Unheralded Hoosiers looking for NFL success

By Brandon Moore  |   Monday, June 12, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Indiana Hoosiers
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While former IU players rarely get much attention in the hype leading up to draft day, and even more rarely are drafted in the early rounds, a number of former Indiana Hoosiers are making names for themselves in the NFL, with this year's class looking to do the same. In the past, even Hoosier greats like Anthony Thompson and Trent Green weren't considered "first-round talents." Like their predecessors, the most recent group of Hoosiers aiming for a roster spot is looking to make a name for itself in the League.

For every success story like Trent Green, an eighth-rounder in 1993 who only attempted one pass in his first five NFL seasons yet recently has gone on to play in two Pro Bowls, there are stories like Anthony Thompson, who held the Big Ten records for rushing yards and touchdowns when he graduated but who played just three NFL seasons and never rushed for more than 400 yards in a season. So even a guy like Gibran Hamdan, a 7th round pick by the Washington Redskins who had a less-than-stellar career at IU, can now be the NFL Europe offensive MVP and seem to be on his way up the ladder. With both potential success and failure in mind, the '05 seniors are positioning themselves for careers in the NFL.

One of the more recent successes have been Antwaan Randle El, everyone's favorite Hoosier and playmaker, a 3rd round pick by the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and current well-paid wide receiver for the Washington Redskins. Another is DE Adewale Ogunleye, signed as an undrafted FA by the Miami Dolphins in 2000, he became a Pro Bowler in 2003 after leading the AFC in sacks. Ogunleye currently plays for the Chicago Bears.

The only Hoosiers to hear their names in the draft this year were OL Isaac Sowells, a 4th round pick (112) by the Cleveland Browns, and DE Victor Adeyanju, the very next pick (113) by the St. Louis Rams. And while these two will likely hold roster spots come September, there are a number of undrafted Hoosiers looking to prove themselves during the preseason.

In all, six Hoosiers will try to make a mark in the League this fall, with the Indianapolis Colts signing All-Big Ten linebacker Kyle Killion, the Atlanta Falcons signing fullback-turned-linebacker John Pannozzo, the Houston Texans signing running back Chris Taylor, and the Miami Dolphins looking to score another Ogunleye by signing DE Ben Ishola.

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