Brianna Campbell / The Collegian
Cameron Worrell was predicted to go in the late rounds of the NFL Draft, but signed a free agent contract, still making an appearance in the Super Bowl.
For many college players, hearing their names announced during the NFL Draft is a dream come true. But for the players who don’t, it’s a disappointment.
Cameron Worrell, a former Fresno State player, was predicted as a late-round prospect in 2003 by most experts after posting a strong senior campaign.
As a senior in 2002, Worrell led the team in tackles from his safety position, recording 109 tackles and a sack. Worrell also intercepted a team-high five passes, forced two fumbles and was second on the team with seven pass breakups. He earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors after a spectacular senior season.
After the season, Worrell believed that he had a good chance to be drafted. He spoke to many teams leading up to the draft. Worrell said he had a few positive conversations with team representatives, and he had a good understanding where he might be selected.
“There were three or four teams who told me I was on their draft board, as a late-round guy,” Worrell said.
But during the 2003 NFL Draft, Worrell was bypassed by all 32 teams, in every round.
However, going undrafted didn’t mean that Worrell wouldn’t have a shot to play in the NFL. After the draft had concluded, he was invited to a minicamp tryout with the Chicago Bears.
An opportunity to play in the NFL was all Worrell needed. “I got an opportunity and I really took advantage of that,” he said.
With a fighting chance to make an NFL roster, Worrell impressed the coaching staff during his tryout and soon after the team offered him a free agent contract.
“I had a good weekend and signed a free agent deal,” Worrell said.
But his chance to make the opening day roster was still slim.
“I had to come into minicamp and really earn an invite to training camp,” Worrell said.
He still had to compete with other players, including a safety who was drafted in the fourth round. Many assumed that Worrell wouldn’t make it past the preseason.
“I don’t think anybody expected me to stick around and make the roster,” Worrell said.
But during training camp and the preseason, Worrell made an impression on the coaches with his work ethic as a player.
“I kind of just played every down like it was my last down in the NFL,” Worrell said. “It sounds cliché, but that was really the mentality I had. That’s what got me to making the team and having an NFL career.”
In a few short months, Worrell worked his way from the bottom of the totem poll and being an unknown player to being a member of an NFL team.
“I really started from the very bottom and worked my way up pretty quickly,” Worrell said.
Worrell went on to have a respectable six-year career as a professional football player, with the Chicago Bears, the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. He excelled on special teams and had his best season statistically in 2007 with the Dolphins, where he started seven games and made 56 tackles and a pass deflection.
“I look back on my career with a lot of pride and a lot of joy,” Worrell said. “I got to play in the Super Bowl.”
Not bad for a player who had to walk on at Fresno State.