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ATN Podcast 272: D-III’s road to the NFL

Keith starts off this podcast by saying, “I think we are sitting on the best offseason podcast in Around the Nation history.” And if you care about Division III players in the NFL, or headed to the NFL, or Division III teams playing in NFL stadiums, you are in the right place.

We are all about the road to the NFL in this podcast. We start with an enlightening interview with Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman Ali Marpet, who is entering his sixth year in the league. He talks about his road into the league, whether he has ever shaken the “D3” label and some of the other Division III alumni he has played with for the Bucs.

Marpet also talks about one current D-III alumnus looking to follow a similar path, St. John’s tackle Ben Bartch. Bartch was not available for this podcast, but we talk with Marpet as well as Bartch’s coach, Gary Fasching. He talks about Bartch’s experience at the Senior Bowl. Did you think the Johnnies would never move a home game off campus? You’re not alone, and Fasching talks about how the final Johnnie-Tommie game ended up going to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Plus, who will play quarterback for the Johnnies in 2020?

We are also joined by a player who also has NFL potential, but didn’t make the cut for the Combine. Berry wide receiver Mason Kinsey has the drive in him to make noise on draft day, however — he’ll tell us about what he had to do in order to get a chance to run the 40 for scouts. Plus, we’ll get a pretty detailed look at what Kinsey’s schedule was at the Shrine Bowl, as well as how he is preparing for the draft.

Pat and Keith discuss that and more in Podcast 272, plus the latest coaching hirings and some of the interesting non-conference games which are new to the 2020 schedule.

Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

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Full episode:

Bonus content: Check out Hoopsville’s interview with Brad Bankston about regional realignment, starting at 25:00

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Theme music: DJmentos. Mason Kinsey (d3photography.com photo), Ali Marpet (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports), Ben Bartch (Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports)