It's never a surprise to find that an NFL player came from one of the SEC schools, USC, Wisconsin, Ohio St., or any of the other college football factories. It's expected. Every player has a story and an original route to the highest level of football. It's really not often that a path includes a stop at a junior college. If it happens, I'm starting to become less surprised to find Coffeyville Community College as that stop. If a high school football player, with NFL dreams, has to or chooses to go the junior college route, putting on the uniform of the Red Ravens is no setback at all. Many NFL players have called Coffeyville, Kansas home for a year or two.
North Carolina's Sylvester Williams is one of the top defensive tackles in the 2013 NFL Draft. He'll likely be drafted somewhere in the latter half of the first round. Williams is a former Coffeyville Red Raven. Lousiana Tech's Quinton Patton is one of the most pro-ready receivers in the draft. He should be drafted by the fourth round. Patton is a former Coffeyville Red Raven. Mark Beard started two games at tackle as a sophomore for the Georgia Bulldogs. He's on his way to living his NFL dreams. Red Raven. David Cooper started all 12 games at middle linebacker in his first year at Indiana. Red Raven. He's even closer to the NFL. Defensive back Briean Boddy is just getting started on his dream at Minnesota. Red Raven. Coffeyville is a football pipeline to 4-year colleges and often the NFL to many football players.
Red Ravens currently in the NFL:
Ryan Lilja Kansas City Chiefs
Jonathan Joseph Houston Texans
Reggie Nelson Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Soliai Miami Dolphins
Devin Thomas Detroit Lions
Dashon Goldson Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Larry Asante Indianapolis Colts
James Carpenter Seattle Seahawks
Brandon Mosley New York Giants
Brandon Jacobs still looking for work
Coffeyville has been a stop on the way to the NFL for a while. Former players Leonard Little, Tracy Scroggins, Akin Ayodele, Keith Traylor, Siran Stacy, Mel Gray, Mike Rozier, and Jeff Wright were all Red Ravens. Gary Busey was too but he didn't play in the NFL.
Some colleges don't even have the NFL numbers that Coffeyville Community College can boast. It's pretty amazing. I'm not sure if the number of football players going the junior college route has changed over the years. I know that grades often make the decision for many of the hopefuls but I also know that many colleges will find a way to get their player if he has the talent. A 4-year college will pursue any player that has NFL talent. If junior college is part of a player's path to the NFL, I'm no longer surprised if Coffeyville is that junior college.
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