To those FCS pro prospects who can't sleep tonight, and to their loved ones — Saturday's a big day.
Last year, we were able to verify more than 200 FCS prospects who received a chance to hit an NFL mini-camp, and fewer than 20 were drafted. They were all stoked. While their contemporaries at the P5 level may look down at a "tryout" opportunity, what we've found is the FCS guys embrace any opportunity, kind of like they did when they went through the dreaded recruiting process out of high school.
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I think one thing to remember is … the world doesn't end after the 7th round is called tomorrow, it actually begins. NFL teams are putting together their 90-man rosters, and they aren't filling that 53rd man to 90th man roster gap with guys who are 30 years old, they're looking for young guys like you to explode during their camps. Now, this is a business … and the real world of business is cold. Hell, I've been laid off. Your parents have probably been through it too. It does happen in life, but it shouldn't impede you from sticking your neck out there and busting your ass in a mini-camp, which undoubtedly you guys will.
Your young position coaches? The guys who look like they could line up next to you and probably play just as well as you? They're in their mid to late 20s and they've already been fired at least once too. It's reality, it happens. And life moves on. But none of them parked it on the couch and didn't give it a go, and you also know that.
For this pivotal weekend? Keep it positive. Again … last year 200+ FCS prospects got a shot at this "game" we call pro football. Many didn't make it, and that's fine because this level doesn't just produce pro prospects, it produces college graduates because most of you guys are not so out of touch with reality to think that the college years were just about the gridiron. Your P5 brethren? They suffer from that affliction and many go down permanently because of it. You guys have learned to be way more realistic, and than may be your tiebreaker.
If you're drafted, as your FCS brothers Tytus Howard, Nasir Adderly, Khalen Saunders and Quincy Williams were on Thursday and Friday? That's awesome. Probably another 15 to 20 of you will be taken on Saturday. After that? You get to go through a very quick recruiting process that you never got to experience coming out of high school … most of you are going to have more pro football options than you ever had Division I college options four to five years ago. You get to choose, except this time, you have more than one or two potential destinations, and you will be paid if you do well.
You can choose the depth chart that fits you. The reality is, the money may not be as insane as the dips**t media paints it … YET. But it could be comfortable and if you succeed, you may be able to set yourself up for life, if you're smart with your money. Last year? More than 20 guys who weren't drafted out of FCS schools went on to make 53 man rosters. Hell, a couple of them played in the Super Bowl.
Having a goal, having a dream? It's big time. And you guys? You're also smart and have back-up plans. Hell, Kyle Sloter from Northern Colorado two years ago? Remember him, the QB who ripped it up his senior year in the Big Sky back in 2016 after playing tight end at Southern Miss, then transferring to UNC and not playing and really … who are we kidding … not playing much CFB at all? He had a real-world job offer already lined up in Atlanta. But trust me, his potential employer understood when Kyle hit them up and said, "I have some NFL teams that might want to take a look at me". The Denver Broncos nearly drafted Kyle in 2017 in the 7th round, and the Minnesota Vikings have had him on the roster the past two seasons.
Look, I'm not saying Kyle has been a Pro Bowler just yet, but he opened a door or two thanks to the spring after his senior season … and he's still on an NFL roster and has a shot to contribute. It could be you too. It's not a promise, but it's a possibility. When the hell did we expect a promise? All we ever asked for as that possibility, right?
So tomorrow, you might get drafted. But if you don't get drafted, keep that head up high because you'll likely get an opportunity to make a 90-man pro roster anyway. That's your real door to opportunity, and you've already proven that you were a walk-on, or a guy with just two offers out of HS, and you could turn out to be an FCS all-american, or an all-conference guy … you've already done this guys. You can do it again. You're not spoiled by this process, you never were. You were always an underdog, yet embraced it. You developed at 19, not 16, but you're as good as the guys at Bama, Clemson, Ohio State. You've played against these P5 guys and held your own one-on-one. Only depth was the difference, team wise … usually only in the 4th quarter.
You HATED the star system in recruiting (how could we blame you?).
So tomorrow you will finalize the details of your "shot" at the next level. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't … but you guys have been here before and you'll make the best of that shot. It's not the end of the world, but if you get that opportunity? My guess is you'll crush this shit.
You know?
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Here are the links to the FCS Combine performance charts, position by position (how the NFL Combine breaks it down):
Safeties | Cornerbacks |
OLB/DE | Defensive Tackles
ILBs | Offensive Linemen
Running Backs | Quarterbacks
Special Teams
Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | ALL Positions
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