The journey from college football brilliance to NFL success is filled with challenges. While some players transition effortlessly to the professional level, others struggle to recreate their collegiate prowess.
Here are 8 prominent athletes who, despite stellar college careers, were among the most unexpected NFL draft flops.
From College Glory to NFL Disappointment: 8 NFL Draft Busts Couldn’t Transition
Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State)
Chase Young was a game-changer at Ohio State. He was a Heisman Trophy nominee as a defensive player and is widely regarded as a legendary pass rusher. His rookie season in the NFL was promising, garnering him Defensive Rookie of the Year awards. However, injuries, including a ruptured ACL in 2021, impaired his progress.
After being traded to the 49ers and then signing with the Saints, Young’s once-miraculous advancement has become a tragic story of how quickly elite potential can vanish due to health issues and inconsistency.
Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin)
Montee Ball was among the most productive running backs in NCAA history. At Wisconsin, he tied Barry Sanders’ record for most touchdowns in a season (39) and finished with 83 in his college career. But the NFL was a different story. Ball battled with conditioning and injury.
His NFL career lasted only two seasons and resulted in 731 total rushing yards. Off-the-field problems, like as legal issues and drunkenness, ultimately ended his professional career.
Mac Jones (QB, Alabama)
Mac Jones was practically impeccable during his one year as Alabama’s starting quarterback. He threw for nearly 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, guiding the Crimson Tide to a perfect season. Jones was drafted as a potential replacement for Tom Brady in New England, and his NFL career began with the promise he would make the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
But it quickly turned. Jones was benched multiple times in 2023 due to poor offensive line play, changes in coaches, and growing pains. He was later dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, most likely as a backup option.
Corey Coleman (WR, Baylor)
Corey Coleman was a Baylor deep-threat nightmare. His 20 touchdown receptions in 2015 gave him the distinction of college football’s leading receiver. However, he never adapted to the NFL. He suffered with drops and injuries, totaling only 718 receiving yards in two seasons with the Browns.
Stints with the Bills, Giants, and Patriots followed, but nothing worked out. Coleman’s speed never translated into sustained NFL productivity, making him a textbook example of a collegiate star turned pro flop.
Justin Gilbert (CB, Oklahoma State)
Gilbert was a shutdown cornerback at Oklahoma State who possessed excellent quickness and return ability. Gilbert was drafted ahead of players like Odell Beckham Jr. and Aaron Donald, with the expectation that he would anchor the Browns’ secondary for years. Instead, he played in only 23 games over two seasons, starting three.
After a brief tenure with the Steelers, issues with his work ethic, attitude, and on-field performance forced him to leave the league prematurely.
Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M)
“Johnny Football” became a college football sensation. With his electrifying dual-threat abilities, Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. His experience at Texas A&M was nothing short of legendary. But in the NFL, his partying habits and lack of preparation caught up with him.
In two seasons, he started only eight games, throwing seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Manziel’s decline was quick, and he was out of the league by 2016. He later stated that he was not equipped for the mental demands of the NFL.
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Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State)
Blackmon was a powerful force at Oklahoma State, racking up over 3,300 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns in just two years. But after being picked by the Jaguars, his career crumbled owing to repeated bans for substance abuse.
Despite exhibiting flashes of brilliance, such as a 236-yard game, he only appeared in 20 NFL games. He never returned following his 2013 suspension, leaving one of the most significant “what ifs” in recent memory.
to look beyond highlight footage and honors.
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
JaMarcus Russell possessed all of the physical tools: arm strength, size, and movement, and he was dominant at LSU. His pre-draft anticipation was off the charts, and the Raiders selected him first overall. But he became a tragic story about overstating potential. Russell struggled with weight, work ethic, and leadership.
He had only 18 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions in three seasons. His terrible film study practices, such as allegedly refusing to watch blank videos provided by coaches, solidified his status as probably the biggest flop in NFL history.
Each of these athletes demonstrated that collegiate greatness does not ensure NFL success. As teams prepare for the upcoming draft class, these stories serve as a reminder.
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