2026 Football Eligibles
Alex Smith came into the pros with lofty expectations, and how could that not be the case when you are a Quarterback who was taken first overall? From Utah, it was the San Francisco 49ers who chose him in 2005, but it was a mixed bag of success, as he struggled on the field and with injuries. Missing the 2008 season due…
Alshon Jeffery was a standout player at South Carolina, earning an All-SEC selection. The Wide Receiver was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2012 draft. In his rookie year, he recorded 367 yards. Jeffery's second year saw him explode into the Pro Bowl with a career-high 1,421 yards and 89 receptions. He followed this up…
Anthony Costanzo was the player who the Indianapolis Colts used their First Round Pick on in the 2011 Draft (22ndOverall), and the Lineman from Boston College would play his entire pro career (10 seasons) wearing the horseshoe on his helmet. Costanzo started all 144 of his Games Played at Left Tackle, where he had three years where he exceeded double-digits…
Anthony Sharman was drafted as a Running Back from UConn, but it was his blocking ability that propelled him to a ten-year career in the NFL. Sharman played his first two seasons in Arizona, but his final eight in Kansas City where as a Fullback he was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2018, and a Super Bowl Champion the following…
Dan Bailey had a nice ten-year career in the NFL, the first seven of which were with Dallas where in 2015 he went to the Pro Bowl and led the NFL in Field Goal Percentage (93.8). In four of his seasons, Bailey exceeded 93 in Field Goal Percentage and accumulated 1,130 Points.
David DeCastro, an All-American at Stanford, was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as their First Round (24th Overall) Pick in the 2012 Draft. Unfortunately, he was only able to play four games as a rookie due to an injury, but he has been relatively healthy since then. He played at Right Guard until the end of the 2020 Season. In…
There was a time when Dez Bryant was in the conversation as the best Wide Receiver in the National Football League. A native Texan, Bryant played his college ball at Oklahoma State, and he was a First Rounder in 2010, returning to Texas to play for the Dallas Cowboys. An All-Rookie with 561 Yards, Bryant broke out in 2012 with 1,382…
After going undrafted in 2004, Texas A&M Lineman, Don Muhlbach worked out with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills, before landing with the Detroit Lions midway through the year, where he became their Long Snapper. Despite botching a snap that cost them a game against Minnesota in his rookie year, Muhlbach held on to the job, and would become one of…
Dontari Poe overachieved at Memphis, as the level he was recruited at going into college was not nearly the level he was pursued at as a pro. A high First Round Pick in 2012, the massive Poe (340 lbs) was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs, who used him as their starting Nose Tackle for five years. Poe was very good…
A star at Purdue, Brees was drafted early in the Second Round of the 2001 Draft by the San Diego Chargers, and would take over as the starter in 2002. A Pro Bowl Selection in 2004, Brees saw the writing on the wall, as San Diego had Philip Rivers waiting in the midst, who they planned to make the starter going…
After a decent career at Eastern Carolina, Dwayne Harris was a late round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011, where he would serve mostly in Special Teams. Harris was strong not just as a Returner but as a Gunner, which allowed him to enjoy a ten-year career in the National Football League. A Cowboy for his four years, Harris…
Sometimes, you were born to do something, even if you grew up having never seen it. Born and raised in Ghana, Ezekiel Ansah was an excellent student and natural athlete. He received an academic scholarship from BYU, and tried out for the basketball team (which he did not make), but did earn a spot in track. With his size, Ansah…
The Hall of Fame case for Frank Gore is the ultimate test of dominace vs longevity and statistical compiling. A Third Round Pick from Miami (FL), Gore had his best year early in his career with a sophomore effort seeing Gore post career-highs in Rushing Yards (1,695) and Yards From Scrimmage (2,180). Gore went to his first Pro Bowl that year,…
Geno Atkins, who had a dominant run at the University of Georgia, was considered small for a Defensive Tackle and fell to the fourth round in the 2010 Draft. However, this turned out to be a steal for the Cincinnati Bengals. Atkins began his career as a bench player, but he started at Right Defensive Tackle in his second year…
The possessor of one of the best names in Football (especially if you played your college ball at Notre Dame), Golden Tate was an All-American for the Fighting Irish, and was able to transfer his skills to the National Football League. Taken by Seattle in the Second Round in 2010, Tate was part of the Seahawks depth chart for his…
Greg Olsen played his college football at the University of Miami where he would become one of the top Tight Ends in the 2007 Draft, taken 31st overall by the Chicago Bears. Olsen did well, peaking with 612 Yards in 2009, but he was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a Third Round pick before the 2011 season. With the Panthers, Olsen…
Drafted in the 3rd Round out of Tennessee in 2003, Witten would see significant playing time in his rookie year but in 2004 he would rise to Pro Bowl status with a 980 Yard season. This would be the first of many seasons where the Dallas Cowboy would be considered an elite Tight End. From 2005 to 2010 he would…
A First Rounder from South Carolina, Johnathan Joseph would win the starting job at Cornerback during his rookie year with the Cincinnati Bengals. Joseph played his first five years in the NFL with the Bengals, netting 14 Interceptions and 273 Tackles. His next stop was with Houston, and he earned Pro Bowls in his first two years (2011 & 2012), both…
A Third Round Pick from Florida, Jordan Reed was on the cusp of being in the top group of NFL Tight Ends. Reed played for the Washington Redskins from 2013 to 2019, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2016, though his 2015 season was better. That year, he had career-highs in Receiving Yards (952) and Touchdowns (11). Reed suffered a concussion…