I had the good fortune to be sent to cover the Colts/Ravens game on Saturday, and watching this game gave me a reminder of exactly how long the distance is from Division III to the NFL.
Even the highest level of Division III is still quite distant from the top pro league on the planet. Maybe it’s hard to appreciate the size of a Ray Lewis or an Adalius Thomas on paper. Todd Heap? Yeah, he’s a heap and then some. Speed? This game is played at a frenetic pace.
Those Division III players fortunate enough to have a shot at the big time have to fight all sorts of preconceptions about D-III, that’s true. It’s somewhat unfair. But they also have to conquer their own shortcomings in many cases when it comes to competing on this level. Because it’s not just the next level — it’s two or three levels up.
Good luck to Whitworth’s Michael Allan, the first D-III player to be invited to the NFL’s scouting combine since Ryan Hoag was in 2003. Good luck to former Dubuque receiver Daunta Peterson, who recently signed with the Bills and has been allocated to NFL Europe. Represent us well.
By the way, the Ravens emptied out a luxury suite to accomodate the extra media interest in this game. They didn’t seat anyone in the stands outside (though it was a decent day) or on the roof. Someone in the organization gave up their room to accomodate the media.
If only some D-III schools would do the same.
I hope Allan gets a fair shot.
I love it when D3 guys make the NFL. Ken Anderson (hall of famer) from my beloved Augustana Vikings proved to be solid motivation for Augie’s teams.
I wish anyone from D-3 who makes it to the next level the best luck in the world and grant them my utmost respect…. Its got to be tough to even be taken seriously by many players from big name schools, who think D-3 is a joke…For a player to not being recruited by those big name schools out of high school and to work harder than ever to get to the next level, they should demand anyone’s respect…It’s so much harder to get a look coming from the small ranks, so these people should be commended!!! Thanks for making D-3 football look good…again!
I was just wondering, how many purple raiders have gone pro? You would think that for every one person from D3 that goes pro Mt. Union would have at least one since they basically own division three as of late. I’m just wondering why I don’t hear of them or am I just completely oblivious to what’s going on and people from Mount go pro every year.
Mount Union is a great example of team success.
Going pro is usually for great individuals.
Guys like QB Rob Adamson and CB Chris Kern have gotten NFL looks, but I can’t think of anyone who’s stuck.
There is a list of D3 players who were professionally scouted in the new installment (2nd of 3) of the year in review:
http://www.d3football.com/atn.php
It’s midway down. Below that, there is a shorter list of players who might have more realistic shots at getting an NFL tryout/camp invite/free agent deal.
Chris played a few years with the Lions, until shoulder injuries took him down…Rob signed witht he Chargers originally, was cut, and played briefly with the Canton legends, an indoor pro league…Dan Pugh also had a few looks…Currenltl, and for the past several years, many ex-Raiders are playing for the Canton Legends, including Knapp, Momorovic, and a few others….
Keith,
Another killer job on the Year in Review, part 2.
Can’t wait till next Monday. The longer the better. I print it at work and read it at home.
September can’t get here soon enough.
Jim Ballard, who led Mt. Union to their first Title in 1993, probably hung around the pros longer than anyone from Mount. He was on the Bills roster on and off for a few years. But Ric can probably give you more acurate details on how long.
He also played overseas for some time if I remeber right…
Anyone know the latest on Bret Elliott. I heard he was cut from the Chargers, but then what…
Lets not forget about Tom Arth (JCU) or Jamal Roberson (ONU) or Londen Fletcher (JCU)/// and also Knapp led the IFL in recieving yards like lthe last 2 years I think.
where did arth and roberson play?
Arth was on the Colts and Packer’s rosters. Also played in Europe. Robertson played for the 49ers, Panthers, and is currently on the Falcon’s roster.
Jamal’s page at Falcon’s Website:
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=17115
Robertson’s been as high as second-string RB with the 49ers, and was a main kick returner with Carolina for a while, IIRC.
Arth always seems to be the backup to the backup of Peyton Manning when camp comes around. His name pops up a lot.
Obviously, if we want to go down the whole list of recent NFL D3 guys who got shots (like Jeremiah Janssen of St. Norbert) and guys who stuck for a while (like R-Kal Truluck of Cortland), we could, but I’m pretty sure there’s a thread dedicated to that on Post Patterns.
Still, the main names from the D3.com era are:
London Fletcher-Baker, JCU
Tony Beckham, UW-Stout
Bill Schroeder, UW-La Crosse
Matt Turk, UW-?
Clint Kriewaldt, UW-La Crosse
Jamal Robertson, ONU
Jerheme Urban, Trinity (Tex.)
Ethan Brooks, Williams
R-Kal Truluck, Cortland State
Nate Jackson, Menlo
Ryan Hoag, Gustavus Adolphus
Ones who haven’t quite stuck:
Michael Coleman, Widener
Blake Elliott, St. John’s
Brett Elliott, Linfield
Tom Arth, JCU
Rob Adamson, Mount Union
Chris Kern, Mount Union
Tim Watson, Rowan
Jermaine Taylor, Bridgewater
and probably a million more guys who got a look. Some of the above (and I did that all off the top, apologies to anyone I left off or mistakes I made) are still bouncing around and have a shot at surfacing on Sundays.
Clint Kriewaldt is from UW-Stevens Point and Matt Turk is from UW-Whitewater.
Who has been drafted on the first day?……I know they’re are only 1 or 2 who have, but I can’t recall who they are?
Alex Bell got signed by the NYG, then got cut a couple of years back – doesn’t sound like he was able to stick in the NFL either.
just to clarify – bell was not drafted!
Sam Mills from Montclair State was a Great NFL Pro. I think he was a 4 or 5 time All-Pro.
Happy New Year to all !!!