Drafting from big schools vs. small schools

[Mr Cowboy]

There is always a debate about drafting players from big schools in comparison to players from small schools. Of the [SIZE=+0]Dallas Cowboys[/SIZE]' nine draft picks in May, eight came from big schools, and we’re counting Boise State defensive end [SIZE=+0]DeMarcus Lawrence[/SIZE] as a big-school player.

Romo The jump in players from big schools for Dallas can be attributed to many things. Players from small schools might not be ready mentally and physically for the NFL.

However, you can find some gems from small schools, the biggest example is quarterback [SIZE=+0]Tony Romo[/SIZE], an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois.

Then again, you have players such as [SIZE=+0]Matt Johnson[/SIZE], a 2012 fourth-round pick from Eastern Washington, who has yet to take the field because of injuries.

“The difference is if you're from a small school and you're coming into this situation you might not be ready for the bright lights,” said Will McClay, the Cowboys’ assistant director of player personnel, who put the draft board together. “The guys who have been through playing those games where there are 90,000 people in the stands, they've had those situations there, they'll [be] a little bit [more] used to it. If they got the same physical traits, I'm going to go with the guy whose been there before, [over] the guy who you got to wait to come up.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4728442/big-schools-vs-small-schools

 

[Direwolf63]

I've always been a believer in taking guys from big schools. They play against big time competition and the step to the NFL is smaller for them.

You will always find the occasional gem from small schools such as Larry Allen. But from a purely statisical probability of success, your better off taking guys from big schools, especially if your trying to build a winner.

Teams like Seattle or San Fran. can take flyers on small schools guys because they already have deep rosters. Teams like Dallas? Not so much.

 

[jazzcat22]

Hmmm...Troy University...a guy named DeMarcus Ware...how does he fit into all of this.....

 

[BigStar]

This team seems to get way too cute with small school prospects post round 3 and am happy they went with big school prospects late in the draft (7th). Romo and Ware were an exception to the rule, not the norm. Oddly, the big school Spears was average. But the talent on the team (Dez, Murray, Witten, Fred, Smith, Martin, TW, Lee, OScan, Melton, Lawrence, Spencer, Rat before leaving) are all big school guys. Better competition, NFL level training regimes, College Backups via team politics, quicker adjustment to pro game, etc. Save the Rudy types for UDFA.

This has always been a pet peeve of mine. The scouts come up bust way too often to legitimize the chances they take on small school prospects. Big school guys have too many positives to consistently gamble (getting cute) on the small school prospects unless their measurements are sick and their play displays that they are obviously playing below their competition. I am also aware that Larry Allen is a HOFer from a small school as well that worked out great (obviously).

 

[Direwolf63]

Hmmm...Troy University...a guy named DeMarcus Ware...how does he fit into all of this.....

Again, you will always find an occasional gem. But that's the exception much more than the rule.

 

[jazzcat22]

Again, you will always find an occasional gem. But that's the exception much more than the rule.

Yes very true, just had to put it out there though. As I was surprised he didn't mention that in the article. Ware as an exception.

 

[theSHOW]

Big schools vs. small schools...the age old question.

Does size matter?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

There is always a debate about drafting players from big schools in comparison to players from small schools. Of the [SIZE=+0]Dallas Cowboys[/SIZE]' nine draft picks in May, eight came from big schools, and we’re counting Boise State defensive end [SIZE=+0]DeMarcus Lawrence[/SIZE] as a big-school player.

Romo The jump in players from big schools for Dallas can be attributed to many things. Players from small schools might not be ready mentally and physically for the NFL.

However, you can find some gems from small schools, the biggest example is quarterback [SIZE=+0]Tony Romo[/SIZE], an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois.

Then again, you have players such as [SIZE=+0]Matt Johnson[/SIZE], a 2012 fourth-round pick from Eastern Washington, who has yet to take the field because of injuries.

“The difference is if you're from a small school and you're coming into this situation you might not be ready for the bright lights,” said Will McClay, the Cowboys’ assistant director of player personnel, who put the draft board together. “The guys who have been through playing those games where there are 90,000 people in the stands, they've had those situations there, they'll [be] a little bit [more] used to it. If they got the same physical traits, I'm going to go with the guy whose been there before, [over] the guy who you got to wait to come up.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4728442/big-schools-vs-small-schools

obviously most talented kids go to big time colleges, but some slip and flourish in small schools. with that said, most OL and DL players in the NFL are probably from big schools. small school guys (ala ware, romo), have a little longer learning curve, with Ware being an exception and learning quite fast, but he was a freak athlete coming out of college.

 

[DFWJC]

It's certainly a simple minded approach to just take the big schools only approach.

I understand it, but probably would lean that way but be VERY flexible with it.
Maybe it would be a good tie-breaker.

Plus, some here may be getting the definition of small school wrong. By small school, they usually mean non-D1.
Troy is D1, for example.
Sonoma St is not.

I'd be wary of being too strict on this though, as many of the best players ever in NFL (Walter Payton, Jerry Rice, Mel Blount, Larry Allen, etc, etc, etc) came from non-D1 programs.
The list of All-Pros is very,very long.

Great prospects are great prospects.

However, I do think recruiting is way better now, so fewer fall through the cracks.

 

[Section446]

Hmmm...Troy University...a guy named DeMarcus Ware...how does he fit into all of this.....

Don't know that I'd qualify Troy as a small school.

 

[Bill Wooten]

Don't know that I'd qualify Troy as a small school.

That is my question. What is your definition of a Big School?

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Hmmm...Troy University...a guy named DeMarcus Ware...how does he fit into all of this.....

I was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, and I drove past Troy University a few times. Didn't even realize what it was until I passed it.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Speaking of Demarcus from Troy U, the next Ware, a guy named Khalil Mack, went to Buffalo University.

 

[Doomsday101]

That is my question. What is your definition of a Big School?

Division I-A is considered the big schools

 

[Doomsday101]

I was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, and I drove past Troy University a few times. Didn't even realize what it was until I passed it.

Troy is in Div 1 A

 

[Bill Wooten]

Division I-A is considered the big schools

Cool. With all the P5/BCS crap going on in the NCAA, it is good to clarify.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Troy is in Div 1 A

I know. It just wasn't a very big university. I go to a huge university (U of Washington in Seattle) so I'm a bit biased.

 

[Doomsday101]

Cool. With all the P5/BCS crap going on in the NCAA, it is good to clarify.

If the question is who are the big school then it is Div 1 A

 

[Section446]

I know. It just wasn't a very big university. I go to a huge university (U of Washington in Seattle) so I'm a bit biased.

Troy has almost 30,000 students, not too far off from UW's enrollment.

 

[Doomsday101]

I know. It just wasn't a very big university. I go to a huge university (U of Washington in Seattle) so I'm a bit biased.

They entered Div 1 A in 2001 so it has only been a short while.