By By Olson Barthelemy
The Pac-10, ACC, Big 12, Big East, and Big Ten are all known as manufacturers of NFL talent. Football fans are accustomed to seeing players from these powerhouse conferences prominently featured on their television screens during the NFL Draft.
Sports fans have gotten used to hearing Michael Irvin, now an NFL analyst for ESPN, praise multiple players from the University of Miami (or “The U” as Irving affectionately calls it) as they make big impacts on their respective teams every weekend. Who hasn’t seen a player proudly pronounce “THE Ohio State University” during player intros on Monday Night Football?
Undoubtedly, there are certain big name schools and conferences that just seem to consistently produce solid players who can make the transition from college to the NFL (or other professional football leagues such as the Canadian Football League, NFL Europe, and the Arena Football League) and become substantial contributors to professional teams.
But where does the Atlantic-10 (A-10) Conference fit into the picture. How successful has the A-10 conference been in producing players for the professional ranks? Of those players that have come out of A-10 institutions, how many of them have gone on to make legitimately significant impacts in the pros?
At last count, there were 47 players hailing from schools inside the Atlantic-10 playing in the NFL, CFL, NFL Europe or Arena Football. This stat is not counting players currently on practice squads of the aforementioned leagues. These players range in level from Pro Bowl starters, to fourth string bit players. However, they all have at least one thing in common: all of them made strong enough names for them in the A-10, as opposed to schools with much larger national media attention and better athletic reputations.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to many that the A-10 has the ability to garner attention from pro scouts. In fact, the A-10 is viewed in higher esteem than probably initially believed.
One of the most successful A-10 products retired before the NFL’s 2005 season. Breaking into the league with the Minnesota Vikings in 1987, quarterback Rich Gannon is mostly known for his days with the Oakland Raiders. Gannon was drafted in the fourth round of the 1987 draft after playing at the University of Delaware. Starting for three years under head coach Tubby Raymond, Gannon holds 21 school records, including career passing yards, total offense and rushing yards by a QB. Gannon earned All-American and Yankee Conference Player of the Year honors in 1986, the same year he led the Blue Hens to the NCAA quarterfinals. Professionally, he was named the NFL MVP in 2002 and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl in 2003. Gannon now works as an analyst for CBS.
A name probably more familiar to today’s NFL fan is the Philadelphia Eagles’ Brian Westbrook. He made a name for himself with the ability to be a potent weapon both running and catching the football. Before Terrell Owens (and arguably even with Owens now an Eagle), Donavan McNabb was looking in Westbrook’s direction when in need of a big play.
Westbrook’s No. 20 jersey was retired this Saturday at Villanova University. As a Wildcat, he compiled 41 school records, 19 A-10 records and five NCAA records. In the 1998 season, Westbrook became the only player in the history of college football, at any level, to both rush and receive for 1,000 yards. He won the Walter Payton Award, for best player in Division I-AA in 2001, and was also one of only five Division I-AA players chosen to play in the 2002 Senior Bowl. He holds the NCAA record for most career all-purpose yards.
Selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, Westbrook went to his first Pro Bowl in 2005. Exhibiting his impact during his time as a Wildcat are the words from his college coach, Andy Talley, as taken from Westbrook’s official website, “It is an honor for me to say that I coached not only a great player but a great person in Brian Westbrook. He is truly a once in a lifetime player.”
Sunday’s 23-20 win by the Minnesota Vikings against the Green Bay Packers was big for a team in the midst of turmoil and scandal. It was particularly important for one player, Darren Sharper, who was released by the Packers after spending the first eight years of his career with the team during the off season this year and signed with the Vikings two days later.
He must have savored the win against his former team in the swirl of controversy. Sharper was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. The Packers had had their eyes on Sharper long before draft day. According to an article dating from 1997 on Packer Plus Online, pro scouts were frequently visiting the football field at William & Mary to see the standout safety.
Despite playing for a Division I-AA school, unlike his brother (Jamie Sharper of the Seattle Seahawks, who played at Virginia), Sharper was still able to garner the attention of pro scouts.
Analyzing his college career at William & Mary, it is not difficult to understand how he managed this feat. Sharper is the schools all time interceptions leader with 24 and holds the Division I-AA record with 486 interception return yards. He was named the Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season and made the All-Yankee Conference team at free safety in his final three seasons.
Aside from stellar defense, Sharper was also a tremendous punt returner, holding records for season (500 yards) and career (1037 yards).
His pro accomplishments, which outshine those of his Division I-A alumni brother Jamie, enhance the words of the University of Rhode Island’s media relations director Mike Ballweg.
“With the number of players currently playing in the NFL, Arena, Europe, etc., I believe the A-10 has created a niche and is considered the top I-AA conference in the nation,” he said.
There are a number of other A-10 players making big contributions professionally.
One of Michael Vick’s most trusted targets in Atlanta is Brian Finneran, who made a name for himself at Villanova. Finneran’s name pops up all over Villanova’s record books with records for touchdowns in a season, receptions in a season and career receiving yards.
Despite the drafting of J.J Arrington, Marcel Shipp is the leading rusher for the Arizona Cardinals. Shipp was a three time All-American and three time All-Yankee Conference selection as the running back at the University of Massachusetts. He holds UMass records for most season and career rushing yards.
Pro Bowler Jerry Azumah, a fifth round selection of the Chicago Bears, spent his college years at the University of New Hampshire. Azumah’s All-American college career featured a Walter Payton award and the distinction of holding four NCAA records as a tailback. His numerous records at New Hampshire include career rushing touchdowns, overall touchdowns, and a Division I-AA record for points scored.
Other A-10 products playing professionally include former New York Giant and current CFL player Frank Ferrara of the University of Rhode Island and 49ers cornerback and Delaware alumnus Michael Adams. Also, Baltimore Ravens starting center and Maine alumnus Mike Flynn, New Hampshire alumnus and Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Dan Kreider, and Packers linebacker Paris Lenon all starred at Richmond.
These players prove what pro scouts have always known: talent can be found anywhere, even in a Division 1-AA conference like the A-10.
And who knows, there is probably a good chance some current A-10 players will have their names on pro rosters some day.