JACKSON, Tenn — Exactly a week away from Super Bowl 50 a number of former Lane football players found out they’d be playing professional football this year as part of the newly formed league, Major League Football.
While they may not be playing on sundays in the fall just yet, players say they’re thankful to finally be given a shot.
“It was surreal. I always wanted to experience that,” former Lane defensive back Randy Powell said. “That’s a lifelong dream, wanting to get drafted to play pro ball.”
Major League Football is a league Powell’s former coach, Derrick Burroughs said is much needed.
“Major league football will help these kids develop themselves,” Burroughs explained. “A lot of them may or may not be ready, but even if they are ready they have no vehicle in which to get looked at by the NFL.”
Burroughs said players like Powell and Damien Willis who was also drafted, show pro talent can be found in the Hub City.
“I do really, honestly feel that these kids can play in the NFL, but nobody will never know if somebody doesn’t give them a chance,” Burroughs said.
“A lot of great diamonds in the rough get missed out because of just the stigma of coming from a Division-II school,” Powell said during a Skype interview Sunday. “There are guys that literally can ball and there needs to be a gap to fill that void in between.”
Powell, who played for the Dragons for two seasons, said he’s glad to have a chance to be the next great player to come from Lane College.
“I’m going to do the best I can do,” Powell said. “I hope my story inspires everybody that reads it. I hope that my talent exemplifies greatness and that my character carries over and shows that I’m really educated and I came from a great place.”
Powell said the teams will all meet in Florida in a few weeks for training camp and will begin games in the spring.
Coach Burroughs said he expects a few other former Dragons to make their way onto rosters as well.
Original article here: http://www.wbbjtv.com/video/138717/
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