Not getting drafted isn’t the preferred way to embark on an NFL career, but the alternative — the free agency route — is a perfectly acceptable alternative, even if it does require a lot more patience.
The minutes feel like hours. The hours feel like days. When a prospect finally signs with a team for a tryout it’s months of preparation finally paying off.
For Penn State players, that free agency period has been a hotbed of activity. Only three Nittany Lions were drafted this year but there has been a lot of Penn State action in the free agency market. There have been signings with teams like the Jets, Miami, and Pittsburgh to name a few.
All in all, it was a successful week for Penn State’s NFL hopefuls. Donovan Smith, Adrian Amos and Jesse James all heard their names called during the draft and everyone from Zach Zwinak to Bill Belton has found a place to play after the draft concluded Saturday afternoon.
As of Monday afternoon only Sam Ficken and Brad Bars are without a new home. However both players are expected to eventually sign with teams. Even so, they too are going through the stress that comes as a free agent following the draft.
The hard work doesn’t stop when these players signed with teams. If anything the effort needed to succeed will only increase and the stress will only mount.
But for any player who has gotten to this moment, years of hard work are paying off with a chance to be successful in the NFL. It may never be easy to fall just short of a dream, but to get that chance, that’s all any of these players have ever wanted — even former Penn State basketball player Ross Travis, who will get his shot with Bill O’Brien and the Texans.
Drafted:
- Donovan Smith (Tampa Bay)
- Jesse James (Steelers)
- Adrian Amos (Bears)
Rookie Camp, Free Agent Signing:
- Zach Zwinak (Texans)
- CJ Olaniyan (Seahawks)
- Bill Belton (Jets)
- Mike Hull (Dolphins)
- Deion Barnes (New York Jets)
- Miles Dieffenbach (Steelers)
- Sam Ficken (Unsigned)
- Brad Bars (Unsigned)
