Walter Payton went to Jackson State. Jerry Rice went to Mississippi Valley State. Terrell Owens went to Chattanooga.
Are any of the players in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft likely to live up to any of the aforementioned players’ standards? Possibly not, but all three serve as proof that you don’t have to go to a big school to make an impact in the NFL.
The Bears have made it a priority to do their homework on small-school prospects under general manager Ryan Pace. Out of their six drafts since Pace joined the organization, all but one have involved the selection of a player selected at the FCS, Division II or Division III level.