FINDLAY, Ohio — On the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft, a small-school offensive lineman received a life-changing phone call.
"I had a feeling that I could get drafted, but didn't know by who," said the University of Findlay's Michael Jerrell. "I had a good amount of interest from many teams but didn't know who would pull the trigger on me. I'm very grateful Seattle did."
With the 207th overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks used its final selection in the sixth round to choose Jerrell. He turned out to be the only Division II football player taken in the draft.
"It shows that you can make it from anywhere. Stay down and invest into whatever program that's invested in you," Jerrell said. "Don't have to transfer or go to another school in order to achieve a dream at the level that you're at. Be proud of where you started at."
Jerrell told WTOL 11 that it's an honor to be the only DII payer drafted, but wished more athletes would've been taken given the amount of talent at that level.
The Indianapolis native spent the weekend in his hometown, watching the festivities with family in his brother's apartment.
"My brother cried harder than I did because he knew everything that I've gone through," Jerrell said. "Being a college athlete himself, he got to see his dream live through me."
He added that support quickly began to pour in after the special moment took place, saying "my phone blew up for four hours straight."
The six-foot, four-inch 294-pound offensive lineman came out of Indianapolis Pike High School lightly recruited, with no DI opportunities, but five DII offers. He graduated high school undersized at 245 pounds and had to grow into an NFL-caliber athlete.
During his recruitment, the Oiler coaching staff promised Jerrell that he could work toward a chance at playing professionally.
"They told me that if I put the weight on, with my athleticism and length, I would have a shot at the NFL," Jerrell said. "Everything they said came true."
He marks the fourth player to have played at the University of Findlay and be selected in the NFL Draft. Andrew Ogletree (2022, Indianapolis Colts, TE), Dana Wright (1987, New York Giants, RB) and Allen Smith (1966, Detroit Lions, HB) are the others.
"I'm glad I could put Findlay on the map," Jerrell said. "Seeing Findlay on the board at the draft meant everything to me, dream come true."
Over the course of his Oiler career, Jerrell earned All-American honors in 2022 and 2023. He also claimed G-MAC Offensive Lineman of the Year this past season, among multiple other awards.
He plans to travel to Seattle on Thursday and begin rookie mini-camp.
"I believe it'll be a challenge given these are the best athletes in the world," Jerrell said. "Getting used to not being the best and having to work to be the best is something I'll have to learn how to do. Football is football at the end of the day and you got to go battle, can't be afraid of anyone."
His skillset could've easily played at the FCS or FBS level, but he made it a priority to stay at the University of Findlay.
"Loyalty, they stuck with me through this process even when I didn't believe in myself at times," Jerrell said. "Why give credit to another university for building something they didn't create. Findlay built me."
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