Drafting from big schools vs. small schools

[DFWJC]

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.

30,000 students at Troy

 

[DFWJC]

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

This
This is how they define it in the NFL

 

[Doomsday101]

This
This is how they define it in the NFL

and that was my point it is what the NFL considers a big program. No doubt you can find some great players out of the smaller schools but I would think you are safer trying to get guys from big schools in the 1st 3 rounds and then look at the best in the smaller schools.

 

[xwalker]

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.

The draft tends to sort those issues out. You won't be choosing between 2 similar players, 1 big school and 1 small school guy at the same draft spot. If the big school guy is a 2nd rounder then the similar small school guy is probably a 4th rounder.

 

[OhSnap]

Position has to have something to do with it too, Big schools just don't turn out enough(pro ready) QB's to supply the NFL and big school rb's seem to disappear regularly.

 

[JPostSam]

sometimes big school guys get overrated; they look great because they play with great teammates, and steamroll patsies on television.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

Cliff Harris - Ouachita Baptist

Larry Allen - Sonoma State

Jethro Pugh - Elizabeth City State

Harvey Martin - Texas A&M Commerce

Erik Williams - Central State

Leon Lett - Emporia State

I could do this all day. If a guy has talent, it doesn't matter where he went to school.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Cliff Harris - Ouachita Baptist
Larry Allen - Sonoma State
Jethro Pugh - Elizabeth City State
Harvey Martin - Texas A&M Commerce
Erik Williams - Central State
Leon Lett - Emporia State
I could do this all day. If a guy has talent, it doesn't matter where he went to school.

We've has good success drafting players from small schools in the past and that list is a good start.

The troubling part is none of those players were drafted in the last 20 years. And it's not like we stopped trying either.

 

[burmafrd]

back in the day you could get those jems. Now the ones that make it are known to everyone. Of course Arkin was an example of overrate
No other team had even a 6th rd grade onhim

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

When it comes to the NFL, no stone should go unturned.

 

[speedkilz88]

back in the day you could get those jems. Now the ones that make it are known to everyone. Of course Arkin was an example of overrate
No other team had even a 6th rd grade onhim

Arkin was highly regarded in that draft.

 

[rkell87]

If they are a big time prospect (first half of round 2 and above) go for it, if not don't touch them until the 6th and make sure that they are extremely gifted in a few aspects(romo has the fastest release in the league and great pocket awareness for example) and that they just need good coaching fundamentals in order to be on par with other teammates.

Big school guys are the safe picks in rounds 3-5 but once you get to round 6 the talent level drops off on those big school guys and their ceiling is significantly lower, so finding a small school prospect that can compete athletically is going to be better for the team because if he can stick then the reward is going to be greater.

 

[burmafrd]

Arkin was highly regarded in that draft.

by us

 

[Hardline]

I would have no problem having a roster with only SEC players on it. The SEC is basically NFL jr.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Cliff Harris - Ouachita Baptist

Larry Allen - Sonoma State

Jethro Pugh - Elizabeth City State

Harvey Martin - Texas A&M Commerce

Erik Williams - Central State

Leon Lett - Emporia State

I could do this all day. If a guy has talent, it doesn't matter where he went to school.

I always laugh when people do this as if they are proving a point.

For every small school guy who made it I can list 4 big school guys who did as well.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

back in the day you could get those jems. Now the ones that make it are known to everyone. Of course Arkin was an example of overrate
No other team had even a 6th rd grade onhim

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=81319&draftyear=2011&genpos=OG

I don't know about teams but I do know about draftscout.

 

[Hoofbite]

Big school, little school, whatever.

I think there's generally enough other things that teams look at that pretty much makes where they played relatively inconsequential.

Talent is talent.

 

[TrailBlazer]

It doesn't matter where they went to college. It's about measurables and game tape. Look at Khalil Mack. Picked 5th overall out of buffalo.

 

[DFWJC]

I always laugh when people do this as if they are proving a point.

For every small school guy who made it I can list 4 big school guys who did as well.

That is flawed logic on your part unless you think their point is that small school players are ON AVERAGE better than big school players. And nobody on the planet thinks that.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

The troubling part is none of those players were drafted in the last 20 years. And it's not like we stopped trying either.

True, but it's not like most of the guys drafted from big schools since then have been all that great either. Seems the problem lies more with the scouting than where someone went to school.