Supplemental Income: Harvey Unga's Workout May Get Him Drafted

Over the past ten years, seven players have been selected in the NFL’s Supplemental Draft.

The Supplemental Draft, the league’s second chance opportunity for players ruled ineligible (either by way of academics or law concerns) to get a crack at the NFL. For a team to select a player in this “silent auction” draft, team’s bid their highest offer of a draft pick on a player, and the team with the highest bid wins. The winning team forfeits the pick in the following years draft.

While most haven’t worked out in these past ten years, players like Ahmad Brooks, Jared Gaither and Paul Oliver have made solid contributions in the NFL.  Al three of them have chances to be starters in the 2010 season.

This season there is only one real threat has entered the draft pool. Harvey Unga, the all-time leader in rushing for Brigham Young University was ruled ineligible by the very strict policies in BYU.

Unga removed himself from the school because he was going to be punished for breaking one of the college’s very conservative rules. then he tried to reapply and his claim was denied.

Based on his game film, the NFL is likely not to deny him into their program.

Unga, who will be working out for over twenty NFL teams on July 8th, is a decorated and punishing running back at 6 feet, weighing 237 pounds and can help an NFL team in more ways than one.

His power and finishing ability in the running game were boasted in his 5.3 yards per carry and 11 rushing touchdowns in his senior season. 

He had three straight 1,000 yard seasons in his career at BYU, and his work ethic, versatility, and consistency make it very possible that he can continue that success in the NFL. 

Odds are he won’t get drafted before the 5th round because of the usual disappointing nature of supplemental draft picks. However, rumors are that the Dolphins are very intrigued, likely because a.) they need a power back, b.) they can get one for very cheap, and c.) he’s a high character, hard working guy and fits the mold of a Parcells guy.

If he could have stayed in college for another likely productive season, he could have went as high as the 2nd round. Getting a value like Unga is the supplemental draft could be among the biggest additions a team gets this off-season, even this close to the start of training camp. 

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