To put it mildly, Daurice Fountain’s NFL future had little clarity when his college career ended on Dec. 2.
Little to no chatter existed. Rookie minicamp invite? Possibly.
Now, it's NFL draft pick.
The Indianapolis Colts selected Fountain No. 159 overall in the fifth round Saturday, culminating a rapid rise now three months in the making. The former Northern Iowa standout is just the fourth Panthers wide receiver ever drafted and the first since 2001.
PREVIOUSLY: After month on the road, Daurice Fountain is 'ready to play football'
After racking up 943 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season, Fountain pounced on an East-West Shrine Game invite and took off.