Cory Reamer from Alabama Is Raising NFL Eyebrows

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.—Cory Reamer is a two-year starter and championship winning linebacker who won high praise from the coaching staff and press for his play last year. Despite all of that he went undrafted.

He was not even invited to the NFL combines and was even passed over for the Sr. Bowl in Mobile, Alabama earlier this year.

However, the 6-foot-3, 228-pound Reamer is coming off a stellar season in Tuscaloosa, in which he recorded 50 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 12 games.

"I know in my heart I can compete at the next level." Reamer told me at the end of last season. "I just need a chance to show them I can, and that's all it should take."

But after the draft was over, leaving Reamer with one more heartache to suffer through, the Jets offered him a free agent contract and he was off to mini camp to show them they hadn't made a mistake.

Indeed, after just two days of practice, all the coaches were buzzing about this young man who was showing no signs of being anything less than NFL material and clearly separated himself into the elite group of rookies all vying for a spot.

Rex Ryan, head coach of the New York Jets said that it was clear to him that this was a man who could make it.

“He wants to stay… that’s obvious,” Ryan said. “He’s here competing and he wants to stay.  Every year, there’s a few guys that are like that.”

Coaches have said they feel fortunate to have gotten Reamer and the fact that he wasn't drafted surprised many, but with seven linebackers on the roster ahead of him, he better be doing things to stand out from the crowd.

Coming from a Nick Saban team the coaches in New York felt comfortable with the coaching he had already gotten and were only concerned about his physical ability, not his mental ability.

"You won't start at Alabama (and Nick Saban) and not know what you're doing." Ryan said.

Last year another undrafted made the Jets roster and many feel Reamer could be the next.

"For a rookie linebacker to make it in the NFL, there's got to be heads up, lights out play on special teams, because that's where he'll be playing that first year." Said former Super Bowl coach Jimmy Johnson.

And Reamer did excel at special team at Alabama, and likewise, that is what eventually earned him a starting job.

Can Reamer be one of the feel good stories to come out of the NFL draft days decisions? I wouldn't bet against it.