Pete Guerriero had nothing else to prove and a whole lot to potentially lose if he returned for his senior year, the Monmouth RB took a leap of faith that few FCS products do — he declared early for the NFL Draft. Only 15 have declared early since 2016, and only two have been drafted (N.C. A&T's Darryl Johnson last year and Eastern Kentucky's Noah Spence in 2016). Yet Guerriero and this year's other early FCS guy, Rhode Island WR Isaiah Coulter, look like they both may have made the right decision. Both are shown by multiple scouting services to be draftable this week. In fact, the site DraftScout has Guerriero as a potential Day Three 6th or 7th rounder, while Coulter may even creep into Day Two.
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[divider]NFL Draft Feature Stories:
Derrek Tuszka, NDSU | Adam Trautman, Dayton | Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
Bryce Sterk, Montana St. | Christian Rozeboom, SDSU | Jonah Williams, Weber St.
J.J. Koski, Cal Poly | Bronson Rechsteiner, Kennesaw | Pete Guerriero, Monmouth
Ron'Dell Carter, JMU | Nick Tiano, Chattanooga | Cam Gill, Wagner
Riley Stapleton, JMU | Kevin Davidson, Princeton
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The HERO Sports First Team All-American running back is hungry, you can hear it in Guerriero's serious tone. He wants to represent Monmouth, he wants to represent his hometown of Lyndhurst, N.J. He wants to prove people wrong who thought he was just a track star, and those who think at 5-foot-9 he's not big enough, or those who think the FCS level isn't strong enough. His 1,995 rushing yards led the FCS nation, and his 11 yards per reception average prove he can be dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield, too. Also, when he was a freshman and returned kickoffs, he averaged 38 yards per return and scored a touchdown. He is the consummate, do-everything back that NFL teams crave.
"Teams say they love it, that they like that I can catch the ball," Guerriero told HERO Sports. "I always like to bring up that I grew up in a small town and nobody had a lot there. We were all asked to do everything in town, and it was the same on the field. I played quarterback, receiver, running back, both sides of the ball. I can run down on kickoffs and be the gunner or jam it on returns. Teams are really liking that."
It helps explain why he decided to leave early instead of pursuing another 2,000+ all-purpose yard season. With nearly 4,000 career rushing yards to his name, his legacy at Monmouth is already set. He helped the Hawks to a Big South Championship, two FCS playoff berths and 28 wins in his three seasons on the field. He helped Monmouth become one of the Big South's powerhouses.
The decision was actually made in the 2019 preseason: If he had a good year and he felt healthy, he would take a shot at the NFL. The reality now is that he'll get his shot, it's just a matter of which route he ends up being given (draft pick or high priority free agent), and which team picks him up.
"I feel like the position I'm in right now, I was very healthy after the season – with no bruises on my body," Guerriero said. "The position that I'm in right now is exactly the same position I'd be in next year … Especially with this draft? It's the perfect opportunity."
Last year, he rushed for 107 yards against eventual FBS bowl-bound Western Michigan, scoring a touchdown. And against FCS national runner up James Madison in the playoffs? On the first play, he rushed 93 yards for a touchdown against one of the top defenses in the FCS level. Not coincidentally, NFL scouts were most curious about how he performed against those two opponents. Along with his nearly 2,000-yard rushing season (missing by just five yards), he also caught 32 passes for 336 yards and 2 scores. The Monmouth back was also blessed to be able to get his Pro Day in before the COVID19 pandemic shut the world down. He didn't disappoint, especially in the speed department.
Here's how his Pro Day numbers stacked up against all RB prospects at the NFL Combine:
- 40 – 4.47 seconds (Would have ranked Top 5 among RBs at NFL Combine)
- Bench – 18 reps (Top 15)
- Vertical – 32 inches (Top 15 )
Five NFL teams are in touch the most, but as many prospects do, he declined to name them — though he did say he has two favorites. If he's drafted, he'll be only the third player taken from Monmouth (NJ) since the program began in 1993. If he isn't taken? He can take the route that undrafted Monmouth products have gone before — like Chris Hogan and Miles Austin, who didn't need the draft to prove they belonged in the "League".
And that's Guerriero's message to FCS players … in a very serious tone: Believe in yourself, grind.
"Don't let what you think the level of competition is fool you," Guerriero said. "There's some real football players out here. I started to realize that more and more, playing against the Montanas and the James Madisons and the Northern Iowas. These are really, really good players, and if you can play well here in the FCS, you're just as good as an FBS player. Play like it, and they'll find you."
Pete Guerriero recorded the longest kickoff return in school history in this #ThrowbackThursday #TBT @PeteyTheJet pic.twitter.com/rKbml3y4Nu
— Monmouth Football (@MUHawksFB) April 2, 2020
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