrick Johnese (Northwestern St) and WR Larry Brackins (Pearl River CC) decided to try their abilities out in the NFL with only Brackins getting an inkling of a chance. Now I’m not knocking lower division football, I respect these athletes, all that I’m saying is that it’s hard enough for a RB from Northwestern State to get himself signed as a free agent … nevermind leaving school as a Junior and expecting to be Drafted. Use your head guys … and Be Cool, Stay In School … (unless you are Champ Bailey, in that case leave school and be a millionaire).

Lets look at the small school early draft entries of 2006:

DE RODERKUS WRIGHT 6’5” 270 Grossman JC – His Junior College stats are a joke. This season alone he had 65t, 45 TFL, 26.5 sacks, 66 QB hurries, 5 BKs, 5FF, 5FR and 4PBU. These stats only prove that he can kick the hell out of Junior College linemen. Unofficial reports have him timed at 4.7/40 and jumping 37.5” in the VJ. Will be turning 25 years old and his time is running out, he was essentially booted from both Oregon and Portland State for academic and off-field issues. Does have great size and athleticism and maybe worth a quick look strictly based on his abilities. If anything he has a cool name, Roderkus.

WR TROY BERGERON 6’2” 180 Troy State/Georgia (Arena Football) – Pulling an Adrian McPherson and is entering the Draft straight from Arena Football. Why not? This guy has nothing to lose. He’s come a long way from being recruited by Auburn. He transferred to Mid. Tenn. State because Auburn wanted to make him a DB. Then after the birth of his child he decided to move on to Troy State to be closer to his family. Leaving a small blip on the college football radar he settled for working two jobs before his luck finally changed. He found himself on the roster for the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League after a short stint in AF2. In 2005 he caught 105 passes for 1372y and 31TDs, and was named AFL Rookie of the Year. Shows excellent concentration and very soft hands, a real hard worker with decent quickness. More of a late draft enry than an early one, but I thought he was worth mentioning.

DE MICHAEL WILLIAMS 6’3” 240 Texas College – Lacks great DE size, could play OLB. Is an excellent defensive player with good speed. Was a top recruit by the University of Texas but never got much playing time. In 2005 he had 72t, 12.5tfl, 5.5 sacks and 4FF. While he IS a good athlete, I’m not sure I fully understand why he’s entering the Draft early. If making the NFL from Division III is an uphill climb then making it from NAIA is like climbing Mt. Everest.

CB DANIEAL MANNING 6’1” 205 Abilene Christian – This kid is a good one. He proved he could hang with the D-I kids while starting in the East-West Shrine Game. Danieal has dominated at his level and is an 11x All American going back to his freshman season. He has all the tools; speed, athleticism, leadership, and a good head on his shoulders. Transferred to ACU after sigining with Nebraska, he has earned 3x All Conference. Very versatile player that can lineup at WR and is also a great returnman as well as a solid special teamer. Has 10 career TDs. 2005: 49t, 2tfl, sack, 4pbu, 2FF, 2FR, 3 BKs, PR-243y, 12.8y/pr, TD, KR-349y, 26.8y.kr, TD, run-20y, rec-5r, 28y. Has a good chance of being the first Abilene Christian player drafted since 1985.

And there you have it, good luck small school underclassmen and godspeed.

-Matt