As a kid we’ve all had a dream, and in this life sometimes those dreams face a breaking point. This April an athletes NFL dream will be met with either jubilation or despondency. The first round of the NFL Draft takes place on April 27th, 2023, in Kansas City. The 3 day event marks the beginning of leagues new year, and the start of the 2023 season. While the draft signals a new beginning for teams, it also marks the end for many athletes and their athletic careers.
During the 7 Round duration of the draft , 259 collegiate football players are selected. Of those 259, only 32 players will be solidified players in the NFL. Only First Round draft picks are guaranteed to sign contracts with the team that drafted them (excluding trades). The other 227 and those who might sign free agent contracts are left to still work towards their dream. Even if their name is called these athletes will have to make it through the long offseason and preseason, before they can official make the 53 man NFL roster. In a study done by the NCAA in 2020, only 1.6% of collegiate football players were drafted. For those who didn’t get drafted, questions of their next step is inevitable.
The “next step” for the remaining 98.4% of the “unpicked” pool, would be to simply get a job. For athletes, simply getting a job isn’t the easiest task. The NCAA reports a growing rate in Student athletes graduating throughout all collegiate divisions. Unfortunately, however a bachelor degree doesn’t hold the weight it once did for entry level positions.
Leagues like the XFL and CFL, give athletes another route into the NFL. Although it’s rare to see the crossover between these leagues, they also serve as another way for athletes to live their dream post their collegiate careers. Even if athletes take this route, they’re still forced to think about their identity outside of the Gridiron.
Keyshawn McLeod, a former Division 1 Offensive Lineman, is proud of the route he chose. “I make enough to be like, hey mom here's a little something, and before i thought football was the only way i could do that”. While at Tulane, McLeod was a starter, received All-Conference recognition and a Captain in his 4 year career. The decision to retire lead to McLeod finding his passion as a Security consultant and inspiring the next generation of athletes to do the same. “Being able to transition out of that ( athletic social norms) and try to build something for my community and relay that message to others, is the wave I'm on right now”. Mcload’s route to success is unique because it’s his own. However, the lessons learned through the game of football can be universally equated to early success in life. “Playing football and being an athlete is not who you are, but it's just what you do. I had to figure that out.”
At the conclusion of April’s draft, hundreds of athletes will be expected to find their identity outside of the sport of Football. For some this task won’t be easy. Due to the time restriction it takes be a Collegiate athlete, many athletes aren’t able to take advantage of opportunities that might prepare them for life after college. Internships, studying abroad, and other opportunities allow for college students to find their niche and passions. With stories like Mcleod’s to look for inspiration, future ex athletes should be confident in their ability to face life head on.
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