Has an NAIA or Division III ever been drafted by a Pro team..?

[Cleets]

1) Anybody know if an NAIA or Div.III player has eve been drafted
2) name some Div.II Div.III and NAIA players who made it to the pro level (undrafted)


xchinscratchx

[danefan]

NAIA players on NFL squads (as of Jan 08).

· Patrick Crayton - Dallas Cowboys (Northwestern Oklahoma State, 2003)
· Tyronne Gross - San Diego Chargers (Eastern Oregon, 2005)
· Derrick Ward - New York Giants (Ottawa (Kan.), 2003)


http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010408aac.html

From this year's free-agent signing:

Two NAIA football players signed National Football League (NFL) contracts recently. Saint Xavier (Ill.) University's Shane Longest signs with the Chicago Bears and Lindenwood (Mo.) University's Brian Schaefering inks with the Cleveland Browns.

http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042808aaa.html

[MorgantonAPPAlum]

My google-fu returns this website (http://football.victorysportsnetwork.com/fb/proPlayers.php) that lists several NAIA players who have gone on to the pros.

Don't know about drafted or undrafted.

[griz&beer]

NAIA Carol KC Fisiomions (sp) TE.. he play for The Lions

[danefan]

Michael Allan (DIII Whitworth) was drafted in the 7th round of the 07 draft by KC.

[Houndawg]

Former Cinncinnati QB Ken Anderson (Super Bowl XVI) played at D-III Augustana. Don't know if he was drafted.

[Cleets]

Former Cinncinnati QB Ken Anderson (Super Bowl XVI) played at D-III Augustana. Don't know if he was drafted.

I remember him..!!!
he was a pro bowl QB a bunch too (weird)

[BlueHen86]

Former Cinncinnati QB Ken Anderson (Super Bowl XVI) played at D-III Augustana. Don't know if he was drafted.
I also remember him, for some reason I also remember that he attended Augustana. If that question ever pops up in the Daily Trivia Challenge, I got it covered.xlolx

[MaroonMafia]

NAIA Carol KC Fisiomions (sp) TE.. he play for The Lions

Casey Fitzsimmons from Carroll College in Helena, MT, was signed as a free-agent by Detroit and has since signed a new deal. He's played long enough to get a pension plan, so he's set! He also played 8-man in high school...

[OLDMAIN80]

Jerry Richardson (Carolina Panthers owner and '58 Wofford Grad) was drafted by the Colts in '59. Not sure if we were NAIA then or not.

[OB55]

Don Beebe, Chadron State. They were NAIA at the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Beebe

Great NFL career.

[JohnStOnge]

Man, fellas. DARREL GREEN was an NAIA player. Texas A&I was NAIA when he played there. You're talking about one of the best all around cornerbacks ever in the NFL. It's a guy who, at 38 years old, went to Redskins camp and ran three sub 4.3 40s in a row. Or maybe one was right at 4.3. Can't remember.

Anyway, he's a guy who won the "NFL fastest man" competition several times beating people like Willie Gault.

For my money he was a better all around football player than people like...say...Deion Sanders. One heck of a player.

By the way, in his prime he was faster than Sanders was in his prime too. No doubt about it.

[Syntax Error]

Quite a few of them on this Mr. Irrelevant list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Irrelevant

[BlueHen86]

Man, fellas. DARREL GREEN was an NAIA player. Texas A&I was NAIA when he played there. You're talking about one of the best all around cornerbacks ever in the NFL. It's a guy who, at 38 years old, went to Redskins camp and ran three sub 4.3 40s in a row. Or maybe one was right at 4.3. Can't remember.

Anyway, he's a guy who won the "NFL fastest man" competition several times beating people like Willie Gault.

For my money he was a better all around football player than people like...say...Deion Sanders. One heck of a player.

By the way, in his prime he was faster than Sanders was in his prime too. No doubt about it.
You are right. Even as an "old man" Green was one of the fastest players in the NFL.xnodx

[JohnStOnge]

I realize that Wikipedia has problems, but I'll nevertheless use it for this list of NAIA player Darrell Green's NFL records:

Most seasons with one team (20); tied with Jackie Slater
Most seasons with one team in one city (20)
Most consecutive seasons with an interception (19)[4][9]
Most seasons with at least one touch (20); tied with Jerry Rice
Most consecutive seasons with at least one touch (20); tied with Jerry Rice
Oldest player with a 35+ yard gain(punt return), (42 years, 327 days)
Oldest NFL cornerback (42 years old)[9]
Oldest player to return an interception for a touchdown (37)
Most games played by a defensive player (295)
Most games played for one team (295)
4 time NFL's Fastest Man Competition winner, only player to win multiple times and never lose
1996 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner
Fastest 40 yard dash time in NFL history (4.09 seconds, 1986 [16][17])

To the question of being drafted: He was drafted in the first round. And it was a good pick.

[Cleets]

I realize that Wikipedia has problems, but I'll nevertheless use it for this list of NAIA player Darrell Green's NFL records:

Most seasons with one team (20); tied with Jackie Slater
Most seasons with one team in one city (20)
Most consecutive seasons with an interception (19)[4][9]
Most seasons with at least one touch (20); tied with Jerry Rice
Most consecutive seasons with at least one touch (20); tied with Jerry Rice
Oldest player with a 35+ yard gain(punt return), (42 years, 327 days)
Oldest NFL cornerback (42 years old)[9]
Oldest player to return an interception for a touchdown (37)
Most games played by a defensive player (295)
Most games played for one team (295)
4 time NFL's Fastest Man Competition winner, only player to win multiple times and never lose
1996 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner
Fastest 40 yard dash time in NFL history (4.09 seconds, 1986 [16][17])

Jeezus..!!!
4.09 ...
it would be difficult to get passed him on a deep rout

[JohnStOnge]

You are right. Even as an "old man" Green was one of the fastest players in the NFL.xnodx

One thing I'll always remember is listening to a former Bears defensive back who was an NFL TV commentator talking about how, when Randy Moss played against the Redskins, Green "schooled him." Moss was playing against a guy near 40 years old who was faster than he was.

To me Green is one of the most underrated NFL players ever. I don't know why that is unless it's because he was so humble and never got into doing things to bring notice to himself. I'm going from memory but I think that when he ran those 40s at a Redskins rookie camp (I think that's what it was) at 38 years old he went 4.27, 4.28, and 4.30.

I can remember watching a Monday night football game one time when the Redskins were playing the Rams. Eric Dickerson broke clean when everybody was stacked at the line and one of the guys...I think Gifford...said "goodbye." But Green came from way back....overhauled Dickerson like he was standing still...and tackled him from behind.

The guy was incredibly fast overall and also incredibly fast in pads.

[BlueHen86]

One thing I'll always remember is listening to a former Bears defensive back who was an NFL TV commentator talking about how, when Randy Moss played against the Redskins, Green "schooled him." Moss was playing against a guy near 40 years old who was faster than he was.

To me Green is one of the most underrated NFL players ever. I don't know why that is unless it's because he was so humble and never got into doing things to bring notice to himself. I'm going from memory but I think that when he ran those 40s at a Redskins rookie camp (I think that's what it was) at 38 years old he went 4.27, 4.28, and 4.30.

I can remember watching a Monday night football game one time when the Redskins were playing the Rams. Eric Dickerson broke clean when everybody was stacked at the line and one of the guys...I think Gifford...said "goodbye." But Green came from way back....overhauled Dickerson like he was standing still...and tackled him from behind.

The guy was incredibly fast overall and also incredibly fast in pads.
Again I agree. If Green showed up today I think he'd be a much bigger star thanks to ESPN and Madden football. Although, it seems tough for defensive players to get fame unless they get tons of sacks.
(Deion being an exception, but he was famous for playing baseball and returning kicks as well.)

[JohnStOnge]

Again I agree. If Green showed up today I think he'd be a much bigger star thanks to ESPN and Madden football. Although, it seems tough for defensive players to get fame unless they get tons of sacks.
(Deion being an exception, but he was famous for playing baseball and returning kicks as well.)

Sanders was also famous because he promoted himself and acted weird to gain attention. Green never did that. He was a "nose to the grindstone" kind of guy who just did his job and didn't go out of his way to seek attention.

[Sturgisjeff]

Lyle Alzado- Broncos, Les Goodman- Packers, Yankton College in the 70's. They had some others that went as free agents from this class. The college is now a Federal Prison Camp.

[CatFan22]

NAIA Carol KC Fisiomions (sp) TE.. he play for The Lions

Have you been drinking?
I'm sorry but that "sentence" was hilarious. xlolx xlolx xlolx

[Hammerhead]

Tyrone Braxton -- N.D. State was the next to last draft pick in 1987 and would have been undrafted in today's world since there are no longer 12 rounds

Art Shell -- Maryland-East Shore (they don't have a football team now)
Andre Reed -- Kutztown

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3329687

[Cobblestone]

I don't recall if he was drafted or was a free agent but I remember Plymouth State (D-III) RB Joe Dudek getting some time with the Broncos.

[Hood]

John Kitna?

N/m undrafted.

[3rd Coast Tiger]

Before the NCAA allowed HBCU's into the association (pre 1977), they were in the NAIA and thousands of NAIA players were drafted into the NFL.

[andy7171]

Sean Landetta went to the USFL and then to the NFL. Towson(State) was D.II in his days.

Jacoby Jones for the Texans went to Lane College. I think they are D.II.

[danefan]

Some talk about this DIII kid this year maybe getting drafted (unlikely, but possible)

Jason Boltus (QB - Hartwick College)
3265 passing yards, 35 tds in 8 games.
He's 6'3, 220 and ran a 4.7. He's on the radar definitely, but I doubt he'll get drafted.


Oh and BTW, he transferred out of Albany.

[andy7171]

Lyle Alzado- Broncos, Les Goodman- Packers, Yankton College in the 70's. They had some others that went as free agents from this class. The college is now a Federal Prison Camp.

I have a PhD from Yankton College! xlolx xlolx xlolx

[HIU 93]

Before the NCAA allowed HBCU's into the association (pre 1977), they were in the NAIA and thousands of NAIA players were drafted into the NFL.

What he said...

I'm sure you guys have heard of Buck Buchanan. This is a FCS board, right?

[3rd Coast Tiger]

What he said...

I'm sure you guys have heard of Buck Buchanan. This is a FCS board, right?

xlolx

[Hood]

Some talk about this DIII kid this year maybe getting drafted (unlikely, but possible)

Jason Boltus (QB - Hartwick College)
3265 passing yards, 35 tds in 8 games.
He's 6'3, 220 and ran a 4.7. He's on the radar definitely, but I doubt he'll get drafted.


Oh and BTW, he transferred out of Albany.


Yearly there's talk of a D-III or NAIA guy at QB making it to the NFL. A few years ago there was a young man, Brett Mitchell, from NAIA Evangel that was making some noise, but ultimately, not drafted and I think he might still be playing ball just not on the NFL level.

Point is, at this day and age, I think primarily NFL talent coming from anything below Division I (FBS or FCS) is going to be a guy that transferred down, or chose the small school for academic reasons and he put that ahead of any NFL aspirations. Naturally there will always be the one guy that fell through the cracks, but we have to be realists.

[Casey_Orourke]

Kevin Boss out of Western Oregon University (moved from NAIA to D-II in 2002) drafted in 2007 - 5th round (16th pick) by the New York Giants.
Kevin Boss (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Boss)

http://premium1.uploadit.org/Caseyorourke//Kevin-Boss.jpg