Albion College in Michigan hasn’t had a prospect drafted into the NFL since 1967, when the New Orleans Saints selected someone named Barry Siler in the eighth round. The 44-year drought may end this year.
After a dominant career at Albion, cornerback Chris Greenwood is generating significant interest as a potential mid- to late-round pick.
Per the PFT Visits and Workouts Tracker, Greenwood has pre-draft visits with the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans. Greenwood also has private workouts with the Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
Greenwood measured in at 6-foot-1 1/4 and 193 pounds at his Pro Day and ran a forty-yard dash in the 4.41 to 4.43 range. He had an explosive broad jump of 11 feet, two inches and a 43-inch vertical. And he isn’t just a workout freak.
Greenwood spent three years at Albion and was a three-time first-team all-conference selection in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The 2011 MIAA Defensive MVP, Greenwood collected 13 career interceptions, running back four for touchdowns. He can also return kickoffs and punts.
Greenwood isn’t the only small-school sleeper generating league-wide interest, though. Bang it here for a full look at the 2012 PFT pre-draft tracker.
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well of course the Jaguars are interested in a small schooler…
He could still be just a workout freak. Performance on the field vs division III athletes doesnt prove anything to NFL scouts. Yes, albion is D-III.
with the first pick in the 2012..oakland raiders select (via trade: 12-25” consecutive first rounders) the raiders select chris greenwood…
Doesn’t matter what school you played for, the question is, can you play some football. And from what I reading, this guy can play. The greatest wide receiver in the NFL came from Mississippi valley state, and that school is not an elite division 1 football program.
Don’t sleep on the small school guys, let’s see…London Fletcher, Steve McNair, Mike Sellers, Joe Flacco, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (Idaho State), Packers safety Nick Collins (Bethune-Cookman), Saints guard Jahri Evans (Bloomsburg), Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado) and Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois), Bears receiver Johnny Knox (Abiliene Christian), cornerback Cortland Finnegan (Samfordare just a few examples of small-school players making a big-time impact in the NFL after showing their wares to scouts.
love to see the underdogs come in and dominate. just like victor cruz
Small school HALL OF FAMERS: Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist;
Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State; Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State; Deacon Jones, South Carolina State…just to name a few.
Every receiver on the Jags last year i think went to a small school. How did they do?
6-1 193, that is too light.
My buddy played at Albion and I had the chance to see Greenwood play twice. I think he has the talent to make a NFL roster. I wish him the best!!
Hey “Overtime”
Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, Craig James and Forrest Gregg(among others) also attended SMU, not a “small school”, just a “busted” one.
“Small school HALL OF FAMERS: Eric Dickerson, Southern Methodist;
Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State; Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State; Deacon Jones, South Carolina State…just to name a few.”
I’m with you on there being good football players at small schools, but SMU was a big time D-1 school in the early 80′s, until they got crushed by the NCAA for violations.
If the Cowboys weren’t scouting him, this dude wouldn’t see the front page or the rumor mill anywhere. Typical mainstream effect.
Andy Studebaker DIII Wheaton. He is a decent player.
Hugh jump to the pro”s….7th rounder at best
Pierre Garçon –DIII. Dude can ball.
It’s not the division level of the school, it is the talent and the level of heart in the player. Period.
Yes, he has the physical stats you want, but he also produced as well. I think he will do well in the NFL. Too many times we look at guys that are physical freaks but failed to produce. I’m a Raider fan and I know this really well. There are guys in college that produced but lack the physical stat to compete at the NFL level (Danny Wuerfel).
That is why I think this guy will be very good. He got both. I dont care if it is D3 football. A good player produces at whatever level of competition he faces.
tombradyallday says: Apr 8, 2012 6:11 PM
love to see the underdogs come in and dominate. just like victor cruz
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Exactly. Victor was first team all conference plus he has the physical stats for the NFL. 6-1 205lbs and 4.47 in the 40. The key is getting the physical numbers as well as production on the field.
It really does not matter where you play at i played at a NAIA school in Iowa and we had scouts calling coaches all day..i understand NAIA to the NFL is a big leap but from what Ive scene guys that we played and guys from smaller schools hold there own on the field u never know what circumstances they had to be playing where they are playing
Small schools produce some pretty good players. The Bears had a running back a few years back from Jackson State. I can’t remember his name, but he wore #34 and was a pretty decent player.