Every Player That Made It To The NFL (So Far)
Charlotte Adams A few athletes featured in Last Chance U have found opportunities in the NFL, and here's a breakdown of which notable figures took that big step.
The shared goal among players at the focus of Last Chance U is to leave junior college (JUCO) football behind for bigger and better opportunities, and several of them have already made it to the NFL. The Netflix docuseries is currently in its fifth season, following the third JUCO college football program to date. As the show continues sharing the harrowing tales of young men trying to make it in life through football, only a small amount find success.
When Last Chance U debuted in 2016, it centered on the renowned East Mississippi Community College Lions, coached by Buddy Stephens. The series centered on the rural school for two seasons before moving to Kansas, specifically, the Independence Community College Pirates. Like the case with the original school, Indy athletes faced their fair share of struggles while looking for their "last chance" in the sport. The school also received multiple seasons before the series moved to Laney College in Oakland, California for the show's fifth and final season centered on football.
Over the course of five seasons, several figures have stood out, as has their potential. While many failed when the JUCO opportunity arose, a few have stepped up to get their lives and football careers back on track. So far, the players who have made it past collegiate football have come from EMCC due to the timeline. Once more Indy and Laney alums graduate or move on, the list of Last Chance U players who have made it to the big league will presumably grow. Here's a breakdown of players who were given a shot in the NFL.
John Franklin III
The EMCC quarterback from Last Chance U season 1 transferred to Auburn for the 2016 season before moving on to Florida Atlantic University as a wide receiver the following year. Franklin went undrafted but signed onto the Chicago Bears' practice squad, but he was eventually waived in 2019. Shortly after, Franklin signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, being promoted to the active roster as of the final game of the 2019/2020 season. He's now looking to get some playing time with the Bucs' newly signed quarterback, Tom Brady.
Allenzae Staggers
Allenzae Staggers, a star wide receiver for EMCC, transferred to Southern Miss after his junior year. He had success, leading to an invitation to a minicamp hosted by the Washington Football Team (formerly Washington Redskins) after the 2018 season. Staggers was later cut by the team.
Ronald Ollie
Ollie, the fan-favorite defensive tackle from the debut season of Last Chance U, left EMCC behind to join Nicholls State. When his college career came to an end, Ollie worked out for the New Orleans Saints, but he went undrafted. The player participated in the Oakland Raiders' 2019 minicamp before being officially signed to the team. Ollie was cut a week into training camp but has since found an opportunity in the CFL.
C.J. Reavis
EMCC's star safety finished his college career at Marshall before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2018 season. Reavis made his NFL debut in November 2018, becoming the first Last Chance U figure to appear in a professional game. After being waived in 2019, Reavis signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Chauncey Rivers
Last Chance U season 2's defensive lineman played for Mississippi State after transferring out of EMCC. Earlier this year, Rivers signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. He will vie for a spot on the active roster during training camp.
Dakota Allen
After losing his opportunity at Texas Tech, Allen worked hard at EMCC, finding his way back to his former school as a star linebacker. Following his success at Texas Tech, Allen was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, marking the first time a Last Chance U player was drafted to the pro league. He bounced around from the Rams to the Oakland Raiders, making his NFL debut with the latter. Allen is currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
