He Has No Connection to JMU, But Man Are We Pulling for Eric Striker

Eric Striker has absolutely no connection to JMU football. He played linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners and was good enough to earn All Big 12 and All America honors. Like many college players, he hoped to hear his name called during the NFL draft. But he didn’t.

After the final picks were made, he gave this amazing speech to his family and friends who’d gathered to follow the draft with him. It’s hard to watch a guy fight back tears like that, but at the same time it’s pretty damn incredible to witness someone with such wisdom and perspective.

We said that Striker has no connection to JMU football, and he doesn’t. At the same time, his experience as a standout player from one of the true power programs in college football gives us even more appreciation for the Dukes who’ve beaten the odds to make an NFL roster. The odds of anyone playing on Sundays are pretty steep.  That holds true if you’re Eric Striker from Oklahoma, and even more so if you’re Deane Marlowe, Daniel Brown, Earl Watford, Arthur Moats, or anyone else from JMU.

Striker signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. Since we’re saps, we’ll be rooting like hell for him to make the team. And hoping that more JMU Dukes continue to defy the odds and play in the NFL as well.