Video: Aaron Rodgers' high school football highlights After setting Pleasant Valley HS total yards records, he still opted for junior college.
In a recruiting world obsessed with Division I scholarships, it may be surprising to find that some of the best players currently playing in the NFL were fortunate to be offered college walk-on spots after high school.
The "D-I or bust" concept is certainly a goal worth shooting for. However, some of the best athletes in the world can attest to the fact that with more than 20,000 high schools in the United States, it's nearly impossible for every college-worthy talent to be given the exposure they deserve.
While powerhouse D-I schools certainly have provided the most NFL-ready athletes in the past, small-conference Division I schools, D-II, D-III, NAIA, and junior colleges are also landmines for talent.
Don't believe us?
Here's a look at some of the NFL's best players who were unranked coming out of high school, according to 247Sports.com.
Top 10 current NFL players unranked out of high school
1. Aaron Rodgers, Pleasant Valley (Chico, Calif.) — Green Bay PackersThe discount-double-check man himself was certainly double checking his dreams of becoming an NFL quarterback after not receiving a single Division I scholarship offer out of high school.
Despite setting a single-season school record for total yards in 2001 (2,466 total yards), Rodgers decided to attend Butte Community College, located outside his hometown of Chico. Although 247Sports later labeled him as a 3-star recruit after a couple dominant years in junior college, the man now regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play actually debated quitting football altogether to study law as a teenager in high school.
2. Antonio Brown, Norland (Miami, Fla.) — Pittsburgh SteelersThe always entertaining Brown was a star in both track and football at Norland. Brown was a two-time state qualifier in the 100-meter dash and a two-time class 6A All-State quarterback.
The now two-time NFL receiving yard leader applied to Florida State and Alcorn State as a walk-on before being rejected for academic reasons. After playing a prep season with North Carolina Tech Prep, Brown was finally given a walk-on spot at Central Michigan in 2007. The rest, as they say, is history.
3. Carson Wentz, Century (Bismarck, N.D.) — Philadelphia EaglesOften confused for Prince Henry, Wentz was anything but royalty in regards to college recruiters. A three-sport athlete for the Century Patriots in North Dakota, Wentz stood 5-foot-8 and weighed 125 pounds as a freshman there, according to the Bismarck Tribune.
While he eventually grew to 6-foot-5 as a senior, Wentz told Sports Illustrated that the only interest he received was from "Missouri Valley teams and a bunch of FCS teams." Safe to say recruiters were not booking too many flights to North Dakota to watch the now Super Bowl champion.
4. DeMarcus Lawrence, Silver Bluff (Aiken, S.C.) — Dallas CowboysSilver Bluff's finest was always one of the better talents on the defensive side of the ball, but did not have the academic credentials to earn a big-time scholarship. Lawrence chose to attend Butler Community College where he would then lead his team in sacks in back-to-back years.
Lawrence was selected to his first Pro Bowl with the Cowboys last season.
5. David Johnson, Clinton (Iowa) — Arizona CardinalsIf it wasn't for a season-ending wrist injury last season, Johnson might even be higher on this list. Either way, the first-team All-Pro running back did not have an easy-go early on.
Johnson set single-season school records for touchdowns and receptions for Clinton, but despite being a stellar student and earning a spot in a state All-Star game, Johnson was given just two scholarship offers (Northern Iowa and Illinois State).
6. Adam Thielen, Detroit Lakes (Minn.) — Minnesota VikingsThe 2017 Pro Bowler grew up in the small community of Detroit Lakes, population 8,500. Thielen was a four-sport athlete where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and golf.
An all-state receiver his senior season, Thielen did not receive a single offer and eventually decided to walk-on at Minnesota State University, where he had a stellar four-year career and finished among career leaders in several categories. Despite that, Thielen went undrafted into the NFL, but over the last two seasons he's turned into one of the league's most productive receivers with a combined 160 catches for 2,243 yards and nine TDs. He recently singed a 4-year, $19.2 million contract.
7. Delanie Walker, Pomona (Calif.) — Tennessee TitansDespite three straight Pro Bowl selections, the Titans tight end still appears unsung and underappreciated.
The Southern California-native was one of the best all-around athletes at Pomona, where he was a track and football standout. He did well at Mt. San Antonio Community College, which landed him at the University of Central Missouri. He set or shared several receiving and return records there.
8. Lane Johnson, Groveton (Texas) — Philadelphia EaglesFair to say it's not too common to see a NFL offensive lineman earn honorable mention All-State honors as a high school quarterback. The now 6-foot-6, 317-pound tackle was exactly that for his class 2A Groveton Indians.
According to Rivals, Johnson was actually listed as a pro-style QB in high school, garnering interest from Rice, TCU and even Stanford. Unfortunately, it was not enough to earn himself a scholarship offer, as Johnson then decided to attend Kilgore Junior College, where he was discovered by Oklahoma.
Chris Hogan for Ramapo in 2004 game against Wayne Hills.
File photo by Christopher Gottlieb
A well-documented story, Hogan did not plan on playing football at the college level at all. Hogan, instead, chose to take a lacrosse scholarship at Penn State.
After an ankle injury took away his sophomore college season, Hogan remembered he was an All-State first-team receiver at Ramapo. He transferred to Monmouth and walked on. Now he's a Super Bowl champion and listed as the No. 1 receiver for Tom Brady and the 2018 Patriots.
10. Cooper Kupp, Davis (Yakima, Wash.) — Los Angeles RamsThe Yakima-product certainly was a hometown phenomenon after starring for the Davis Pirates. A force on both sides of the ball, Kupp earned All-State honors as both a defensive back and wide receiver. Kupp hauled in 60 passes for 1,059 receiving yards during his senior season.
The only offer he received was local, at NCAA D1-FCS power Eastern Washington, where he became the first freshman FCS All-American receiver since Randy Moss. His career at Eastern Washington was astounding: 428 catches, 6,464 yards and 73 touchdowns. He was a third-round pick of the Rams and now he's one of Jared Goff's favorite targets.
