2011 NFL Draft: Small School Prospect Ammar Dyson's Journey to The Show

Ammar Dyson is not your average college student-athlete attempting to be drafted in to the NFL this April.

Lincoln University, located in the heart of Missouri's capital Jefferson City, has an enrollment of only 3,000 students. Dyson has hit the radar of NFL teams because of his solid play for the Lincoln University Blue Tigers of the MIAA.

Dyson, who trekked to Lincoln from Erie Community College in Buffalo, New York, is drawing attention to himself for all the right reasons. While other college athletes are losing their eligibility due to taking cash gifts or cross-country trips from agents, Dyson has been working to perfect his craft.

A quarterback in high school and at Erie CC, Dyson has a football background that will interest NFL scouts. As a quarterback at Erie CC, not only did he have to learn the entire offense, but also he had to understand what his wide receivers were doing. To play quarterback, you must know when and why a receiver will sit down in a soft zone, or be able to read his route changes on the fly. You must also be able to see the field, anticipate what the defense will do and adapt on the go. 

These traits can make a good athlete an average quarterback, but when that player is asked to switch positions and play cornerback, they can make him a standout.

Dyson was a star player for the Blue Tigers of Lincoln. As a natural athlete he quickly made the transition from quarterback to cornerback and showed enough promise to be selected to play in the 2011 Dixie Gridiron Classic, held in St. George, Utah this week. At the Gridiron Classic, Dyson will be able to showcase his ability as a cornerback, but also show what he can do as a return man and even in the Wildcat offense.

Dyson is realistic about his opportunity, and about his prospects in the NFL. He was not invited to the Senior Bowl, and to date has not been invited to the NFL Combine. He will be using this one week in Utah, in front of NFL scouts and assembled media, to show that he deserves a shot at the NFL.

This is part one in our series following Ammar Dyson's journey from the MIAA to the NFL. For information regarding Dyson, please contact his agents at C.W. Financial Group. You can also follow Ammar's story on Twitter by following @ADyson28.