The Dallas Cowboys went unconventional in the sixth round of today’s NFL Draft in taking former Baylor Bears basketball star Rico Gathers, who long stated a desire to play tight end in the NFL.
This would not be the first time that a former college basketball star has shifted to play tight end in the NFL, as San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates played hoops at Kent State while the Seattle Seahawks’ Jimmy Graham did the same at Miami.
Gathers, however, has not played organized football since he was 14 and thus faces an uphill battle. In four years at Baylor, he established himself as one of the top power forwards in the nation and averaged 8.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
But Gathers also has excellent size for tight end at 6-foot-8, 275 pounds and impressed the Cowboys enough that he was invited to work out for them multiple times. Just what his role will be on the roster behind Jason Witten remains to be seen, but he is definitely a step closer to achieving his dream of playing in the NFL.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
