University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Los Angeles Chargers
Path To the Pros Leads Through Newark
4/28/2019 7:00:00 PM | Football
Let's look at the numbers:
In fact, the Blue Hens piled up the most NFL opportunities in program history (7), led by Nasir Adderley who became Delaware's highest draft pick in over 10 years. It's also tied for the highest total among all FCS schools in the country this season. That comes just a year after Delaware had the second-most active NFL players (6) among all FCS schools in 2018.
Adderley's selection made Delaware just the 10thFCS school since 2009 to have top-five round draft picks in back-to-back years.
"The simple fact is that if you can play, the NFL will find you, it's their job to find the best talent in the world and that's what they will do, no matter where you are playing," current Chicago Bear Bilal Nichols said.
Nichols was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and is one of now 102 Blue Hens since 1935 to earn a shot with an NFL organization.
"There's a tradition at Delaware that dates back way before I even played and that tradition pushes you to be the best you can be," former NFL MVP and Blue Hen Rich Gannon said. "Knowing that there's been a lot of guys who have come through Newark and had great success in the NFL, it only pushes everyone to work harder to earn their shot."
And that's exactly what Adderley, Troy Reeder (LA Rams), Joe Wallker (Chicago Bears camp), Tenny Adewusi (NY Giants camp), Vinny Papale (Oakland Raiders camp), Charles Scarff (Baltimore Ravens) and Noah Beh (Kansas City Chiefs camp) are looking for entering rookie mini-camps: a shot.
"All I wanted was a shot and now I have it," Walker said. "Being at Delaware is a family and you're pushed by your brothers in that locker room. We want to keep that tradition and when you walk down that hall and see all the names that reached the next level, it just makes you want to grind that much harder."
That tradition included seven former Blue Hens on active NFL rosters in 2018, the second-highest total among all FCS schools. In fact, Delaware has had a draft in six different years dating back to 2007.
The legendary Hall of Famer Tubby Raymond had a famous saying to the Blue Hen faithful, "big things happen at little old Delaware."
The NFL has sure taken notice of Raymond's sentiments.
- 1.1 million students play high school football around the country
- 2.8-percent of them have a chance to play Division I football
- 1.6-percent of those 1.1 million high school athletes have a chance to go pro
- Delaware has the sixth-fewest people of any state in the US
In fact, the Blue Hens piled up the most NFL opportunities in program history (7), led by Nasir Adderley who became Delaware's highest draft pick in over 10 years. It's also tied for the highest total among all FCS schools in the country this season. That comes just a year after Delaware had the second-most active NFL players (6) among all FCS schools in 2018.
Adderley's selection made Delaware just the 10thFCS school since 2009 to have top-five round draft picks in back-to-back years.
"The simple fact is that if you can play, the NFL will find you, it's their job to find the best talent in the world and that's what they will do, no matter where you are playing," current Chicago Bear Bilal Nichols said.
Nichols was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and is one of now 102 Blue Hens since 1935 to earn a shot with an NFL organization.
"There's a tradition at Delaware that dates back way before I even played and that tradition pushes you to be the best you can be," former NFL MVP and Blue Hen Rich Gannon said. "Knowing that there's been a lot of guys who have come through Newark and had great success in the NFL, it only pushes everyone to work harder to earn their shot."
And that's exactly what Adderley, Troy Reeder (LA Rams), Joe Wallker (Chicago Bears camp), Tenny Adewusi (NY Giants camp), Vinny Papale (Oakland Raiders camp), Charles Scarff (Baltimore Ravens) and Noah Beh (Kansas City Chiefs camp) are looking for entering rookie mini-camps: a shot.
"All I wanted was a shot and now I have it," Walker said. "Being at Delaware is a family and you're pushed by your brothers in that locker room. We want to keep that tradition and when you walk down that hall and see all the names that reached the next level, it just makes you want to grind that much harder."
That tradition included seven former Blue Hens on active NFL rosters in 2018, the second-highest total among all FCS schools. In fact, Delaware has had a draft in six different years dating back to 2007.
The legendary Hall of Famer Tubby Raymond had a famous saying to the Blue Hen faithful, "big things happen at little old Delaware."
The NFL has sure taken notice of Raymond's sentiments.
Players Mentioned
DB
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DB
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DL (Capt.)
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WR
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LB
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TE
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