For most of the college football heroes, the NFL Draft is a time for years of sweat, blood, and highlight reels. But for one player a year, it comes with an ironic title too—Mr. Irrelevant. It’s the title afforded by the last selection of the NFL Draft.
They weren’t merely relevant—they were record-setters, team captains, and winners of awards. So let’s turn the tables and offer praise where praise is due: these five ex-Mr. Irrelevants were total dudes on the college football field.
Top 5 College Stars Who Went Last in the NFL Draft
1. Brock Purdy—QB, Iowa State (2022 NFL Draft—San Francisco 49ers)
Call him Mr. Irrelevant if you will, but Brock Purdy departed Iowa State as the most significant quarterback in school history. A four-year starter for the Cyclones, Purdy holds nearly every major program record: most passing yards (12,170), most touchdowns (81), most completions (993), and most wins by a starting QB. He guided Iowa State to its first-ever Big 12 Championship Game appearance in 2020 and a victory over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.
Purdy wasn’t flashy, but he was clutch, intelligent, and unfazed in the pocket. He was twice named Second-Team All-Big 12 and became known as the man who could make ISU competitive with powerhouse programs. Yes, he went dead last in the 2022 NFL Draft. But when it comes to Cyclone football lore, he’s at the top of the list.
2. Ryan Succop—K, South Carolina (2009 NFL Draft—Kansas City Chiefs)
You don’t usually see kickers receiving much college attention, but Ryan Succop was worth paying attention to. In South Carolina, he had a monster leg, making field goals from 50-plus yards and kicking kickoffs deep into the end zone. He completed his college career making 71.9% of field goals (49 of 68) and a flawless 129 for 129 on extra points.
Succop was a jack-of-all-trades, serving as the team’s punter in 2006 and 2007, flaunting ridiculous versatility for a specialist. In an SEC full of pressure and noise, Succop remained calm. He wasn’t merely a kicker; he was a weapon, and the Gamecocks relied on him in clutch situations. Mr. Irrelevant? Not on your life. More like Mr. Automatic.
3. Marty Moore—LB, Kentucky (1994 NFL Draft—New England Patriots)
Marty Moore didn’t merely lead Kentucky in tackles—he owned that stat for three straight seasons. From 1991 to 1993, Moore was the heartbeat of the Wildcats’ defense, earning All-SEC honors and compiling more than 400 career tackles. He possessed a football sense and a sideline-to-sideline motor that made him a fan favorite in Lexington.
Despite the struggles of the team, Moore was a shining light. His leadership and toughness earned him a unique distinction—he became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl (XXXI with the Patriots). That moniker doesn’t exactly give a guy who provided Kentucky fans with something to cheer about on every Saturday justice.
4. Michael Green—S, Northwestern State (2000 NFL Draft—Chicago Bears)
At the FCS level, Michael Green was a straight-up superstar. The Northwestern State safety was a two-time FCS All-American, picking up picks, tackles, and respect from every coach he crossed. He wasn’t only a ballhawk—he could lay the wood, too. Green possessed an uncanny knack for reading quarterbacks and closing gaps in a flash.
And to show off a bit more of his athleticism? Green was an athletic standout in track and field as well, demonstrating his explosiveness at the national level across several sports. Though he was not at a Power Five college, Green did dominate his own competition and deserved his draft choice the hard way.
5. Tay Cody—CB, Florida State (2001 NFL Draft—San Diego Chargers)
Florida State during the late ’90s and early 2000s was a college football dynasty, and Tay Cody was one of its top lockdown corners. A 2000 First-Team All-American, Cody played in three consecutive BCS National Championship Games, including assisting the Seminoles in winning the title in 1999. He concluded his college career with nine interceptions and 150 total tackles, frequently taking the opponent’s best receiver.
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Cody blended athleticism with exceptional coverage skills, and he was one of the best defenders in the country. FSU was filled with NFL draft material under Bobby Bowden’s direction, but Cody was the consistent standout year in and year out. Being drafted last? That’s mere trivia—his college film paints a far different picture.
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