Late round picks in the draft often go unheard of. There is the occasional steal, like Richard Sherman or Terrell Davis, but for the most part, players drafted in the 5th round or later usually have a hard time succeeding in the NFL.
Jimmy Moreland doesn’t want to be one of those players. He wants to make a name for himself.
Picked in the 7th round by the Washington Redksins in April, this cornerback knows that there is a tough road ahead if he wants to ensure himself with many paychecks in the future. But he came from James Madison — where he now holds the career interception record — and he’s used to being overlooked.
Coming out of high school, Moreland was often passed up because of his small stature, but there was a passion inside that led him to eventually turning heads at the defensive back position.
“For me, I’ve always been an all-around player,” Moreland said. “In High School, in Pee Wee leagues or Prep School, all of that, but once you get into college you’ve got to pick one position. So I picked DB, because I love to see turnovers, I love to get a reaction from the whole crowd. I’ve got great vision once I get the ball in my hand. I know what to do with the ball.”
Now at the pro level, Moreland will have the opportunity to prove so many colleges that pulled their offers wrong. This fall, he will get to showcase his talents on a national stage, something that has always been in the back of his mind.
“When I went down there today and saw my equipment, it was just like ‘Wow, it’s finally here now,'” Moreland said.
There is a common cliche about late round picks — they play with a chip on their shoulder. Some let that slight drive them to be great, while others can let the anger play too big of a role. For Moreland, getting overlooked is nothing new, he has had it happen to him a lot in his life. Now he has a chance to prove all of the doubters wrong, while he does what he’s best at.
“In between the white lines feels like home.”
