Broc Rutter, Dan Allen, Justin Hill and D'Angelo Fulford are among the Division III student-athletes hoping to be employed by NFL teams this fall, but the obstacles to getting drafted or signed are even higher than normal. Rutter and Allen by Dean Reid, d3photography.com; Hill and Fulford by Ohiosi.com

By Adam Turer
D3sports.com

The key to preparing for the NFL draft during these uncertain times is, quite literally, a key. 

The Division III prospects hoping to receive a phone call from a professional team on draft weekend in late April are stuck in training purgatory. Campus facilities are closed, local fitness centers are closed, and congregating with other players is either prohibited or strongly discouraged in most states. 

But if your father is a high school athletic director, or if your former high school AD gave you a key to your alma mater’s fieldhouse, or if you have keys to your hometown gym, you’re luckier than most. 

A few players — such as Broc Rutter, Justin Hill, and D’Angelo Fulford — are so fortunate. Many other D-III prospects are having to find even more creative ways to maintain and prepare. They all share in the uncertainty they face in the weeks ahead

“With people not being able to get pro days, have visits, physicals, and clear medicals, it’s really a waiting game for guys like me. You’ve just got to stay patient,” said former Berry player Mason Kinsey. “At some point football is going to come back. Stuff like this is bigger than football. People’s health and safety is bigger than football. As much as we love football and sports, those are secondhand to people’s health.” 

Kinsey, one of the top small school draft prospects according to many prognosticators, has been working out at home with his father and brother. The wide receiver has always lifted weights with his father, Shane. His younger brother, Garrett, is a rising junior for the Vikings. In addition to lifting weights at their Georgia home, the Kinsey brothers are sprinting up hills near their house. While that keeps him fit and focused, it is not as exciting as the workout Kinsey had scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons, which was postponed due to the pandemic. 

While their on-site interviews with NFL teams were cancelled, many D-III prospects were fortunate to get in their pro days before the pre-draft schedule was shut down. Kinsey worked out at Kennesaw State, Delaware Valley’s Dan Allen held his at Villanova, Fulford and Hill participated at Miami (Ohio), and Rutter participated at both Northern Illinois and Northwestern. 

Coray Williams took matters into his own hands. The former Wesley safety filmed his own pro day workout and position tests and drills, then posted the videos to social media and tagged numerous draft scouts. His agent sent the videos to NFL teams. 

“I haven’t really changed anything. I’m finding creative ways to lift, but otherwise it’s business as usual,” said Williams. “I know God’s got a plan for me and hopefully my phone rings. All I can do is control what I can control.”

St. John’s quarterback Jackson Erdmann was scheduled to participate at Minnesota’s pro day on March 25. He had been throwing with Golden Gophers receiver Tyler Johnson, a coveted draft prospect. That pro day was canceled, yet another obstacle Erdmann has had to overcome since the Johnnies season ended. 

First, the 2018 Gagliardi Award winner tore ligaments in his ankle in the season-ending semifinal loss to UW-Whitewater and began his offseason with surgery. He graduated in December, then moved into the basement of his parents’ house. Then, the basement flooded. Now, Erdmann is living at his girlfriend’s brother’s house and working out in the gym in his basement, throwing into a stationary net on a nearby turf field. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s ideal, but just another obstacle in the road for me to overcome,” said Erdmann. “My mindset is I’m going to have a shot and just have to control what I can control now — training hard, getting my mind and body in shape. With everything going on, you never know when you’re going to get a call. You always have to look at the positive aspect of everything.” 

Erdmann and Fulford were among several D-III players who participated in the College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas in January. That gave them the opportunity to practice with players from every level of college football. 

“People know the notoriety that comes with the Mount Union name. I joke with guys at D-I that D-III guys are some of the most secure tacklers I’ve ever seen. You take away the 6-4, 240 and replace him with a 5-9, 210 guy and his technique is perfect. They can’t rely on athleticism,” said Fulford. “There’s always been a chip on my shoulder going back to little league days. Just because I’m D-III doesn’t mean I can’t play. The big question was D-III competition, and I got the chance to showcase against different competition.”

While he was disappointed that the Toledo pro day was cancelled, Fulford was grateful that he had the chance to display his talents and connection with his top wide receiver at the Miami (Ohio) pro day.  

“When we did our Pro Day together, it looked like we’d been throwing together for four years,” said Fulford. “We’re both thankful that we got to get our Pro Day in. We’re blessed.” 

Hill has the benefit of the Mount Union wide receiver pedigree of NFL success. Pierre Garcon, Cecil Shorts, and Jasper Collins have all made an impact in the league in recent years. Hill speaks with Shorts and Collins regularly, and they motivate him to stay patient. 

“About 24 or 25 teams came to see me this year, and they gave me good feedback. They want to see me go up against better competition. I haven’t been able to showcase my talents against higher competition,” said Hill. “I feel like the competition in D-III today is a lot better. Some scouts understand that, but not all do. Coming from D-III, I’ve got to be able to do extra and put the extra work in.”

Kinsey was able to showcase his talents against D-I players in the East-West Shrine Bowl. He was the only D-III player in the game. 

“Being able to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, I think I was able to answer the level of competition question there. I feel like my whole life I’ve been somewhat overlooked and underappreciated. I’ve worked my tail off over the past eight years,” said Kinsey. “My dream was always to play professional football. It’s a challenge I accepted and I’m glad I took the path that I chose because I think it’s made me a better football player and a better man. I’m really thankful for Berry College for giving me the opportunity to play football.”

Allen, the Delaware Valley wide receiver, has taken an even more unusual path to this point. He only played one year of high school football, then took a year off after graduating. He is using this time to add weight, run hills, and dive deeper into the game of football itself. 

“I’ve been dealing with these questions the whole time I’ve played football. I’m trying to stay positive and be as optimistic as possible,” said Allen. “I’m hoping the season rolls out regularly. I try to see the good things that will come out of this situation. It’s given me more time to study football and think about why I love football so much.”

Rutter won the national championship and Gagliardi Award, took a short vacation with his family to Florida, then flew straight from Florida to Denver to begin training for his shot at the NFL. His workout with the Chicago Bears was postponed, and now he is engaging in Skype interviews with NFL teams. The two pro days he was able to fit in helped tremendously, as does the fact that he is training with his top target from North Central, Andrew Kamienski. Now, they have to sanitize their hands after throwing, on the days that they are lucky enough to find a park or facility that is still open to the public. 

“It’s weird for everyone. Everybody has their own way of dealing with it. Nobody has been through this — agents, scouts, prospects. You have to work like it’s a normal offseason. You have to be ready if you get the opportunity,” said Rutter. “You’re the underdog, but you’re grateful for where you came from. Now everybody is in the same boat and given the same opportunity.”

Amid the chaos caused by the novel coronavirus, Fulford finds himself in the best situation of these under-the-radar prospects. The South Florida native has been back home since his pro day in Ohio, training with former D-I players like Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, and Deondre Francois. The challenge now is creating their own schedules and limiting the sessions to ten players or fewer. With beaches closed, it is now all football, all the time. 

“It was the plan all along to come back home. I knew the transition would be smooth, I know there are always receivers to throw to, and it’s pretty much always 80 and sunny,” said Fulford. “If you have to be quarantined, where would you rather be? I wake up, work out, go throw, then watch NFL clips the rest of the day. I’m never complacent.

“As long as I get that chance, I’ll be grateful. I’m ready to kick the door down when I get the chance.”