MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - They say all you need is an opportunity.
Well, three West Virginia University football players got their opportunity following this past weekend's NFL Draft.
Consensus All-American cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., wide receiver Devin Carter and offensive lineman Doug Nester signed free agent contracts once the 257-player, seven-round draft activities concluded on Saturday afternoon.
Bishop, the school's 13th consensus All-American, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carter, who spent one season at WVU after transferring from NC State, signed with the Carolina Panthers, and Nester, a three-year starting offensive lineman after transferring from Virginia Tech, inked a deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Sportswriter Rich Gosselin, who has covered the NFL for more than 50 years, recently came up with an all-time team of undrafted players and there are some terrific names on this list.
Looking for an undrafted quarterback? Kurt Warner, Tony Romo and Warren Moon are three pretty fair choices.
Gosselin's list of undrafted running backs includes Priest Holmes and Willie Parker.
Among wide receivers, which will interest Mr. Carter, Gosselin picked Drew Pearson, Wes Welker, Rod Smith and Lionel Taylor, who spent a good portion of his childhood growing up in Logan County, West Virginia.
The undrafted offensive guards, which will interest Mr. Nester, are Larry Little, Nate Newton and six-time Pro Bowler Brian Waters.
Among the undrafted centers is another Mountain State native and Hall of Famer, Frank "Gunner" Gatski – the other guy who was born and raised in Farmington, West Virginia.
John Randle, from Texas A&I, turned out to be a pretty decent NFL defensive end while undrafted linebackers James Harrison, Sam Mills and London Fletcher weren't too shabby either.
For Mr. Bishop, how about these undrafted cornerbacks? Dick "Night Train" Lane, Willie Brown, Emmitt Thomas, Dave Grayson and Everson Walls. If Beanie switches to safety or plays nickel, undrafted Willie Wood, Cliff Harris and Donnie Shell are a couple of pretty good role models.
Mountaineer football has also produced plenty of undrafted guys who stuck around in the league for at least five years. Corey McIntyre Sr. played parts of eight NFL seasons despite going undrafted (Craig Melvin photo).
Corey McIntyre, whose son Corey McIntyre Jr., is a member of this year's WVU team, hung on for eight years with the Browns, Falcons, Saints and Bills from 2005-12 despite being undrafted.
Offensive linemen Don Barclay and Quinton Spain and defensive end Antwan Lake spent parts of seven seasons in the league, while linebacker Terence Garvin, offensive lineman Adam Pankey and return specialist Darius Reynaud played parts of six seasons.
All three went undrafted and all three are now earning NFL pensions.
Fullback Will Johnson also managed to play in the league for five seasons with the Steelers and Giants despite slipping through the draft.
What these guys proved is that all you need is a chance!
