How does one make it to the NFL? Do you have to play college football in order to turn pro?
While the most common route to the league is to play college football for three or four years and then enter the NFL Draft, that’s actually not required. It is possible to play in the NFL without ever playing at the collegiate level. What are the eligibility rules in the NFL Draft, and which players have entered the NFL without playing in college?
How Do Players Become Eligible for the NFL Draft?
To be clear, the vast majority of players in the NFL were once college football stars. However, this is not a requirement. A common misconception is that a prospect needs to play at least three years of college football to gain NFL Draft eligibility. In actuality, a prospect merely needs to be three years removed from high school.
Each year, the top prospects in the NFL Draft often have college eligibility remaining. Players may leave school after their junior season or, in some cases, after their redshirt sophomore campaign.
Redshirt sophomores are juniors who still have two years of eligibility remaining, but they can enter the draft since they are three years removed from high school. Players with remaining college eligibility require the NFL’s approval to enter the draft, but it’s almost always granted.
In 2004, Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett attempted to challenge the NFL’s draft eligibility rules. Clarett was dismissed from his college team for off-the-field reasons, so he challenged the NFL’s restrictions and a federal judge ruled that the league couldn’t bar Clarett from entering the draft. However, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit later overturned the federal judge’s ruling, so Clarett was blocked from entering the NFL Draft without being three years removed from graduating high school.
That same year, USC sophomore wide receiver Mike Williams joined Clarett in challenging the draft eligibility rules. After the federal judge ruled that Clarett could enter the 2004 NFL Draft, Williams also declared for the draft and hired an agent. However, once the appeals court overturned the initial ruling, Williams was also barred from entering the NFL Draft (and he was ineligible for NCAA reinstatement, so he had to sit out a full season).
In the 2005 NFL Draft, Williams was eventually selected No. 10 overall by the Detroit Lions, while Clarett was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round.
Top NFL Players Who Didn’t Play College Football
Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates originally enrolled at Michigan State University to play both football and basketball, but he transferred to Eastern Michigan University after realizing MSU head coach Nick Saban only wanted him to play football for the Spartans. Gates then spent time at the College of the Sequoias before landing at Kent State in 2001.
Incredibly, Gates never played college football. He did earn an honorable mention for All-American honors in basketball after his senior season. Citing his physical stature and raw athleticism, the San Diego Chargers signed him as a UDFA after the 2004 NFL Draft. The rest, as they say, is history.
Gates went on to make eight Pro Bowls. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s. And in 2024, Gates will go down as one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs of all time. As a top-five tight end in NFL history, there is zero doubt that it’s only a matter of time before Gates is given his rightful place in Canton.
Jordan Mailata
An Australian native, Jordan Mailata never played a down of football until he reached the NFL. As is a common trend with inexperienced players, NFL teams look for physical traits that cannot be taught with the belief that they can teach these incredible athletes how to play football.
Few players encapsulate this better than the 6-foot-8, 365-pound rugby player Mailata. In 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on him in the seventh round. Mailata became a full-time starter in 2020 and is now considered one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.
Michael Lewis
While Michael Lewis didn’t play college football, the sport wasn’t completely new to him. He began playing as a high school freshman, but had to step away from the game to help his family and support his child that was born during his senior year. While working as a beer truck driver, Lewis began experiencing success as a flag football player and attempted to further his football dreams.
Lewis played for a number of minor league teams before eventually landing with the New Orleans Saints in 2000. After playing for the now-defunct NFL Europe in 2001, Lewis made it to the NFL proper at the ripe young age of 30.
Lewis immediately became one of the best returners in the league, leading in the NFL in kick return yards, punt return yards, and all-purpose yardage en route to first-team All-Pro honors in 2002. He stayed with the Saints through 2006 before ending his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007.
Stephen Neal
Stephen Neal played football in high school but focused on wrestling in college, where he posted a 156-10 record and four All-American campaigns. The New England Patriots signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2001. Neal eventually made 81 starts at guard for the Patriots from 2002-2010, winning three Super Bowls in the process.
How Much Do Rookies Make in the NFL?
Under the current rookie wage scale, first-year players will earn a base salary of $795,000 in 2024, up $45,000 from the previous year. This is the league minimum for NFL players with no experience, regardless of draft position.
Not all rookies make the same amount of money. While their base salaries may be the same, higher-drafted players and more talented players receive larger signing bonuses.
The difference in compensation between rookies is highlighted by their signing bonuses. For example, Caleb Williams collected a signing bonus of $26.8 million after the Chicago Bears selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
By comparison, a prospect chosen at the top of the fourth round will take home an $850,000 signing bonus, while the final pick of the draft will earn a bonus of just $78,000.