Every year, around 220 players are drafted into the NFL, transforming their lives from being the big man on campus to trying their best to make a career in one of the world’s most grueling sports. With between 95,000 and 105,000 college football players at any given time, being drafted is rare, even for great football players. The odds of being drafted to play on Sunday are slim.If a player isn’t drafted, they can become a free agent and work towards achieving their lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. Not all players are created equal, but those who do make the most of their opportunity.
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Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes, a Kansas City Chief, made a significant impact in 2001, leading the NFL in rushing with 1,555 yards in his fourth season. He also contributed 3,035 yards and 48 touchdowns in the next two seasons, earning him three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections. Holmes’ impressive performance was a testament to his skill and versatility.
Adam Oates
Adam Oates, a successful college hockey player, was ignored in the draft due to his college career. Despite this, he managed a Hall of Fame hockey career, playing for seven teams over 19 years. Oates ranked fifth in career assists and holds the NHL record for points among NCAA hockey players, with 1,420 points.
Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner was a star in the AFL and NFL Europe for four seasons before being drafted in the 1994 NFL draft. At 28, Warner was given a chance with the St. Louis Rams and never looked back. In his first year as a full-time starter, he threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl and NFL MVP honors. Warner retired in 2009, but set numerous NFL records, including most passes in a Super Bowl (414), most touchdown passes in a single postseason (11), most passing yards in a single postseason (1,063), and the fastest player to reach 10,000 and 30,000 career passing yards.
James Harrison
Warren Moon made a significant impact in the college football world, earning a Rose Bowl MVP in 1978. However, he didn’t secure a roster spot in the NFL, and instead spent six years in Canada playing for the Edmonton Eskimos. After a few seasons in the CFL, Moon decided to try the NFL, sparking a bidding war that ultimately led to the Houston Oilers winning. Despite struggling in his first four seasons, Moon’s persistent signal-calling prowess led to eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and an NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 1990. By 2000, Moon held professional football records for most pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and touchdowns, earning him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rod Smith
Rod Smith, a star at Missouri Southern State University, set conference records in career receiving yards and touchdowns, and broke the school’s record for receptions in a career. Despite his small-school pedigree, Smith went unnoticed on draft day in 1994. However, the Denver Broncos took a flier on him and saw a return on their undrafted investment. Smith exploded into the NFL scene in his third season, hauling in 70 balls for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns. Over the next eight years, he produced seven more 1,000-yard seasons, averaging 1,164 yards and six touchdowns per season. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2001, and 2005, and was a two-time All-Pro selection.
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