ATLANTA — Maybe if he’d grown to be so big earlier in life or started playing football sooner, Falcons offensive lineman Ryan Schraeder would have signed with a big-time NCAA program and heard his name called on NFL draft day.

Then again, taking the traditional route to the NFL would have meant missing out on what Schraeder said were some of the advantages of playing for Division II Valdosta State.

“You didn’t have to deal with noise (in stadiums),” he said. “The fan base, they were real tight with the players. It was neat. It wasn’t something you wouldn’t get with a bigger school.”

Playing for the Blazers also worked out professionally for Schraeder, who starts at right tackle for the Falcons. He was one of about 100 players from NCAA Division II schools on NFL rosters as of the summer, according to the NCAA. (Current counts are difficult because of the daily roster turnover).

Most players who make the leap from “D2” to the NFL are late-blooming prospects who escaped the attention of the top college programs. That describes Schraeder, who didn’t even play football in high school. He had a late growth spurt from 5-foot-7 to 6-7, went to Kansas State for one year strictly as a student, and then played football at Butler (Kan.) Community College before finally making his way to Valdosta State.

“Every NFL scout that came to me and talked to me about him, I kept saying his best football was in front of him and he hadn’t reached his potential because it was so early in his career,” Valdosta State coach David Dean said.

The Falcons have benefited from Schraeder’s late development. He follows in the footsteps of center Roberto Garza and cornerback Brent Grimes, two other players from Division II schools who flourished with them in recent years.

Most players from Division II schools have to take a winding road to the NFL similar to Schraeder’s. Dean said they are suited for taking the hard route after playing for a small program.

Read more at AJC.com