Utah State, Weber State, Southern Utah, Dixie State’s Best NFL Players Who Were Undrafted
Apr 22, 2020, 4:04 PM
Safety Cornell Green #34 of the Dallas Cowboys tackles running back Norm Bulaich #36 of the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl V on January 17, 1971 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Colts beat the Cowboys, 16-13 to win the professional football World Championship.(Credit: Diamond Images / Getty Images)
(Credit: Diamond Images / Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The professional football journey for many college football players doesn’t begin with the NFL Draft. Following the conclusion of the seventh round, teams and agents frantically work to secure players that didn’t hear their name called during the three-day Draft.
Many players have found great success and long-lasting careers in the NFL despite going undrafted.
Here at the best NFL players who went undrafted out of Utah State, Weber State, Southern Utah, and Dixie State:
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Cornell Green (Utah State)
Despite never playing a down of college football, Cornell Green is one of the best NFL players to come out of Utah State. Green played basketball for the Aggies and was a two-time All-American. He was selected in the 1962 NBA Draft.
Instead of pursuing basketball, Green was referred to the Dallas Cowboys by USU head coach LaDell Anderson. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.
Green went on to have a 13-year NFL career as a defensive back with the Cowboys. He recorded 34 interceptions, 4 total touchdowns, 7 forced fumbles, and 7 fumble recoveries during the 182 games he played in.
He was a three-time First-Team All-Pro selection and a five-time Pro Bowl player.
Since there's only 34 days until kickoff, here's a major throwback to #34 Cornell Green back in 1963! #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/1gHayO6ixo
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 7, 2017
Following his playing career, Green was a scout for Dallas from 1970-1979. After his time with the Cowboys, Green went into the private sector until becoming a scout for the Denver Broncos in 1987. He worked for the Broncos for 28 years.
#BroncosDraft ends with Denver giving thanks to longtime scout Cornell Green: [http://t.co/2xLk2qyGXH] pic.twitter.com/33mEpEA5uU
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 3, 2015
Alfred Pupunu (Weber State)
Following his Wildcats career, Alfred Pupunu signed a deal with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He played in San Diego until 1997. He rejoined the Chargers for the 1999 season.
Pupunu played tight end in the NFL for a total of nine seasons. After his first stint with the Chargers, the former Weber State player was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants.
After the 1999 season, Pupunu played for the Detroit Lions before retiring from the league.
Pupunu recorded 102 receptions for 1,000 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 103 games he played in.
Alfred Pupunu (South HS, Weber St.) is one of 7 players to score a 2-pt conversion in a Super Bowl (SBXXIX) #SBatSB49 pic.twitter.com/L5sf0JSMHT
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 1, 2015
Len Walterscheid (Southern Utah)
After his time at Southern Utah, Len Walterscheid played safety in the NFL for eight seasons. From 1977-1982, Walterscheid was a member of the Chicago Bears. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1983-84.
He played in 79 games during his NFL career. He recorded 7 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries.
Walterscheid owns the longest NFL career of any former Thunderbird to play in the league.
Another #TTMSuccess I didn’t share from back in March. Thanks to Mr. Len Walterscheid for signing this card in only 19 days! #TTM BearDown pic.twitter.com/5yeyrbQm1w
— Paul Bonerko (@KonerkosBonerko) July 1, 2019
Barry Sims (Dixie State)
Prior to his time at the University of Utah, Barry Sims played for then Dixie Junior College. After his college career, Sims went undrafted in 1999. He played for the Scottish Claymores in Europe before the Oakland Raiders signed him as free agent during their training camp in 1999.
Sims played offensive line for the Raiders until 2007. He started 119 games for Oakland and played in 136 games. Sims and the Raiders played and lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003.
#Raiders Jon Gruden with OL Barry Sims …. pic.twitter.com/enot99ir3v
— AFL GODFATHER (@NFLMAVERICK) January 10, 2018
In 2008, Sims stayed in the Bay Area and signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He played in 38 games for the Niners including 22 starts.
Next up, NFL veteran Barry Sims on stage #rollstorm pic.twitter.com/lWp2u3PICb
— Dixie St. Athletics (@DixieAthletics) February 12, 2015
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