The Washington Redskins scouted every player with cleats before the 1987 strike from a convenience store guard to a real guard so fat he barely climbed Redskin Park’s steps to sign his deal.
But one player from a distant small school was especially thrilled to join the Redskins because he wanted to play on the west coast and “represent the great state of Washington.”
It seems the NBA isn’t the only league willing to go anywhere for players even if they don’t know where they’re headed. From Walla Walla Community College to Canada to The Citadel, the Redskins roster includes more than players from football factories like Miami, Michigan and Notre Dame.
Cornerback Dimitri Patterson is among 13 players from Northern Iowa to Southern A&M. The crowds were small, the notoriety smaller and if the game was televised, it was probably something like ESPN8 — The Ocho from “Dodgeball.”
And yet, the Redskins have always found them ever since Sammy Baugh came from the distant plains of Texas Christian in 1937. Marcus Koch of Boise State may have been the last top pick (1986 second rounder) from an obscure team, but the later rounds are filled with successful unknowns. Brian Mitchell came from Southwest Louisiana in 1990 to gain the most combined yardage in NFL history. Guard Mark Schlereth arrived in 1989 from Idaho to earn three Super Bowl rings. Linebacker Monte Coleman spent 17 years as an 11th-round pick from Arkansas State in 1979.
But the king of long shots might be tight end Mike Sellers, who played one season at Walla Walla before quitting to load trucks. A stint in the CFL led to two tours with the Redskins, including the last three years.
“I don’t want to call myself a diamond in the rough, but how often does thathappen?” Sellers said. “Very seldom do you find somebody [from a small school] and if you do you have to keep them.”
That’s what Patterson hopes. After spending two games with Washington last year amid a half dozen waiver wire trips involving the practice squad, the 2004 Division I-AA All American from Tuskegee knows he has an equal chance to make the roster no matter his background.
“It may not be the same as the guy who went to Miami, Texas or Florida State,” Patterson said, “but getting that shot is the most important thing.”
Certainly, the small schools provide variety during training camp dinners when rookies sing their college fight songs. Who knows what march is prompted by The Citadel’s running back Nehemiah Broughton?
“You still get the jokes from the big college guys asking where’s your college, but it’s all in fun,” Broughton said. “We hear it all the time, but they realize you’re here just like they are.”
The biggest difference players from smaller schools encounter in NFL camps is size. Rookies from major college programs have largely encountered the behemoths playing in the NFL, but a smaller school player can be intimidated.
“You have to have a confidence in your game that you can deal with guys that big that you’re never dealt with before,” Sellers said. “It’s all about what you have in your heart.”
Meanwhile, a sleeper or two might remain past the cut-down date. Practice squads are filled with unknowns. They come from nowhere, but feel they can play anywhere.
“The Redskins have a real good recruiting staff,” Broughton said. “You can come from a small school and get a chance. The NFL has gained a lot of respect for small schools.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
