Among Buckeyes with NFL Draft dreams, Nate Ebner’s is rather special | cleveland.com

Ebner wasn’t a recruit at all. But if there’s anyone who helped their NFL prospects with the 2011 Buckeyes, it may be Ebner. For a guy who didn’t play high school football, now contemplating making a living at the game is a bit surreal. Except Ebner, who competed at an elite level in rugby, couldn’t help but believe he’d have a shot. “

Did I think I’d be in a position to get drafted?” Ebner said. “No way. But to possibly play on a pro team? I’d like to say that was always maybe the goal, but I didn’t know how realistic it was until this past year.” Ebner was timed as fast as a 4.48 in the 40 at the pro day, showed his agility with a fast time in the three-cone drill and did well in the broad and vertical jumps. He figured he might do well at the tests, and what he proved is that at about 215 pounds, he could be a raw athlete with a lot of room for growth. That should make him worth a look as an across-the-board special teams player, either in the draft or in free agency. He has continued to talk with NFL teams since pro day. “I’m not getting overly excited about the draft,” Ebner said. “I just want a chance with a team. At the end of the day, you have to show up when it comes time to play.”