It happens in every draft, in every sport: A team makes a late-round pick (in the NBA, that means the second round) and a vast majority of fans say, "Huh? Who is that dude?"
Well, welcome to the "Huh? Who is that dude?" primer -- the offensive players version -- for the 2015 NFL Draft.
Uncovering late-round gems is part of the allure of the NFL draft. For instance, everyone knows Tom Brady was a sixth-round pick. Today, we're spotlighting some players who very well could be sixth- or seventh-round picks. But there are two caveats: There are no FBS players (so, nobody from Michigan or any other "big" school) and none of these guys were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
WRs Ricky Collins and Vernon Johnson, Texas A&M-Commerce
The particulars: Collins: 6-foot-0, 200 pounds; Johnson: 6-0, 196.
The skinny: Two wide receivers from the same Division II school with a chance to be drafted? Impressive. Both have nice size. Collins played just one season at A&M-Commerce; he attended a junior college, then another Division II school before ending up with the Lions. Johnson is another former JC transfer, though he did play two seasons at A&M-Commerce. While Johnson isn't a blazer, he is dangerous after the catch and has excellent acceleration. A&M-Commerce has three other players -- RB Joe Bergeron (a transfer from Texas), DT Charles Tuaau and DT Ashton Dorsey (also a transfer from Texas) -- who could interest teams; Collins and Dorsey were high school teammates in Tyler, Texas. A&M-Commerce is located about 70 miles northeast of Dallas and hasn't had a player drafted since 2000. The school was known as East Texas State until 1996; East Texas State is the alma mater of, among others, Harvey Martin, Wade Wilson and Dwight White.
OT Antoine Everett, McNeese State
The particulars: 6-3, 325.
The skinny: He started every game at left tackle the past two seasons but fits as a guard in the NFL. He is athletic and runs well. How well? Incredibly, he was timed in 4.62 and 4.65 seconds in the 40 at his pro day. Obviously, that is moving for a guy of his size. McNeese State, a FCS school in Lake Charles, La., hasn't had a player drafted since 2009 and hasn't had an offensive lineman drafted since 1999.
OT Doniel Gambrell, Notre Dame College
The particulars: 6-6, 315.
The skinny: Notre Dame College is a Division II school in Euclid, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. Gambrell is from powerhouse Cleveland Glenville (he played with Ohio State QB Cardale Jones and Michigan DE Frank Clark, among others, in high school). Gambrell signed with Eastern Michigan as a tight end out of high school, but left EMU to be with his then-girlfriend (now wife) and their young child. They now have three young children, and unlike probably every other player in this draft (and, frankly, any future draft), the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported he actually held a job during the season to help his family make ends meet. He was a tackle in college but could play guard at the next level. Gambrell would be the first player ever drafted from Notre Dame College.
WR R.J. Harris, New Hampshire
The particulars: 6-0, 200.
The skinny: He was an incredibly productive four-year starter for New Hampshire, a FCS school that still runs a version of the offense that Chip Kelly oversaw when he was the Wildcats' offensive coordinator from 1999-2006. Harris had 100 catches as a senior and finished his career with 310, for 4,328 yards and 36 TDs. He had 20 career games with 100 receiving yards. Harris isn't a blazer, but he is athletic and has a big catch radius, thanks to good jumping ability and long arms. The last time New Hampshire had a player drafted was in 2013, which was just the second time this century a Wildcats player was selected.
RB Terrell Watson, Azusa Pacific
The particulars: 6-1, 239.
The skinny: NFL teams that like Watson certainly wouldn't mind him having a career like that of the most recent Azusa Pacific alum to play in the NFL -- Christian Okoye, aka "The Nigerian Nightmare," who ran for 4,897 yards in six NFL season (1987-92). Watson rushed for 5,947 yards and 78 TDs in his career and broke numerous school records held by Okoye at Azusa Pacific, a Division II school in the Los Angeles suburb of Azusa. He was MVP of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl All-Star Game. His Azusa Pacific bio said Watson eventually hopes to be in law enforcement, either as a SWAT team member for a local police force or as a DEA officer. Okoye is the most recent Azusa Pacific player drafted.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
