Division 1 Rejects

Two D3 players on this week's episode! First up is tight end Thomas Burke from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) coming off rookie minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks and talks his recent signing with the Memphis Showboats of the UFL. Later is wide receiver Wes Hack from Muhlenberg who recaps the Mules trip to Germany to play a game overseas. Finally, Kobe gives props to small school players in the UFL this spring/summer. Thanks for tuning in! Check out the timestamps below.

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2:15 Thomas Burke - TCNJ

16:05 Small School Players to the UFL

30:21 Wes Hack - Muhlenberg

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3:18 Craig Reynolds - Kutztown/Detroit Lions

27:20 New Haven going from D2 to D1

32:22 Ryan Larsen - Carnegie Mellon

55:43 Montclair State playing in Canada

1:00:57 Derrick Baney - Grove CityWhat a time for D1R! This episode starts with Kutztown Bears alum Craig Reynolds who has carved out a nice NFL career with the Detroit Lions, but his journey was anything but simple: being cut from 7 different teams and having to earn it every step of the way is nothing new to the small school product. Next up is Carnegie Mellon head football coach Ryan Larsen who outlines the Tartans upcoming trip to play overseas in Spain and how it adds to the student-athlete experience at CMU. We also talk moving from the PAC to the Centennial Conference. Finally offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Derrick Baney from Grove City College jonis the program to discuss one of the best stories in small school football. The Wolverines were a combined 0-33 when he and the staff took over, and now they are in the national championship conversation after back to back conference titles, a testament to the vision he speaks about.New Haven University is making the jump from Division 2 to Division 1 (FCS) and joining the Northeast Conference, and we cover Division 3 Montclair State travelling north to play in Ottawa, Ontario for a game they're calling "The Battle of the Border". Thanks for tuning in!

Still can't wrap my head around this one. Some incredible moments in this episode along with the fact that these two are BALLERS. This episode is about highlighting the small school players using the transfer portal to earn a new opportunity at a bigger school and I am HERE FOR IT! Thanks for tuning in!

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4:32 Featured Athlete: Bailey Streams

6:11 Dwight Lewis III - Marian University & Mississippi State

16:43 Small School Transfers going Power 4

25:33 William Davis - Virginia Union & West Virginia

This is a special one. A LOT of work went into prepping this episode and making sure we could highlight as many players as possible. Emporia State WR Tyler Kahmann is our first guest following and All-American career he's signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Next up is University of Findlay wide receiver Redd Douglas who put the pen to paper with the New York Giants, and finally we have Minnesota Duluth tight end Sam Pitz who is heading to Baltimore to join the Ravens.

We also recap the 2025 NFL Draft and it's lack of small-school players selected, but take time to recognise all the division 2, division 3 & NAIA players that have been invited to NFL rookie minicamps across the country. TAP IN! Thanks for checking out this episode.

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5:18 Tyler Kahmann - Emporia State

18:01 NFL Draft Recap

22:50 Former Small School Players gone D1

26:18 Division 2 players signing UDFA deals

35:14 Redd Douglas - University of Findlay

44:15 D2 Players NFL Rookie Minicamp Invites

1:04:45 Sam Pitz - Minnesota Duluth

1:20:32 D3 Players NFL Rookie Minicamp Invites

1:41:52 NAIA Player NFL Rookie Minicamp Invites

University of West Florida Head Football Coach Kaleb Nobles joins the program tonight: he played in UWF's inaugural season in 2016, coached on a staff that won a national championship in 2019, and now is back as the head coach of the Argonauts. Hear from him about the Argos MASSIVE new stadium on the way and about his playing/coaching career. Kobe also recaps the release from the NESCAC in D3 Football allowing the conference to be eligible for the playoffs for the first time in the history of the league. Thanks for tuning in!

Video Chapters:0:00 Episode Overview3:37 Kaleb Nobles - West Florida23:44 NESCAC Ruling on D3 Playoffs

Quick episode right to the point this week with three fantastic interviews. First up is freshman offensive lineman from division 2 slippery rock Mike Crist, who tells the incredible story of how he saved a man's life by dragging him from a burning vehicle on the side of the road. Following that we hear from Marquette University track and field star turned St. Norbert football player Mitch Van Vooren about his collegiate journey and pro aspirations, and we close it out with Minnesota State Mankato tackle Marshal Foerner recapping his local pro day with the Bears. Thanks for tuning in!

Video Chapters:0:00 Episode Overview3:04 Mike Crist - Slippery Rock

13:46 Mitch Van Vooren - St. Norbert

27:04 Marshall Foerner - Minnesota State

WE'REEE BACK! Two incredible guests in this week's episode from the NAIA and Division 2 levels respectfully. Rontavious Farmer comes from Saint Thomas University in Miami Gardens Florida, where he set the state record for career collegiate rushing yards across ALL DIVISIONS and has earned an invite to the Dolphins local pro day. Stephen Douglas transferred from D3 Albion College and followed his coach to Northwood University, where he made an impact immediately and just wrapped up his pro day in preparation for the draft/free agency.

We also highlight D2 teams facing off against one another this spring as a part of new legislation at the Division 2 level, and recognize 2 small school players for signing to the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers! TAP IN!

Video Chapters:0:00 Episode Overview2:12 Rontavious Farmer - Saint Thomas

14:50 D2 Teams Competing in Spring Games

25:10 Small School Players to the CFL

26:45 Stephen Douglas - Northwood

Another great one! SVSU All-American LB Micah Cretsinger and GVSU stand-out OL Gabe Brown are two names to keep track of ahead of the NFL draft and free agency from small schools. We also cover the HUGE news of Saint Francis transitioning to D3 and what it means for the student athletes, along with a D2 school paying for drone pilots to film practice and games at Colorado School of Mines! Thanks for tuning in.

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3:17 Micah Cretsinger - Saginaw Valley State

15:52 Saint Francis from D1 to D3

27:47 Gabe Brown - Grand Valley State

43:26 D2 School Paying Drone Pilots

HELL OF AN EPISODE! Absolute privilege to have Trevor back on the show after he officially re-signed with the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2025 season. Hear from him about his journey back to Detroit, playing out of his position, and his "Welcome to the NFL" moments that seemed surreal for the Saginaw Valley State grad. Also super excited to welcome on Central Washington All-American Tanner Volk who just put up some WILD numbers at his pro day and is looking to earn a spot on an NFL roster. We cover the Azusa Pacific Cougars and Whittier College Poets bringing back their respective football programs in CA, and talk about some D3 athletes who have inked deals with professional teams in the states and beyond. Thanks for tuning in!Video Chapters:0:00 Episode Overview2:19 Trevor Nowaske - Saginaw Valley / Detroit Lions26:55 "New" D3 Programs in California37:43 D3 Players Going PRO50:50 Tanner Volk - Central Washington

Two incredible guests this episode. First is Mayville State Head Coach AND Athletic Director Rocky Larson who drops some great insight and philosophy and comments on changing conferences to the Frontier from the now abolished North Star. Next up is Wesleyan University WR Jack Lucido who breaks down the NESCAC situation not allowing their teams to play in the D3 playoffs and what he and the players association are doing about it. Finally, Kobe takes a look at some of the best looking helmets in small school football, so stick around!

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2:52 Rocky Larson - Mayville State

33:02 Jack Lucido - Wesleyan University

47:40 BEST Helmets in Small School Football