It was not that long ago when college football players either latched on to a team in the NFL, the Canadian Football League or joined the working world. That has all changed in recent years with NFL Europe, Arena football and other leagues offering a career beyond college. Just this past week Drake quarterback Ira Vandever signed to play in a league in Germany. Drake coach Rob Ash says players are trying to extend their careers in part because of the millions that can be made by playing in the NFL. Ash says the success story of Kurt Warner turns heads and folks want the “bag of money” at the end of the rainbow. Last year, Drake kicker Billy Cundiff was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent and made the team. Ash says most of the players from smaller programs need to find another route. Wide receiver Aaron Overton signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Ash says the level of competition hurt his chances in the draft. Ash says everything about Overton made him was tailor-made for the NFL, but he says everyone wondered when he ran past defenders, scouts wondered if Overton was truly that fast, or the competition really slow.
