Schools like Florida State, USC, Miami, Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State will produce multiple NFL prospects on an annual basis. Hobart College will never be in that category, but the Division 3 football program in Geneva, New York has reason to celebrate this year. Offensive lineman Ali Marpet became the first player from the program to be drafted by an NFL franchise, and he is now the highest draft pick in the history of Division 3 football.
“I’ve said throughout this process, that whatever team drafts Ali is going to get an outstanding lineman who will learn and grow and have an outstanding NFL career,” Hobart Head Coach Mike Cragg said. “The Buccaneers got an exceptional young man who is going to do great things. I have no doubt about that.”
Marpet was picked up late in the second round of the NFL Draft Friday night by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Joined by fellow second-round offensive line draftee Donovan Smith of Penn State, the two picks are expected to move right into the starting offensive line to provide protection for the new franchise quarterback, Florida State’s Jameis Winston. Few were aware of Marpet for much of the fall, which is pretty much the norm for players from the lower divisions of college football, but he received an invitation to the Senior Bowl. The opportunity to play in the Senior Bowl in front of NFL coaches and scouts all week paid off in a big way. He later took advantage of an appearance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he continued to impress NFL folks.
Since 1990, a total of 19 players have been drafted by the NFL out of Division 3 according to D3Football.com. That list has included players like wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Cecil Shorts from Mount Union, a D3 juggernaut.