Before the accolades, the fame and the money, Khalil Mack, Branden Oliver and Xavier Ford were three unknown athletes with large aspirations. Not many programs in the country gave them a shot to show off their talent to the nation.
UB did.
Before Mack became the star of the Oakland Raiders’ defense, he was a Fort Pierce, Florida recruit whose only scholarship offer other than UB was from Division I-AA Liberty.
Five-foot-8 Oliver’s only offer came from Buffalo. He currently takes handoffs in the San Diego Chargers’ backfield.
And Ford, who continues to climb up the ranks of the Detroit Pistons organization, was a two-star recruit who escaped the hardships of his hometown of Colorado Springs.