Chris Manhertz should not be in the NFL today. At least based on his initial plans after college. Professional American football was not on his horizon after playing four seasons for the Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball.
He was planning to go pro overseas, but the Buffalo Bills entered the frame and offered him a tryout. That was the start of his journey in the league, and now, he is with the Denver Broncos after signing a two-year contract in March this year.
Manhertz's story is not unique, though. Before him, other players carved out a great collegiate basketball career before stepping foot on the gridiron.
Here are some of them:
1. Jimmy Graham
Graham has come full circle as he signed with the team that drafted him in 2010 - the New Orleans Saints.
He played all his eligible years with the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball but then decided to stay one more year to play football - a decision that turned out great for him because he is still playing the sport even after 13 years.
Graham played 120 games for the Hurricanes and averaged 4.25 and four rebounds per game.
2. Quentin Rollins
Rollins was a 5'11 guard for Miami University from 2010 to 2014 before transitioning to American football in preparation for the 2015 NFL draft.
He was not just any other college basketball player, as he could be considered among Miami's best PG. As a captain, he averaged 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 2.5 assists per game for the Division II team.
The football team also handed him the captaincy in 2014, and he earned a first-team all-conference selection and Division II third-team All-Ohio.
He was drafted 62nd overall in 2015 and played in the NFL until 2019.
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3. Julius Peppers
The first two on the list played for the Green Bay Packers at one point. So is Julius Peppers, who was drafted second overall in 2002 by the Carolina Panthers.
A hulking 6'7 defensive and linebacker, Peppers was a perfect fit in the University of North Carolina basketball program.
He is one of those guys you can attach the "what if" question to his basketball career. What if he pursued basketball instead? His coach, Matt Doherty, thinks he would have made it to the NBA.
"I'll tell you this, I do believe if Pep would've just focused on basketball, he could've played in the NBA," said Doherty, now a scout for the Indiana Pacers.
He is not that bad in the NFL either, as he decorated himself with an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2002) award and four First-team All-Pro appearances, to name a few.
4. Darren Fells
The former Arizona Cardinals tight end is the only one in this list to have played basketball professionally.
Before signing with the Seahawks in 2013, he played for the Basketball League Belgium Division I team Leuven Bears.
He then transferred to the Kataja Basket Club of the Finnish Korisliiga. Other pro hoops teams he played for are the LNB Pro B in France, Soles de Mexicali of Mexico, and the Obras Sanitarias of the Argentine Liga Nacional de Basquet.
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