The first round of the 2017 NFL draft is just more than a day away, and the pressure is on for NFL hopefuls to make their case. With several Rebels looking to make the jump from college to the professional level, the NFL draft offers a unique opportunity to look back on those who have gone before.
Perhaps the most successful NFL player to hone his craft in Oxford, Eli Manning seems a decent place to start the discussion. Manning, entering his 13th season as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback, epitomizes consistency in this position; he holds the longest active record for consecutive QB starts with 211.
Manning won two Super Bowls, in 2008 and 2012, but has failed to guide the Giants past the first round of playoffs since 2012’s championship. Despite his recent struggles, the former Rebel star is still among the most dangerous quarterbacks ever to play the game.
Next to Eli, Michael Oher, of “The Blind Side” fame, could be the second-most successful Ole Miss football alum of the modern era. Oher, who plays both left and right tackle, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009 and earned a Super Bowl ring in 2013. After his stint with the Ravens, Oher spent two underwhelming years with the Tennessee Titans before finding a new home with the Carolina Panthers.
In Carolina, Oher has shown the same dominance that made him a star at Ole Miss, helping protect Cam Newton and leading the Panthers to their second Super Bowl in 2016.
Despite just two full NFL seasons under his belt, wide-receiving standout Donte Moncrief, Bo Wallace’s former go-to receiver, has quietly made a name for himself at the professional level.
Since being drafted in 2014, Moncrief has been an important asset to the Indianapolis Colts and their starting QB, Andrew Luck. With his impressive speed and high football IQ, Moncrief has increased his receiving touchdowns each year, despite an injury that cut his most recent season short. The still-developing receiver should see his numbers improve even further next season as he slides into a more comfortable position within Luck’s system.
A couple of names current Ole Miss fans may remember from recent history have found their way onto NFL teams as well. Eleven members of the Rebels’ impressively talented 2013 recruiting class found spots on NFL rosters last season, but two, in particular, could achieve as much on Sundays as they did in Oxford on Saturdays.
Receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil were both chosen in the 2016 draft and possess the talent and drive needed to become stars in today’s NFL.
Treadwell’s rookie outing with the Minnesota Vikings saw him register one touchdown across appearances in just five games, which is understandable, considering head coach Mike Zimmer’s veteran-centric game plan. Treadwell’s approach to the game, along with his natural athleticism and glue-like hands, make his success more a question of “when” than “if.”
Tunsil’s emergence onto the main stage was more pronounced; the controversial big man played in 14 of his first-year games and helped the Miami Dolphins claim the ninth-best rushing offense in the league. His size and unnatural speed make him a force to be reckoned with, much akin to fellow alum Oher.
