NFL prospects from small schools

Published 8:14 pm Saturday, April 19, 2008

Here are some of the more highly rated players (in alphabetical order) in the April 26-27 draft who played outside the bright lights of the Bowl Championship Series:

Steve Allen

LB | West Texas A&M

Also played at two junior colleges. Former safety now is a 236-pound linebacker.

Jamar Brittingham

RB | Bloomsburg

Finished career 14th all time in NCAA Division II with 5,689 career rushing yards.

Michael Butterworth

T | Slippery Rock

Three-year starter at left tackle. Team surrendered only 10 sacks in 2007.

Pierre Garcon

WR | Mount Union

Had 16 100-yard receiving games and is a quality returner.

Curtis Johnson

DE | Clark Atlanta

Had 112 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 131/2 sacks in 2007.

Josh Johnson

QB | San Diego

Threw 113 career touchdown passes and only 15 interceptions.

Kolo Kapanui

TE | West Texas A&M

Started career at USC but never played a game for the Trojans.

Shane Longest

K | Saint Xavier

Made 27 field goals and averaged 43.2 yards a punt.

Xavier Omon

RB | Northwest Missouri State

Had five 200-yard games in 2007 and seven games with at least three rushing touchdowns.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

DB | Tennessee State

Rarely challenged but took both his interceptions in 2007 for touchdowns.

Jerome Simpson

WR | Coastal Carolina

Has high jumped 6-83/4 and was the Big South Conference’s long jump champion.

Bobby Tatum

S | Abilene Christian

Texas transfer also was a track All-American.

Cary Williams

CB | Washburn

Fordham transfer had 11 interceptions in two seasons at Washburn.

Danny Woodhead

RB | Chadron State

Set all-time, all-division career rushing record with 7,962 yards.

Jeff Legwold, Scripps Howard News Service