The 5 Most Successful Small-School Pass-Catchers in the NFL
Patrick Crayton, Wide Receiver
College: Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NAIA)
Drafted: 2004, 7th Round (216th Overall)
Career Total NEP: 349.59
Coming out of college, some teams weren't even sure what position our next small-schooler would play. Patrick Crayton became a 2004 7th-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys as a wide receiver, despite spending his senior year at Northwestern Oklahoma State University at quarterback.
His four years at NWOSU also saw him receive playing time at kick and punt returner, and in his senior year he became the first NAIA player ever to score a passing, rushing, receiving, kick return, and punt return touchdown in the same season. He was a four-time all-conference selection and excelled at pretty much everything he did on the field, piquing the interest of a few teams who saw a versatile offensive weapon in him.
When the Cowboys selected him, they imagined him only as depth and a gadget player, but injuries to their depth chart in his rookie 2004 season saw him make a solid impact for his new team. From there, Crayton would go on to have four consecutive seasons of 50.00 or more Total NEP from 2006 to 2009, despite starting just 33 out of a possible 64 games in that span. Though he never chalked up an elite-level season, Crayton was solidly above replacement-level for his entire career and a quality contributor to the Cowboys.
