2015 Small School Players

Every year some small school players surprise us in the draft and in the league.

This thread is for those players---players who often do not get much public attention for their efforts and production.

Here are some small school defensive backs to watch in the upcoming season.

I know that small school players face lesser competition than players from the top schools.

But, I do not think that this fact is as important as it may seem.

Dion Sanders had 53 career interceptions. Eleven small school defensive backs had more career picks than Sanders.

Players from small schools make up 28% of the top 50 career interceptions leaders in NFL history.

In case we forget, and in their honor.

2015 small school wide receivers to watch

I like Boykin out of Mississippi Valley. He played out here in Arizona, for GCC, heard good things about him even then. Definitely more of a ballhawk type with decent size for the position though I doubt he's really 6 feet, thinking more like 5'10".

Ten of the top fifty leaders in reception yards in NFL history are from small schools.

A couple of these guys played for the 49ers.

In their memory and honor.

Trent Baalke has some familarity with small school players.



While at South Dakota State, Baalke impressed NFL scouts with his player evaluations.
Notably, he campaigned on behalf of kicker Adam Vinatieri and offensive lineman Adam Timmerman.

Baalke once persuaded a Green Bay scout that Timmerman was a diamond in the rough.
The Packers took Timmerman in the seventh-round, and he lasted 12 NFL seasons and made two Pro Bowls.

That Packers scout remained grateful and, years later, repaid him with a job: Scot McCloughan was that scout, and upon becoming general manager he hired Baalke.



http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_14925092?nclick_check=1

Small School v. Big School games for players above

ND State at Iowa State, Aug 30, 12:00PM EST
-Christian Dudzik, FS
-Zach Fraa, WR

William and Mary v. Virginia Tech, Aug 30, 4PM EST
-Tre McBride, WR

Liberty at North Carolina, Aug 30, 6:00PM EST
-Jacob Hagen, FS

Samford at TCU, Aug 30, 7:00PM EST
-Tartt, FS

Missouri State at Oklahoma State, Sept 6, 3:30PM EST
-Schafitzel, FS

Towson at West Virginia, Sept 6, 7:30PM EST
-Tye Smith, CB

Gardner Webb at Wake Forest, Sept 6 6:30PM EST
-Kenny Cook, WR

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:

Small School v. Big School games for players above

ND State at Iowa State, Aug 30, 12:00PM EST
-Christian Dudzik, FS
-Zach Fraa, WR

William and Mary v. Virginia Tech, Aug 30, 4PM EST
-Tre McBride, WR

Liberty at North Carolina, Aug 30, 6:00PM EST
-Jacob Hagen, FS

Samford at TCU, Aug 30, 7:00PM EST
-Tartt, FS

Missouri State at Oklahoma State, Sept 6, 3:30PM EST
-Schafitzel, FS

Towson at West Virginia, Sept 6, 7:30PM EST
-Tye Smith, CB

Gardner Webb at Wake Forest, Sept 6 6:30PM EST
-Kenny Cook, WR

Good information

Nice thread.

Small school return specialists

Most, if not all, of these players are also players to watch at their defensive or offensive positions.

Small school career return yardage leaders

In their memory and honor

Small School Tight Ends

Small School Defensive Line

Small School Linebackers

There are thirty players in NFL history who have had 100 or more sacks.

Of those thirty, eleven (36.67%) are from small schools.

In their memory and honor