It is wise to know all the possibilities available to you before pursuing a career in football, especially in the highly competitive world of the NFL; that may be the traditional and more probable path: through college, or an unorthodox route. Let us discuss, Can You Play in the NFL If You Didn’t Go to College?
The short answer is yes – theoretically, you can play in the NFL, even if you did not attend college. Anyone who has graduated from high school and is three years removed from his or her graduation year is eligible to be drafted. There are generally two ways to play in the NFL without going to college and they are through tryouts, training camps
What are tryouts?
This is when players, despite college football experience, are allowed an opportunity to showcase their skills to scouts and coaches in hopes of making the roster. Tryouts take place at the beginning of the training season and are usually for punter and kicker positions as they are the most straightforward and least technical out of all the roles, and NCAA schools tend to hold out on scholarships for these positions.
The try-outs take two forms, invite-only and open, although the latter is increasingly becoming rare, being more likely in the ’70s and ’80s. The NFL already has too big a talent pool in the NCAA to pick from and will probably not waste time entertaining just anyone. However, NFL teams are known to host regional tryouts from time to time.
Who can try it out?
If you have prior experience in a semi-pro league or the CFL then this is for you. That means you can provide evidence for your skills, which increases your chance of being picked from the pack. Former players are more likely to be invited to tryouts, having reels of real-life games as evidence of their talents. And if you have exceptional skills, and maybe played some high school football, or if for a while you trained at a local club or with a personal trainer, then it’s worth a shot to show up at open tryouts.
How do try it out?
- Regularly check to see if any NFL teams are holding tryouts in your region; you will find this information on their websites along with contact details.
- Most tryouts carry a fee of around $40 and it can go up to $100.
- It is helpful to have a coach or trainer who will help you be on par with some of the ex-NFL players fighting for a second chance, and undrafted college players. The competition is stiff, and you have a short time to show that you are worth the investment, so you must be at your best physically and mentally.
- It also helps to have footage of yourself in action, be it in some league or a well-filmed practice session. You can send this to coaches and scouts regularly. You might be lucky enough to catch their attention and, if they are impressed, you could be invited to try out.
Training camps
Some teams will host training camps where prospective players can network with powerful people and showcase their skills in front of NFL personnel. Though costly, if you have a real talent there is a chance you could be noticed and awarded a trial period by a franchise team, which could lead to a more substantial position.
Conclusion
Realistically, the chances of playing in the NFL without a college resume are slim. That is because it is difficult to showcase your talent to NFL scouts without college exposure. The NCAA schools scout potential players from high school, and those truly promising and talented are offered athletic scholarships for college by Division I and Division II schools, subsequently being drafted into the NFL after gaining necessary experience from college ball. Remember, the NCAA alone has over 70 000 football players, and from that approximately 16 000 eligible drafts and slimmer is the odd 250 draft picks available.
However, it is still possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the chances of playing in the NFL from a tryout?
Unfortunately, less than 0.001%. When teams pick players from tryouts, it often is a publicity stunt to rouse the local community. Even those players lucky enough to receive genuine notice from scouts and coaches end up being training dummies and are let go before the start of the season. One or two proceed to play pro.
Are open tryouts the same as walk-in tryouts?
Not exactly. Walk-in tryouts are for college players who were not drafted or college students who are not part of football teams but believe they possess the talent to play alongside the best of the best.
Are there any famous NFL players discovered through tryouts?
A handful has found success in the NFL after being discovered in this way: a great example is Michael Lee Lewis, dubbed “Beer Man”, who, for the three years spanning 2002-2005, played as a wide receiver and return specialist for the New Orleans Saints, with no history of college football. He had been a truck driver for Budweiser, thus the nickname, and through training camps and tryouts he gained prominence which led him to the NFL.
