Central Michigan Chippewas Look To Fulfill NFL Dreams

Central Michigan left tackle, Eric Fisher celebrates the 24-21 victory
over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field in
Detroit. Fisher will now look to become a Top Five NFL Draft Pick.
(My own photo from the Little Caesars Bowl)

There are many college football players that dream of the NFL. However, for a few Central Michigan Chippewas, that dream is now becoming a reality. Especially for left tackle, Eric Fisher.

Eric Fisher was not a highly recruited prospect out of Rochester Stoney Creek High School. Fisher's only two scholarship offers out of high school were from Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. "Back in high school, not many people would have told you I would play college ball. I was very, very lightly recruited," said Fisher, who is now projected to go fourth overall to the Philadelphia Eagles in most NFL Mock Drafts. However, mock drafts can say what they want. In reality, Fisher has been held by the Kansas City Chiefs for private workouts, who have the first overall selection in the draft.

Fisher's teammate and Central Michigan wide receiver, Andrew Flory speaks great things of the future first round draft pick, "Well obviously, his size and strength but also his willing to put in the work and dedicate himself to the game," said Flory who had played with Fisher last season in Mount Pleasant, "He leads by example and vocally when needed; he also has great agility and feet for such a big guy." Currently, 'Big Fish' is projected the second best offensive tackle in the draft behind Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel. Fisher has already received his invitation from NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell to attend the NFL draft in New York, so we'll all just have to wait and see where Fisher lands on April 25.


Despite the stellar draft stock of Eric Fisher, there are several other Chippewas looking to make noise on the second night of the draft. One of those players, is safety Jahleel Addae. Thus far, Addae has worked out for or has visited the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and the New England Patriots. The hard hitting safety ran a 4.64 40-yard dash during the Central Michigan pro day, in which scouts from 26 NFL teams gathered. Addae also recorded a 38.5 inch vertical jump, and is now ranked the eighteenth overall safety in the 2013 draft.

Despite the large amounts of production in Mount Pleasant, Addae was not invited to the NFL combine, but has all the skills for the next level, his teammate Andrew Flory feels the same way, "Jahleel is definitely a game changer on defense. I compare him to the "honey badger" in the way that he can make amazing plays in every game at any time. He is always in the right place at the right time, and he has so much potential in my eyes. He can be a big time player in the league for a long time."


A couple of other under the radar Chippewas include cornerback Lorenzo White, who currently is ranked a distant sixty-first out of over two-hundred corners eligible for the NFL draft. White has tremendous cover skills and agility, and could be a good pick in the late rounds. White ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the Central Michigan pro day, along with a 29 vertical jump. Lorenzo could become a shut down corner in the future, either as a late round pick, or at least in the Canadian Football League with many former Central Michigan stars.

Other long-shots for NFL rosters include three year starting quarterback, Ryan Radcliff. Radcliff threw for 65 touchdowns in his career in Mount Pleasant, and will look for a shot for a faint back-up spot on an NFL roster, otherwise the Canadian Football League may come knocking. Another Chippewa looking for a chance is Cody Wilson, a five-foot, nine-inch tall wide receiver who had a very productive career in a Chips uniform. Wilson ran a 4.66 40-yard dash at the CMU pro-day, but ran a blazing 2.63 20-yard dash. Despite the numbers, Chippewa head coach, Dan Enos says not to judge Wilson by the numbers, "He's really quick in and out of his break," said Enos, "He's going to catch the ball in traffic and create separation."


The dream will continue for a few Central Michigan Chippewas, who will join former Chippewa stars such as wide receiver Antonio Brown, linebacker Nick Bellore, and offensive tackle Joe Staley in the NFL.