Hey guys, this is Boss Tweed. I decided to write a little bit about my draft day experience and my post draft thoughts for anybody who may be interested. First, I should talk some about the buildup to the draft. After my third year of college, I was eligible to enter the draft. Despite only starting for a year and a half, I felt like I had completed and accomplished college career after we won the Big 12 championship game and won a bowl game in my final year at Kansas. I was told that some scouts were worried that I did not have as much starting experience as some of the other prospects and worried that my success might be a flash in the pan because it happened over a short period of time. I knew I was facing a lot of doubt, but I was never expected to be a starter in college let alone a star player when I left high school, so I was ready to defy the odds again.
When I began the draft process, I was given access to a website. This website had forums where prospects could talk with the General Managers from each team in the NSFL and get to know them. Each team had its own forum and each team had a thread for interested prospects where we could respond to some questions and tell the teams about who we are as a person. After we filled out our responses, we waited to see if any General Managers would contact us. The only message I received was from the Wraiths about a potential backup role. I was excited to be contacted but at the same time, I was not sure how to interpret it. Did this mean that they were the only team interested in me? Would I go undrafted if they didn’t pick me? At the time I did not realize that it is simply a matter of General Manager preference: some wanted to individually contact prospects while others were content to judge based on the answers in the interested prospects thread. However, I did not initially realize this, so it added some uncertainty to the draft process for me. This made me extra determined to prove myself to General Managers.
My next opportunity to prove myself was on the field during the All American Bowl. I was excited. Although I did not generate much attention on the forums, this was my chance to prove myself out on the field, where I always shined the most. I never had much hype coming in to college, but I made a name for myself through my play on the field so I was ready to do the same at the pro level. However, I would not get to be the star this time. I would have to share the backfield with other prospects, which meant each play would be even more important than I realized.
It was not until midway through the All American Bowl when I got my chance. As I expected, I did not get many chances to prove myself as I only got 4 carries in the entire game. I expected it to feel just like college but I was facing a completely different level of competition. I was going against not just an ordinary college team, but a team of college’s best players. The defenders were bigger and faster than most I had gone against and holes closed much quicker than what I was used to in college. With my 4 carries, I finished with a total of 0 yards. The plays went by so quickly and it felt like my chance was over before it even started. I finished the game averaging 0 yards per carry, which was the worst among all running backs in the All American Bowl. I was able to salvage my performance somewhat in the receiving game where I was able to catch 3 passes for 21 yards. Luckily, my skills in open space still transferred against a higher level of competition. Still, I could not help but feel devastated by my rushing performance. I had spent my entire life working to perfect my skills as a running back and now the entire world would define those skills by four poor carries. I knew I should be feeling excitement about the impending announcement of where I would begin professional career, but after my disappointing performance in the All American Bowl, I could not help but feel dread as the draft grew closer.
I looked toward the media for some reassurance as the draft approached, but I did not find any. I browsed through some mock drafts of the first two rounds of the draft on the NSFL website, but did not see my name. One article created a big board of the top 25 prospects and I looked through it hopefully, but I did not see my name. I knew that looking for my name in the top 25 or the first two rounds was probably too ambitious, but I was hoping for some form of reassurance. Because the media provided no indication of my draft stock, I would be entering draft day with lots of uncertainty. How far would I far? Would I get drafted at all? What would I do if I went undrafted? Many questions were running around in my head, but there was nothing I could do anymore to change my draft stock. I no longer controlled my own destiny.
Draft day finally arrived, but there was nothing I could do besides wait. I decided to stay at home instead of attending the draft so that all of my family and friends could be there and so I could relax more in the comfort of my home. As the hour of the draft approached, I decided to play some Madden to calm my nerves down a bit. I’ve created a version of myself on Madden, so I decided to build up my confidence by dominating the computer for a little while. The first game of the NBA finals started at the same time as the draft, so I was planning to watch it some in the background to take my mind off of the draft. However, at 9:00 I realized I could not bring myself to focus on anything other than the draft, so I simply sat in front of the TV and waited for my name to be called.
As expected, I did not get drafted in the first two rounds. I hoped my name would be called shortly after the first two rounds, but that was not the case. I watched as the starting running back spots were filled and then the backup running back spots began to fill as well. As the pick numbers got in to the 90’s, I realized I was going to fall out of the top 100. Then, suddenly, it happened. At pick number 99, the Colorado Yeti called my name. I felt overwhelmed with relief. After all of the stress of the draft process, I finally had a home.
The rest of the night was a whirlwind after that. I celebrated with my family and got to talk on the phone with the General Manager of the Yeti as well as with some of my new teammates. The next day I got on a flight from Richmond to Colorado to begin my career. That is where I am now. I’ve gotten to see the Yeti’s facilities which are ages ahead of any other training facilities I’ve worked out in before. I’ve only just gotten started, but I feel like before long I am going to be in the best shape of my life. I still need to finalize my contract and then I can begin thinking about the preseason and eventually about the regular season. I am prepared to make the Yeti’s 99th overall pick a pick well spent.
So that’s my basic summary of the NSFL prospect process for those interested. Do not be afraid: I made plenty of mistakes but still found myself a home. In hindsight, I wish I would have stressed out less and taken more time to enjoy the process of the draft. However, my journey is not over yet. I still have plenty of work ahead of me. Just like in college, I am not coming in as a highly touted prospect so I am going to have to work hard to make a name for myself. It took me time to change my running style and adapt at the college level, so it will probably take me a similar amount of time to adapt as a pro. But I am willing to be patient and work hard. I was drafted with the third pick in the seventeenth round of the NSFL draft. That means that 3 other general managers passed on me 16 times and two other general managers passed on me 17 teams. More importantly, that means I now have 5 general managers to prove wrong.
When I began the draft process, I was given access to a website. This website had forums where prospects could talk with the General Managers from each team in the NSFL and get to know them. Each team had its own forum and each team had a thread for interested prospects where we could respond to some questions and tell the teams about who we are as a person. After we filled out our responses, we waited to see if any General Managers would contact us. The only message I received was from the Wraiths about a potential backup role. I was excited to be contacted but at the same time, I was not sure how to interpret it. Did this mean that they were the only team interested in me? Would I go undrafted if they didn’t pick me? At the time I did not realize that it is simply a matter of General Manager preference: some wanted to individually contact prospects while others were content to judge based on the answers in the interested prospects thread. However, I did not initially realize this, so it added some uncertainty to the draft process for me. This made me extra determined to prove myself to General Managers.
My next opportunity to prove myself was on the field during the All American Bowl. I was excited. Although I did not generate much attention on the forums, this was my chance to prove myself out on the field, where I always shined the most. I never had much hype coming in to college, but I made a name for myself through my play on the field so I was ready to do the same at the pro level. However, I would not get to be the star this time. I would have to share the backfield with other prospects, which meant each play would be even more important than I realized.
It was not until midway through the All American Bowl when I got my chance. As I expected, I did not get many chances to prove myself as I only got 4 carries in the entire game. I expected it to feel just like college but I was facing a completely different level of competition. I was going against not just an ordinary college team, but a team of college’s best players. The defenders were bigger and faster than most I had gone against and holes closed much quicker than what I was used to in college. With my 4 carries, I finished with a total of 0 yards. The plays went by so quickly and it felt like my chance was over before it even started. I finished the game averaging 0 yards per carry, which was the worst among all running backs in the All American Bowl. I was able to salvage my performance somewhat in the receiving game where I was able to catch 3 passes for 21 yards. Luckily, my skills in open space still transferred against a higher level of competition. Still, I could not help but feel devastated by my rushing performance. I had spent my entire life working to perfect my skills as a running back and now the entire world would define those skills by four poor carries. I knew I should be feeling excitement about the impending announcement of where I would begin professional career, but after my disappointing performance in the All American Bowl, I could not help but feel dread as the draft grew closer.
I looked toward the media for some reassurance as the draft approached, but I did not find any. I browsed through some mock drafts of the first two rounds of the draft on the NSFL website, but did not see my name. One article created a big board of the top 25 prospects and I looked through it hopefully, but I did not see my name. I knew that looking for my name in the top 25 or the first two rounds was probably too ambitious, but I was hoping for some form of reassurance. Because the media provided no indication of my draft stock, I would be entering draft day with lots of uncertainty. How far would I far? Would I get drafted at all? What would I do if I went undrafted? Many questions were running around in my head, but there was nothing I could do anymore to change my draft stock. I no longer controlled my own destiny.
Draft day finally arrived, but there was nothing I could do besides wait. I decided to stay at home instead of attending the draft so that all of my family and friends could be there and so I could relax more in the comfort of my home. As the hour of the draft approached, I decided to play some Madden to calm my nerves down a bit. I’ve created a version of myself on Madden, so I decided to build up my confidence by dominating the computer for a little while. The first game of the NBA finals started at the same time as the draft, so I was planning to watch it some in the background to take my mind off of the draft. However, at 9:00 I realized I could not bring myself to focus on anything other than the draft, so I simply sat in front of the TV and waited for my name to be called.
As expected, I did not get drafted in the first two rounds. I hoped my name would be called shortly after the first two rounds, but that was not the case. I watched as the starting running back spots were filled and then the backup running back spots began to fill as well. As the pick numbers got in to the 90’s, I realized I was going to fall out of the top 100. Then, suddenly, it happened. At pick number 99, the Colorado Yeti called my name. I felt overwhelmed with relief. After all of the stress of the draft process, I finally had a home.
The rest of the night was a whirlwind after that. I celebrated with my family and got to talk on the phone with the General Manager of the Yeti as well as with some of my new teammates. The next day I got on a flight from Richmond to Colorado to begin my career. That is where I am now. I’ve gotten to see the Yeti’s facilities which are ages ahead of any other training facilities I’ve worked out in before. I’ve only just gotten started, but I feel like before long I am going to be in the best shape of my life. I still need to finalize my contract and then I can begin thinking about the preseason and eventually about the regular season. I am prepared to make the Yeti’s 99th overall pick a pick well spent.
So that’s my basic summary of the NSFL prospect process for those interested. Do not be afraid: I made plenty of mistakes but still found myself a home. In hindsight, I wish I would have stressed out less and taken more time to enjoy the process of the draft. However, my journey is not over yet. I still have plenty of work ahead of me. Just like in college, I am not coming in as a highly touted prospect so I am going to have to work hard to make a name for myself. It took me time to change my running style and adapt at the college level, so it will probably take me a similar amount of time to adapt as a pro. But I am willing to be patient and work hard. I was drafted with the third pick in the seventeenth round of the NSFL draft. That means that 3 other general managers passed on me 16 times and two other general managers passed on me 17 teams. More importantly, that means I now have 5 general managers to prove wrong.
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