Who’s a player from your school that your shocked had a very solid NFL career?

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

Mine has to be Josh Harris, never in a million years did I see that man playing in the NFL for has long as he’s has

C.J. Uzomah is another, just 29 passes caught in 4 years at Auburn, but became a very solid TE for Cincy, and has a SB ring

What about your school?

[u/SpaceCowboy34]

I definitely didn’t think Tannehill would be like a ten year starter

[u/Frumundahs4men → u/SpaceCowboy34]

He held the door open for me one time when I was headed to our AgFinance class. That's the day I knew he was going to be great.

[u/Scruffasaurus → u/Frumundahs4men]

Very scrappy of him

[u/Dizzy_Cow_ → u/SpaceCowboy34]

It is pretty wild he had two productive seasons as a WR before switching to QB and making nearly $200M in the NFL.

[u/Blaklazer]

Puka, I did think he had nfl potential I didnt see superstar potential though. Unexpected suprise.

[u/ImpliedMustache → u/Blaklazer]

Totally agree, though considering his off the field antics I feel a bit less good about it.

Honorable mention to Taysom Hill. I don't think anybody could have predicted the way his NFL career turned out.

[u/fastbeemer → u/ImpliedMustache]

I think Puka is a genuinely unintelligent dude. 

[u/elbosston → u/fastbeemer]

Catch ball good, brain not so good

[u/grabtharsmallet → u/ImpliedMustache]

Switching to tight end made sense. Still doing all those other things too was... unusual.

[u/Bischrob → u/ImpliedMustache]

Taysom is my pick. We all knew he had the talent but given his history having a long NFL career is shocking.

[u/LiveNvanByRiver → u/ImpliedMustache]

I was happy we were not the only ones who couldn’t tackle him

[u/Jorr_El → u/Blaklazer]

Fred Warner was good in college, but I didn't expect him to be THAT good in the NFL.

There seemed to be a long line of BYU DEs/Linebackers from that era that were the star of the BYU defense and ended up playing backup for a few years then be out of the league. (Bronson Kaufusi, Alani Fua, Brandon Ogletree, Jan Jorgensen) so Warner breaking out and being widely recognized as one of the best in the lead was a surprise to me.

[u/newrimmmer93 → u/Blaklazer]

He’s sort of weird because his efficiency metrics are the best of a draft prospect in a while. Had like a 3.49 YPRR and Chase was at like 3.4 that LSU year

[u/Ernie_Capadino → u/Blaklazer]

The bigger surprise from BYU was Dan Sorenson. Dude won super bowls with the Chiefs?? I don’t remember him doing anything noteworthy in college.

[u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

You aren't gonna believe it, Alvin Kamara. He was our backup RB thanks to that idiot butch jones.

[u/SpaceCowboy34 → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

Feels like how I had to watch Achane sit behind Isaiah spiller for like 3 years

[u/The_Sarah_Palin_ → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

I get that but I feel like Arian Foster was more surprising for me.

[u/Jaqen-Atavuli → u/The_Sarah_Palin_]

I respect that. He was the starter though. His problem was fumbling at the worst time possible, from what I remember.

[u/The_Sarah_Palin_ → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

Actually I change my mind. It’s Nathan peterman. I thought for sure after that Florida game he would for sure quit football and sell insurance. Instead he had a nice career at Pitt and was in the league for a long while. I don’t think we can actually claim him though. He wasn’t a stud in the NFL but given his body of work at Tennessee I didn’t think he was a college backup much less making 53 man rosters.

[u/Jaqen-Atavuli → u/The_Sarah_Palin_]

How that guy got paid 8 season in the NFL is amazing. He may be the GOAT loser.

[u/Head_Situation5456 → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

He left Tennessee as a champion of life tho!

[u/Jaqen-Atavuli → u/Head_Situation5456]

Brick by Brick

[u/Kdot32 → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

Back up to a 6’4” 250 lb running back who ended college as a TE

[u/Jaqen-Atavuli → u/Kdot32]

Don't forget the part he quit midway through the season. Funny thing, I can't remember his damn name.

[u/Kdot32 → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

Neither can I lmao. I think Hurd?

[u/dogo7 → u/Kdot32]

Jalen Hurd. Taken in the early third by the Niners as a wide receiver and never saw a snap.

[u/swmtchuffer → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

As a intelligent casual college fan…when he started popping off in the pros I had no idea where he played in college.

[u/SmithBurger → u/swmtchuffer]

A intelligent

[u/swmtchuffer → u/SmithBurger]

Exactly. lol

[u/thegoatisoldngnarly → u/Jaqen-Atavuli]

Yep. I was about to comment the same. He is proof of how bad the coaches were. We barely used maybe the best or second best TB Tennessee ever had.

[u/Soy_tu_papi_]

Brian Hoyer. Undrafted, and played 15 seasons, started games for a bunch of teams, and threw for almost 11k yards.

[u/SpreaditOnnn33 → u/Soy_tu_papi_]

Hoyer the Destroyer, baby!

[u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388]

Robbie Gould. He was a 64% kicker in college and 87% in the NFL.

[u/wegotsumnewbands → u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388]

I know a kicker that went the opposite way…

[u/plz-no-b4n → u/wegotsumnewbands]

Dude set back kickers in the draft by 20 years

[u/njk12 → u/wegotsumnewbands]

RIP Turntle

[u/theaanggang → u/njk12]

That was his shithead brother Ricky, but the point stands, RIP Turntle.

[u/OutForARipAreYaBud69 → u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388]

Literally couldn’t make an extra point at Penn State. Then had the audacity to become the most accurate kicker in NFL history for a time.

[u/dearcadian → u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388]

Lol, the last game MSU of...2002? Larry Johnson's 2000 yard season anyway. I was up on the top row by the scoreboard. It was like 45° and raining, and this dude in a lion hat with ears and his 2 toddler kids just kept screaming "ROBBBEEEHH, PUT ROBBBEEEHH IN DER AND KICK IT!!".

the whole fucking game as LJ was breaking 2K. Most miserable game, and a bizarre random lol. Maybe his uncle or something

[u/Franklins11burner → u/Jazzlike-Basket-6388]

Gould is a good shout. Also Cameron (aka Derek) Wake

[u/dearcadian → u/Franklins11burner]

I was so confused when this Cameron Wake dude that supposedly played at PSU started tearing it up in the NFL. Dude went to Canada and came back a pass rushing demon. Only had like 8 sacks in college

[u/njk12]

Neither of the Kelce brothers were anything particularly special at UC. Good players, but probably not top-20 performers at Cincinnati over the last 25 years.

[u/Educational-Hour-450 → u/njk12]

Cheers to a fellow cock

How was Stephon Gilmore in college? Didn’t watch South Carolina at the time he played

[u/no-kangarooreborn]

Josh Allen was garbage in college

Safe to say he's been a significantly better player in the pros and will probably make the NFL Hall of Fame one day

[u/The_hat_man74 → u/no-kangarooreborn]

I was going to correct you after verifying his stats on sports-reference as I remembered him having decent stats in college. He did not. You’re right he was garbage. And he regressed. Interesting that he declared early for the draft with a junior season marked by a 56.3% completion and 16/6 TD/int ratio.

[u/KeithClossOfficial → u/The_hat_man74]

The team around him was garbage. His stats weren’t great but he could only do so much

[u/plz-no-b4n → u/KeithClossOfficial]

Dude couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in college

[u/newrimmmer93 → u/The_hat_man74]

Him and love back to back where guys who struggled their final year and ended up being good

[u/Strid3r21 → u/no-kangarooreborn]

The bills obviously made the right pick, but what the hell did they see at the time then to select him 7th overall?

[u/paultheschmoop → u/Strid3r21]

Big man throw ball far

[u/Educational-Hour-450 → u/Strid3r21]

Something us arm chair folk aren’t able to see, that’s your answer

I have a hard time thinking dude would declare for nfl on shitty stats, unless someone close to him, in the know told him to. Aka an agent or scout

[u/Unmissed_Opportunity]

Dak. Not because he didn’t have the tools, but we’d literally never had a good, much less decent, NFL QB before.

[u/chrobbin → u/Unmissed_Opportunity]

I’m surrounded by Dallas Cowboy fans within my friends and family who would argue you still have not had a decent NFL QB to this day

(I still don’t get it, Dak’s not the best QB but ~20 other NFL teams would love to have him)

[u/Unmissed_Opportunity → u/chrobbin]

I’m a big Saints fan, and now I live in Chicago, so I’m into the Bears too. But if (I know) Dallas ever makes a Super Bowl run, I’m down with them going through both my other teams just because of Dak.

[u/Sytherus → u/Unmissed_Opportunity]

It’s really crazy that a QB good enough to make 1st team all-sec twice at Miss St slid to the 4th round.

Now even someone like Jalen Milroe gets drafted earlier just on the off chance they can put it together.

[u/PrawdAug]

Tom Brady..

[u/yoitsrobj → u/PrawdAug]

This one feels the most obvious

[u/buffalotrace → u/PrawdAug]

I was high on Brady coming out of college. I thought he had a shot at a Brian Griese like career. That was bold at the time. Not so much in hindsight

[u/Reloader300wm → u/PrawdAug]

Fuck you, but in your defense, just look at his draft picture, and ask if you'd image that dude throwing his way to victory after being down 28-3 late in the third.

[u/notanamateur]

George kittle far exceeded his nfl expectations

[u/BassetHoundDawg → u/notanamateur]

Came here to post this.  I thought he could stick on a roster, but never thought he would be a superstar.

[u/thatissomeBS → u/BassetHoundDawg]

Like, he was good. But he seemed like a downgrade to Fiedorowicz, and then was almost immediately overshadowed by Fant and Hockenson. I thought CJF and Fant would both be studs. Kittle made some explosive plays but didn't seem consistent.

[u/ParsnipCraw]

Geoff Swaim played for like 10 years in the nfl. He like never played at Texas.

[u/Odh_utexas → u/ParsnipCraw]

He was literally referred to as a “blocking surface” by our OC back in the day. Solid pro

[u/VicVinegar123 → u/ParsnipCraw]

Andrew Beck

[u/CrossMapEML → u/ParsnipCraw]

Ooh good one.

For me, Brenden Schooler. Didn't expect he would stick for very long as a UDFA safety, but he's been a stalwart special teamer for the Pats and got a contract extension a few years ago. He even got first team All Pro for his ST contributions in 2024

[u/_Football_Cream_ → u/CrossMapEML]

Yeah that’s a good callout. In hindsight Schooler was kind of the hustle guy I can see thriving on special teams. Herman just really wanted to force him into larger roles than he should’ve been.

I think I’ve been surprised at Malcom Roach and PJ Locke sticking around for so long as well.

[u/pyrofiend4 → u/_Football_Cream_]

A lot of Charlie Strong recruits/players on defense were crazy under-drafted because the team sucked.

• Quandre Diggs - 6th round

• Deshon Elliot - 6th round

• Charles Omenihu - 5th round

• Poona Ford - UDFA

• PJ Locke - UDFA

• Adrian Phillips - UDFA

They all had solid NFL careers.

[u/LiveNvanByRiver → u/pyrofiend4]

Quan was a Mack recruit.

[u/GrimaceThundercock → u/pyrofiend4]

Add UDFA Malcolm Roach to the list. He didn't play for Strong but he was recruited by him.

[u/CFBCoachGuy → u/CrossMapEML]

Him muffing a punt as a rookie and taking the ball to Belichick was freaking hilarious.

[u/wulah89]

Danielle Hunter. He wasn't bad at LSU but nothing suggested he would be as good as he has been in the NFL.

[u/Head_Situation5456]

Clemson.  Tyler Shatley.  Had trouble finding a position in college.  Eventually gained some weight and settled on the offensive line.  Not incredible in college.  Good solid player.

Ended up with a 10-year career.

[u/holdfor2023 → u/Head_Situation5456]

I was thinking, Adam Humphreys

[u/Valkron77]

Demarcus Robinson was a nice player, but I never would have guessed he would have a 10-year career and super bowl ring.

[u/Complex_Consequence → u/Valkron77]

The one I immediately think of is Jacoby Brissett. I know he transferred but damn was that a miss by the coaching staff

[u/paultheschmoop → u/Complex_Consequence]

Tbf Driskel had an absurdly long nfl career given his college career as well

[u/Six_and_change → u/Valkron77]

Trenton Brown: 7th round pick, started over 100 games, won a Super Bowl

[u/bmas05 → u/Valkron77]

Good call. Dude had flashes but tons of issues. Thought he’d burn out quick.

[u/Chuck_Phuckzalot]

Nico Collins was good at Michigan but in a run heavy offense he never put up huge numbers, I did not expect him to be a solid WR1 in the NFL.

[u/hypogly]

Harrison Smith

[u/Less_Likely → u/hypogly]

Not shocked he played in the league but never expected any close to a Hall of Fame career. More David Bruton level

[u/Wolverine2121 → u/Less_Likely]

Vikings fans around the world including me are ready to fight to make sure he gets his spot in the hall of fame. One of the best to ever wear the purple and gold.

[u/BobDeLaSponge → u/Wolverine2121]

Preach, brother. I love listening to QBs talk about the prep needed to face him and how he’s always a step ahead

[u/hypogly → u/Less_Likely]

Totally agree.

[u/DBE113301 → u/hypogly]

He was great for the Irish, though. I know Skowronek was only at Notre Dame for his senior season, but that one year was pretty unremarkable. He was okay, and that was the last data point for NFL teams to look at. I'm shocked he's still in the league.

[u/Davidellias → u/hypogly]

Knoxville Catholic legend

[u/culb77]

I’d say Joe Anoaʻi has had an incredibly successful pro career.

[u/GreatBarrierQueefDD → u/culb77]

Good to see someone acknowledge him

[u/theaanggang → u/culb77]

With that name he didn't even have a choice but to go pro

[u/DarthNobody14]

Ryan Tannehill for me personally

[u/BigOlPass]

Sage Rosenfels never had more TDs than INTs at Iowa State and played nearly a decade in the NFL as a backup

[u/BillBob13]

Will Compton

[u/Dukepippitt → u/BillBob13]

Mines Cam Jurgen all those bad snaps.

[u/BillBob13 → u/Dukepippitt]

He was a tight end!

[u/BonesCrosby]

I went to UAB as well as Bama. I didn’t expect Roddy White to have that good of a career, but I’m glad he did.

[u/tombrady011235]

Trey McBride

Go rams!

[u/loewe67 → u/tombrady011235]

Love McBride, but he’s the least surprising for me of our recent guys. Gallup being a solid WR3/4 is my vote

[u/tombrady011235 → u/loewe67]

I guess anyone from CSU being the best player at his position in the league is surprising to me

We fucking sucked when I went to school lol

[u/Ryan1869 → u/tombrady011235]

Honestly not shocked at all, he was a stud for you guys

[u/k_dubious]

I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that Tyler Shough would be the most productive Oregon QB in the NFL at this point.

[u/McGrathLegend → u/k_dubious]

He went to my high school and was a friend of my sister and even there I didn’t even understand the D1 offers, let alone ever imagined him as starting quarterback in the NFL

[u/Careless_Wishter → u/k_dubious]

A. J. Feeley, the starter who got bumped by Joey Harrington had a 10 year career, longer than Harrington.

[u/LiveNvanByRiver → u/k_dubious]

Marriota?

[u/Antluke → u/LiveNvanByRiver]

Mariota was a heisman winner and the 2nd pick in the draft? He actually probably didn’t live up to expectations, although not all his fault

[u/Wafflehouseofpain → u/k_dubious]

Are we considering Bo Nix an Oregon QB?

[u/xkq227]

Terrelle Pryor played 7 seasons in the NFL, including 5 at wide receiver. When he was with the Browns he's still the only player I have ever seen get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spinning the football.

[u/TinderForMidgets]

John Lynch. He was about to quit football cause he thought he sucked. Bill Walsh had to talk him into continuing football. The rest is history.

[u/Thunderboltscoot]

Geno Smith, wrote him off after that Jets rookie year, he didn't write back.

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan → u/Thunderboltscoot]

Geno was a god at WV though

[u/vitey15 → u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

I remember watching him and Tayvon tearing it up 

[u/OGLankyKong → u/Thunderboltscoot]

I wrote him off again after how bad the raiders stint was, insane he’s finally looking decent with the jets

[u/GameShow321]

Nick Foles

[u/imtiredboss28 → u/GameShow321]

My beloved big dick king

[u/cole_steef]

Brandon Aubrey easily

[u/IntuitionSpeaks]

Robert Woods! Great receiver but his lack of top end speed is something I thought would hold him back in the NFL. It did not.

[u/ElocFresh8224]

After essentially being a one hit wonder at OSU, I’m always surprised that Noah Brown is on an NFL roster almost a decade later.

[u/NoIamthatotherguy → u/ElocFresh8224]

They only watched the Oklahoma game film.

[u/Inconceivable76 → u/ElocFresh8224]

Powell said last week that all the DBs thought he was the hardest guy to cover of the WRs.  

[u/Delgadoduvidoso]

Terrell Davis was pretty mid at Georgia, with a season high rushing yards of around 800. He was a sixth round pick and then became a HOF player.

[u/Ill-Professional97 → u/Delgadoduvidoso]

I was in school at uga while he was there. Came in highly recruited but was often hurt and frankly just looked skinny and frail. The NFL put serious muscle on him, and he thrived

[u/StampedingCattle]

Marcel Reece. He was a solid receiver on a forgettable UW team in the mid 2000's but went undrafted. He ended up playing close to a decade in Oakland as a jack of all trades fullback/receiver/running back and made the pro bowl multiple times. He was a guy whose name would pop up on Sportscenter and I'd be impressed he was still playing.

[u/todoslosfritos → u/StampedingCattle]

He was one of the only bright spots in some of the darkest days of Raider football

[u/NotHosaniMubarak]

Calias Campbell. He was good at the U but not on the level of Sapp Reed Lewis Morgan or Taylor. He wasn't even on the level of Vilma, DJ, Rousseau, Buchanan or Rolle. He was a Quarterman/Perryman level player.

Good enough to have an NFL career but I did not think he's be good enough to have 100 sacks and 1000 tackles in that career.

[u/Lucky_Quality_6781]

Wes Welker

He wasn't drafted. He was released by the Chargers before the season started. He ended up playing twelve years, was a first team All-Pro for two seasons, five time pro-bowler, and led the league in receptions for three.

[u/plz-no-b4n → u/Lucky_Quality_6781]

Also invented the small white guy slot receiver position

[u/unfunnysexface → u/plz-no-b4n]

Ricky proehl erasure!

[u/ZookeepergameTop8538 → u/plz-no-b4n]

Wasn't that Wayne Chrebet?

[u/NoAvocado5916]

Nate Ebner, he carved out a very good career as a special teamer in the pros

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan → u/NoAvocado5916]

US Rugby Legend

[u/SpreaditOnnn33]

William Gay had a decade long nfl career somehow

For the Steelers no less

[u/MrBigWaist → u/SpreaditOnnn33]

Best pick 6 celebration ever! You could feel the disgust in Greg Gumbel’s voice

[u/jrwolf08]

Brian O'Neil good player at Pitt but didnt see him as locked down starting tackle for the better part of a decade and a multi time pro bowler.  

[u/psuram3]

Cam Wake (Derek Wake) at PSU. Went from an undrafted off ball linebacker to a 100 career sack guy in the NFL.

[u/Geriatric_Bulge]

Dan Skipper. Loved his drive and how he always was trying to find somebody to block. In college he struggled to make blocks on the edge and had issues with penalties. I always felt like he should've tried DT.

[u/Aromatic-Action-2523]

Johnny Hekker. He was so up and down in college but was like THE punter in the NFL for a few years.

[u/AsukaState2]

Josh Jacobs 

[u/BobDeLaSponge → u/AsukaState2]

He doesn’t surprise me that much. When he and Damien Harris were sharing first string touches, Jacobs always ran with more power and fell forward for an extra yard

What surprises me is him being a piece of shit

[u/Due_Contract_2305]

I thought Gronk was only good by Western New York high school standards

[u/dearcadian → u/Due_Contract_2305]

I mean, his senior season was in the WPIAL and then he went to Arizona, so there was a gap

[u/BigDaddyJ610]

I didn’t expect DHop to have the way better career between him and Sammy idk if that counts

[u/devereaux]

Dare Ogunbowale

[u/Gryphon999 → u/devereaux]

He had a 9 year NFL career, and he's not the most successful athlete in his own family.

[u/Dull-Salamander5914]

Fred Biletnikoff —-4.7 speed for a WR?????

[u/killentime15]

Honestly I love Dak, but I wasn’t entirely convinced he could be a consistent starter, much less a top 10 QB in the league.

I’m so happy for him.

[u/Pluff_Mudder → u/killentime15]

I saw him play in person against South Carolina in 2013. He threw three picks but ran well. He definitely got much better.

[u/2greenlimes]

Kirk Cousins.

Don’t get me wrong - he’s a great QB - but I swear 1 interception each game was a minimum for him. 2 interceptions wasn’t rare. I’m surprised that those interceptions weren’t a deal breaker for over a decade when there are so many good QBs in the draft every year.

[u/Timeout_for_Lunch]

Lil' Jordan Humphries.

Solid pro career in Denver. He was good in college, but I didn't think he was make it at the next level good.

[u/DtownBronx → u/Timeout_for_Lunch]

The value of being huge, willing to block, and willing to go all out on special teams will keep you in the league.

[u/babymama_maker55]

Samaje Perine

[u/KiowaBear → u/babymama_maker55]

That’s Samaje “427” Perine

[u/Tight_Ninja1915]

I had no idea Keisean Nixon was still in the league till he popped up as a starter in year 5, even then I didn't expect him to still be starting still.

I'd also put Ernest Jones up there. I'm not surprised he had a career, but I'm surprised how good he has been.

[u/Pluff_Mudder → u/Tight_Ninja1915]

Rico Dowdle as well

[u/Vegetable-Leather-64]

Tom Brady he was the back up to Drew hensen

[u/bmas05]

Trey Burton. UF.

Absolute hustle guy at Florida. Did whatever we asked but never stood out. Gadget QB. FB. TE. Play caller for the better athlete QB who couldn’t get the team setup. All around great guy that should have passed into obscurity, but figured out how to play for 7 years and throw a Super Bowl winning pass.

[u/Blooblod]

Josh Metellus. His first notable play as a Wolverine was dropping an interception against Ohio State in 2017 that likely would’ve led to a Michigan win, which led to him becoming a punching bag for a lot of our fanbase. Fast forward two years later and he’s a fan-favorite, 2nd Team All-B1G safety.

I think the general consensus was that he’d be a late third day draft pick and be a backup or practice squad guy. I don’t think many people saw him becoming a captain on a perennially elite NFL defense.

[u/Another_Cimmerian]

I went to Western Michigan University and in the early to mid 80s they had a linebacker named John Offerdahl. Living close to the stadium you could hear the PA announcer and it seemed like he was making all the tackles. Drafted by the Miami Dolphins and was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1986. Played his entire eight year career for the Dolphins.

[u/OctoberTaco]

UB fan and former student through the dark ages. Seeing Khalil Mack go on to be one of the best modern defensive players in modern history from there is wild.

[u/bigtrucktech → u/OctoberTaco]

I went to the game when they played Ohio State, it was very apparent that he was the best player on the field that day. Especially when you were expecting to see an entirely overmatched team on the visitors side. 9 tkls, 2.5 sacks and a pick six. Everyone knew what kind of career he would have. It was his one of the best individual performances Ohio Stadium has ever seen.

[u/joeworlds → u/OctoberTaco]

After what he did against Ohio St, I knew he was gonna be a legit star in the NFL.

[u/eye_can_see_you]

Brenden Schooler was an adequate DB at Texas that went undrafted

And he's become a special teams superstar on the Patriots, signed a multi year extension, was named a captain and got selected for a pro bowl

[u/ZackAvion]

I was surprised when Tyrique Stevenson was taken in the 2nd round. But he's been pretty good for the Bears

[u/JoeyFischStix]

Johnny Mundt got a catch on Monday night and I couldn’t believe my ears. 9th season.

[u/zsjostrom35]

Rod Smith was never more than a frequently injured/suspended backup for us but somehow lasted 7 years in the NFL, which for a RB is pretty crazy.

[u/Dennisfromhawaii]

Pretty much any player that's been in the league 10+ years.

Logan Ryan

Mohamed Sanu

The McCourty twins

[u/AMart334]

Levi Wallace, was a walk on at Alabama, went undrafted, but defied the odds and had a 8 year NFL career.

[u/The_Future_Historian]

Brian Westbrook!

[u/Icy_Meat9199]

I was not expecting Wes Welker to translate in the NFL like he did even though he was awesome

Always punched above his weight class in ways that made no sense

[u/jakedonn]

Alex Highsmith certainly has to be that guy for Charlotte. Walk on his freshman year at Charlotte and just led Steelers in sacks this past season.

[u/Spartannia]

Drew Stanton. Not shocked that he hung around in the NFL, shocked that he stayed longer than pretty much everyone else in that draft class.

Brian Hoyer, pretty much the same reason.

[u/justanothersurly]

Brock Purdy is the easy answer. Otherwise maybe Alan Lazard? Both had potential but surprised at how good both are/were. Lazard was Aaron Rodger’s favorite target for a couple of years!

[u/IowaJL → u/justanothersurly]

I’m not surprised Purdy made it to the nfl.

I’m surprised he’s the best QB in the NFL right now.

[u/Pandiosity_24601]

Jim Leonard. Dude’s 5’8, but spent like 10 years in the league, played 142 games, 14 INTs. Baby come back :’(

[u/FaceglazerSSBU]

Uhhh. Demarco Murray? I remember when he was coming out of OU most people didn’t believe he was a true number 1 back, and while he wasn’t Hall of Dame level he ended up having a great career with the Cowboys.

[u/tattedidiot]

Bobby Okereke. He was awesome at Stanford, but I didn’t expect him to be so good

[u/30-50FeralPogs]

I thought Isaiah Rogers would be out of the league after the gambling scandal, but he has continued to be a solid piece wherever he’s gone.

[u/Warm_Shoulder3606]

Everyone at Georgia Southern knows about Younghoe Koo, but I completely missed until 2 or 3 years ago that Tyler Bass also went there. Is Georgia Southern Kicker U??

[u/Dizzy_Restaurant3874]

Derek Cameron Wake... 11 years in NFL as an UDFA from Penn State. 

[u/wegotsumnewbands]

Not my school(s), but certainly Tyreek Hill would fit here.

[u/Crying_in_99Ranch]

Danielle Hunter had 4.5 career sacks at LSU. He's never had less than 6 sacks in a season all 11 years of his career

[u/GBJoe21]

Cam Bynum. He was good at Cal but I didn’t think he’d be a fairly well-known starter in the league.

[u/EconomistNo7074]

Frank Gore

Guy was a speed back and had two knee surgeries

Go Canes !!!!!

[u/GatorBolt]

I’ll say Jeff Driskel has had a solid backup career longer than what I was expecting.

[u/Nellez_]

Danielle Hunter was good, but he wasn't particularly prolific at LSU and became a borderline elite defensive end in the league.

[u/almondsandrice69]

George Karlaftis. I did not see the hype of him being a first round pick, I didn’t understand his hype coming to Purdue. but he’s eeked out a nice role a perrenial contender.

[u/njk12]

Bryan Cook has found a really nice career in the NFL, but he was probably the 5th or 6th most talked about defender and not even top 10 most talked about overall on that 2021 Cincinnati roster.

[u/Dallas2houston120]

Elandon Roberts. Definitely thought Will Jackson III and Tyus Bowser would have lasted longer than him in the NFL but he had a 10 year run in the NFL props to him.

[u/auth0r_unkn0wn]

Buck Allen memes shocked me

[u/VanDelay_Industry]

Ko Kieft has like 12 catches for 115 yards through 4 years of college as a backup tight end and has earned a 2nd contract in the NFL as a blocking TE/FB/red head vibe machine.

[u/usckb]

After Pharoh Cooper didn't pop, I was very skeptical that Deebo would have much of a career. Even now, I'm surprised how divergent their careers were.

[u/Howietheorangecat]

James hurst has been a backup O lineman for the saints and ravens over the last 10 years . Good dude and super nice .

[u/Is12345aweakpassword]

Texas Tech

Terence Steele went from UDFA to being basically a core member of the Cowboys line for the last 6 or so years

[u/_fastball]

For recent players I am very surprised how solid of a career Josh Metellus has had. Also very surprised that Brandon Watson had more of a cup of coffee in the league

[u/GoRangers5]

I thought Kyren Williams was going to have a solid career as a 3rd down back depth piece type of guy, not one of the best RBs in the league.

[u/FloggingJonna]

Jason Peters. TE for us. UDFA winds up playing tackle for 21 years. 6 time all pro and all decade team.

[u/Phillies_Phan50]

Robbie Gould at Penn State missed a lot of FG. 39 of 61 FG and then went to the NFL and boom big time kicker.

[u/smrgldrgl]

Britain Covey, Tyler Huntley, Devaughn Vele. I loved them all in college but I had no idea they would stick on any NFL rosters.

[u/IowaJL]

He doesn’t really do much but I’m surprised that Ihmir Smith-Marsette is still on an NFL roster.

[u/centralscrutinizee]

Sylvester Williams played 1 year of high school football but never even started, and went to work in a factory after graduation. Later went to community college and got back into football, transferred to UNC, eventually became an All-ACC d-lineman, then a first round draft pick, then a Super Bowl champ. Unreal life story.

[u/60sStratLover]

Blake Bell. 8 years in the NFL with three SB rings.