Quote from: maripp2002 on January 24, 2026, 11:35:00 AMQuote from: faunch on January 24, 2026, 10:40:19 AMWould you rather be a beast on playoff level D3 team or an ok running back on a below average D1 team?
Football-wise, playoff team. Pocketbook-wise - free schooling all the way - below average team. Chances(albeit slim) to make the NFL - below average team (when was the last D3 draftee?). Academics-wise, it depends what you like, but I'll give Albany and Susquehanna a draw, even if that's probably not true in actuality, with Albany being the better ranked and generally regarded of the two institutions (not that rankings are everything).
The equation has more than one variable, otherwise, who would ever go anywhere other than the bluest of blue blood division 1 programs; totally for free and make some of that sweet NIL and revenue sharing money?
With that said, U Albany wasn't good last year, but as recently as 2023 they went to the FCS semi-finals, so it's not as if there isn't some recent success.
I believe Quinn Meinerz (3rd round in 2021) was the last player drafted from a D3 school. He's now a 2-time first-team all-pro. Bartch was drafted the year before (https://www.d3football.com/interactive/faq/general#11).
With the transfer portal I'm not sure we'll see this happen as often as we used to, I'm guessing the guys that show the potential will move up for a year or two before they are draft eligible.
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