Every year we see players who, being chosen in the later rounds of the NFL Draft, end up becoming stars of the competition. These five below have the talent, and their amazing personal stories give reason to be confident in their futures.
ZAMIR WHITE (RUNNING BACK, GEORGIA)
Zamir was the top running back his year coming out of high school, attended one of the best colleges in the United States and has scored 22 touchdowns in his last two years. And yet, he is this draft’s biggest overcoming story: within two hours of his birth, doctors gave him no more than two weeks to live.
White was born with a cleft lip, a congenital defect that made it difficult for him to eat and led him to live his first three months between hospital walls. That, coupled with kidney problems, constant ear infections and a hernia, made his early years a penance. Now, he comes to the NFL with a bombproof character, an inhuman physique that has earned him the nickname ‘Zeus’ and ready to become one of the best running backs in the competition.
BOYE MAFE (DEFENSIVE LINE, MINNESOTA)
Boye Mafe is one of those special players. He has incredible speed that makes him explode like a rocket and be an absolute terror for opposing quarterbacks, unquestionable flexibility and impressive aggressiveness for his size. The problem is that he is not yet the sum of his parts.
The son of Nigerian immigrants, Mafe suffered in his own flesh how cruel coincidences can sometimes be, when his mother died of pancreatic cancer on Mother’s Day. With patience and a team that will nurture his skills, we could be looking at the next great “quarterback buster” of the competition. The sky is the limit for him.
CALVIN AUSTIN III (RECEIVER, MEMPHIS)
Calvin Austin had always dreamed of being a local hero. Born and raised in Memphis and with a father who went to that same university, he was just looking for an opportunity at the place of his dreams. But it wasn’t coming.
Despite breaking every possible record in track and field (his personal record in the 100-meter dash is 10.55 seconds) he had to come in as a walk-on (non-scholarship player) for the Tigers and climb from the bottom to become what he is today: a deep threat with supersonic speed and an ability to gain yards after the catch beyond question.
COBY BRYANT (CB, CINCINNATI)
You can imagine what his dad’s favorite basketball player was, right? Coby quite honestly honors the NBA star on the green: he’s an aggressive player, able to play through pain (he competed the entire 2019 season in a cast after breaking his hand, a la Kobe when he sank two free throws against the Warriors after rupturing his Achilles Tendon) and has the ‘Mamba Mentality’ burned into him.
After more than 50 starts in four years and incredible numbers in interceptions and passes defended (10 and 45, respectively) Bryant will delight any defensive coordinator who needs a player who can perform right out of the gate.
GRANT CALCATERRA (TIGHT END, SMU)
Grant Calcaterra was a high school football star in California, but decided to start his college career at Oklahoma to match up with Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (his best friend along with Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield).
After a dream 2018 season, 2019 was a nightmare and Calcaterra retired in November of that year due to constant concussions. Once off the field Grant dedicated himself to his other dream: being a firefighter. During that year he did first aid sessions and worked on an ambulance, as well as in construction. In 2020 he decided to return to the field and look to be the NFL’s next great tight end receiver, like his friend Mark Andrews.
Marca
