20 NBA Players Who Didn't Play College Basketball. While NFL athletes do not specifically go to school to become professional football players, NFL and NCAA requirements include those related to education. To get into the NFL, you must first be drafted by an NFL team in the college draft. Follow Zion on Twitter @zbolojede. After graduating, Gates was told he wouldn’t likely have a professional career as a basketball player, so he tried out for some NFL teams. Anyway, as I sat in the press box during the first round on Thursday night I couldn't help but think of all the great college players that never made it in the NFL, or even had a chance to do so. I know there have been a few though who didnt go to college. It seems that unless another player can break a single season record, they won't even be in the discussion for MVP. By Zion Olojede. Ben Graham went to Deakin in Australia and the only player not to go to college at all … Instead, he played basketball at Kent State. What it does not require is a formal education. Share This Story. You are required to be out of highschool for 2 years I think before you can join the NFL. Eric Swann Drafted #6 1991 by the Phoenix Cardinals made 2 Pro Bowls. However, some players entered the NFL draft before they graduated from college. With the NFL Draft around the corner, it’s worth noting that there are 120 D2 football players in the NFL (as of April 23, 2015), five of whom have had a major impact in the league. Just seven players did not go to a college in the United States. Mar 08, 2018. The Detroit Lions saw Harrington as an NFL-ready player and selected him with the third overall pick in the 2002 draft. Becoming a professional football player requires stamina, strength and ambition. Image via Getty. 99% of players do go to college because they play college ball there and stay in shape. Thats also where the NFL scouts look at them. His rookie season wasn’t terrible, as he threw 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but it clearly didn’t meet the expectations that coaches had for him based on his college … In the 1930s and 1940s, the best college players didn’t always choose to play pro football, and pro players weren’t necessarily better than college players. The 28-year-old Schraeder didn’t even play high school football and walked on to junior college team before joining Valdosta. Gates didn’t even play football in college at all. In the NFL, five out of every 10 players fail to earn a college degree even though many of these players attended college for four to five years. The position of quarterback is, in some ways, like pitchers in baseball; they have more control over the game than any other position and are involved in … College draft look at them become professional football player requires stamina, strength and ambition though who didnt go college! 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