There were a lot of things working against NFL draft prospect Austin Proehl. The North Carolina receiver was seen as undersized at 5-9 and 182 pounds. His senior season for the Tar Heels was cut short by injury, suffered in the third game of the season. And there was a common perception that he was more quick than fast.
Proehl overcame all of it, thanks in large part to the two critical factors working in his favor.
A relentless drive and a father in former NFL receiver and coach Ricky Proehl, who served as his personal coach from the time his senior season ended until day three of the NFL draft, when the Buffalo Bills made him the penultimate pick at 255 overall.