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Division 3 players can make it to the NFL, it’s just a lot harder. If you dominate your competition and have top-level measurables, you have a shot at joining the small fraternity of Division 3 football players in the NFL.
Pierre Garcon was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. (ICON Sports)
As of today, the last Division 3 players to get drafted to the NFL were Andy Studebaker (Philadelphia Eagles), from Wheaton College, and Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis Colts) from Mount Union, in 2008.
If you pay close attention to the path these players took to the NFL, you’ll discover some patterns that you can use to tell if you have a serious shot at playing in the NFL if you’re a Division 3 football player.
I now present to you, the 4 Things Most Division 3 Football Players in the NFL Have in Common. There’s always going to be exceptions to the rule, but you’ll find that Division 3 football players in the NFL have at least two or three of these experiences in common.
1. Participate in one of the Big Three College All Star Games.
If NFL scouts really think you have what it takes, you’re going to get invited to one of the major college all star games, because they want to see how you perform against the big school guys.
The Big Three college all star games:
∙ The Senior Bowl
∙ East-West Shrine Game
∙ Texas vs. The Nation (was cancelled in 2012, will resume in 2013)
Update: There are quite a few other games that have players that will at least make it into NFL camps as undrafted free agents.
Among them, are:
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
Casino Del Sol Bowl
The Battle of Florida
Player’s All Star Classic
Both of the Division 3 players that were drafted into the NFL in 2008 played in major all star games. Both Andy Studebaker and Pierre Garcon played in the Texas vs. the Nation game.
This year, Cecil Shorts, a wide receiver out of Division 3 Mount Union, has been projected to go as high as the 5th or 6th round in the draft. He played in the East-West Shrine Game.
2. Scouts will visit you.
If NFL teams are really interested in getting a closer look at you, a scout from their team is going to come pay you a visit on campus.
By the way, you might be surprised to find out what scouts look for when they pay you a visit.
Playing at a D3 school, your games aren’t on national television, and they have little respect for the competition you play against in practice and in games.
So if they’re interested, NFL teams have to pay you a visit to see you in person, to get a feel for your abilities. And that goes for any player they’re interested in, not just small school guys.
Have you seen any scouts with NFL logos on their shirts at your practices? Ask your coaches if any NFL scouts have stopped-by to watch film on you.
If the answer is “no” to both of these questions, I hate to tell you this, but you’re probably not headed to the NFL; at least not right out of college.
You might have to start out in a lesser league, like the Arena Football League, or maybe even the IFL. If you have to play arena ball, don’t hang your head, there’s quite a few former Arena Football League players that made it to the NFL eventually.
NFL teams hardly ever draft a player from any school, let-alone a Division 3 school, that they didn’t send a scout to visit in-person first.
3. You’ll get invited to an FBS (D-1A) or FCS (D-1AA) School’s Pro Day.
As I said before, there’s always exceptions to the rule, and this year that exception was Cecil Short.
Cecil’s only Pro Day showing was at his own school, at Mount Union. I’m sure this was partly due to the fact that Mount Union is a perennial Division 3 football powerhouse that recently produced another NFL wide receiver in Pierre Garcon.
Not to mention that he was not only invited to the NFL Combine, but he performed fairly well there, too, so he had very little to prove at his Pro Day.
In 2008, Andy Studebaker participated in Northwestern’s Pro Day. Pierre Garcon’s was at Mount Union, but like Cecil Short, he was invited to the NFL Combine and did well, running a 4.42.
Michael Allan, who was drafted by the Chiefs in 2007, held his Pro Day at his home school of Whitworth, but like Pierre and Cecil, he was invited to the NFL Combine, and did well, running a 4.71 in the 40.
4. Your Stats and Measurables Need to Equal or Surpass that of the Big School Prospects.
Division 3 football players that make it to the NFL generally outperform or match their peers from Division 1A schools stat-wise.
As they say, numbers don’t lie, so let’s compare the 2008 stats and measurables of Pierre Garcon, who was rated as the #24th ranked wideout going into the Draft, versus Devin Thomas, who was the #1 ranked wideout going into the Draft, from Michigan State.
Pierre Garcon, Mount Union, #24 Ranked WR in Nation – 2008
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 220
40: 4.42
225:20
20 yard dash: 2.56
10 yard dash: 2.56
Vertical Jump: 36 1/2
Broad Jump: 10’5″
20 yard shuttle: 4.19
3 cone: 6.90
Senior season: 67 catches, 955 yards, 14 TD’s
Devin Thomas, Michigan State, #1 Ranked WR in Nation – 2008
Height: 6’1″ 7/8
Weight: 215
40: 4.40
225: Didn’t test
20 yard dash: 2.50
10 yard dash: 1.47
Vertical Jump: 28
Broad Jump: 10’6″
20 yard shuttle: 4.26
3-code drill: 7.15
79 catches, 1260 yards, 8 TD’s
Do you know any Division 3 football players in the NFL that didn’t mean at least one of the above criteria?
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I got off track a little in my last coment, so back on track. Arena football League actually took on the minor or semi pro model of their former Arena Football2. AFL2 was a league where many DIII players went to play. working their way to arena1 where they were paid a pro salary similar to the UFL and even the CFL. Those who made the jump to AFL1 then got on the NFL radar. They also got on another pro leagues radar, the CFL. many players would play in both leagues.
Again that was great for football players but the league struggled financially so here we are. I would like to see the Arena Football League come back as a real pro league. I think the problem was too many teams with some not pulling their weight financially as the AFL did have a TV contract.
Again this was a nice set up for the players. Hopefully AFL will be able to come back to its original format as a pro league with wages that are up to par.
Thoughts are that this can be done. The AFL would have to pick the best franchises that did well originally financially and are still drawing the crowds now. maybe a 10 team AFL1 league where all the best players will play in. Present the plan and proposal to the TV networks ESPN/ABC I believe had the contract before. Use the UFL model of paying players 40,000 and provide housing. The other teams would still exist as AFL2. where the DIII players and others would have a minor league to improve their skill set and make the cut for the big pay in AFL1
Great read. no mater what division or country you played your college ball in or what pro leagues you may have played in the NFL is always looking for a player that can help them win. they will look everywhere and anywhere.
The arena football league until its restructure was actually a decent pro league to play in as you were compensated with a professional wage. then there was all the other indoor leagues that were miner or semi pro kinda leagues where your compensation was very low. The new arena league is if that nature now. they actually came back as arena football league2 as the compensation is just 400 a week. Players here truly are looking to get to the NFL or CFL so they are very serious about playing football in the pro’s and the pro scouts know that.
The UFL had come in and took the place of the arena league sort of, as they payed players a decent salary and the biggest lure was that they provided housing for its players. This lured many a CFL or potential NFL practice squad player to the UFL, as there season ended in october about mid point of the NFL and NFL injuries were taking place. So if you played well in the UFL and had NFL experience as many did they went to the UFL and found some replacements that jumped over players on their practice squad in making the 53 man roster.
The UFL however was and will always be on their own. the NFL does not want anything to do with it. The NFL had a minor league system in NFL Europe and dropped it as it was not cost effecient to them.
It is a shame because the UFL concept is a great one, unfortunately there was no major interest from a TV Network, so the league has financial difficulties. They did everything right hiring top football people to run and coach the franchises, there only mistake was that they were counting on the NFL to help and the are just not going to. Moving to the spring may help the league stay afloat but that changes what their Mission was. There Mission was to provide players with a half season of play during the fall in which they would have a pro camp, pro coaching, and playing time. when season ended in mid october NFL teams were looking for players that are in football shape and ready to jump right in. it was a perfect set-up.
Staying in the fall would be wise but they would need to find a way to generate revenue and gain the interest of football fans. My thought was to place all the teams in one region where travel costs would be efficient to save money. IF they can find the right region that would support the league a regional TV deal could be a possibility and the league mission to help players get to or back into the NFL would be complete. Moving to the spring would not do that for them.
The most successful team was in Omaha. In Nebraska and Oklahoma there are three major college football teams. that would be all they would have to compete with. so perhaps a four to six team league playing in this region may be successful. Travel cost would be cut tremendously
Very detailed insight. Thank you for offering your thoughts!
Are there any defensive backs playing in the NFL or have ever played in the NFL from Division 3 schools?
I’m sure there has been. Chris Greenwood from Albion College will land on an NFL team this year for sure.
No matter what division your in, if you play like a pro, train like a pro, and believe like a pro, you can make it as far as you want! Ask Jerry Rice. Enough said.
To Alvin: Kyles #1 sport is football
Matt Turk P Texans Wisconsin-Whitewater
d3 stud Luther ILB Kyle McGivney. 6’3 230 4.54 40. All time d3 career tackles and most in a season. 16 away from all division title
What’s his #1 sport… football, or baseball?
Awesome! I wish him the best. How’s everything looking for Kyle as far as playing pro?