NFL Draft: Chanticleers lineman Chad Hamilton eager for chance in the pros
Chad Hamilton knew when he showed up at the NFL Combine in February that he’d be representing one of the smallest schools at the event.
The former Coastal Carolina offensive linemen didn’t know until he got to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., that he’d also literally be the smallest offensive lineman there.
At 6-foot-2, 292 pounds, Hamilton is underweight to go along with being an underdog.
And that’s fine with Hamilton, who’s happy to have as many obstacles in front of him as people want to stack there.
“Yes, those other players are bigger than me, but I tell you one thing, they don’t have the heart, they don’t have the drive, they don’t have the tenacity, and they don’t have the determination, and they can’t move as quick as me,” the Charleston native said. “You give me a shot, I will be in there, I will be in my overalls, I will work, I will get dirty, I will do what I need to do to help the team.”
Hamilton, who picked Coastal Carolina over Appalachian State and Ohio coming out of James Island High, is projected as a fifth-round pick by NFL.com.
“Coming from a smaller school you have to prove yourself,” said Hamilton, who believes his best game in college came against South Carolina in 2013 at Williams-Brice Stadium. “Coastal Carolina is not your USC or your Clemson or your West Virginia. We have a great program, but we are a smaller school, so I will definitely have to come out and prove myself and I can’t wait to do it.”
Hamilton, who was an honor roll student at Coastal Carolina and graduated last year with a degree in education, knows he will have to play on the interior of the offensive line to have a shot in the NFL. He was a three-time All-Big South lineman at Coastal, playing guard as a sophomore and tackle as a junior and senior.
“I’m not tall enough to play tackle in the NFL,” he conceded, “but I have no problem playing guard or center. Playing offensive line is playing offensive line. Either you can move a guy off the ball or you can’t. Either you can pass block or you can’t. You can play me anywhere you want.”
All he wants is a shot.
NFL DRAFT
WHEN: Thursday-Saturday
TV: ESPN and NFL Network
WHERE: Auditorium Theatre, Chicago
ROUND 1: 7 p.m. Thursday
ROUNDS 2-3: 6 p.m. Friday
ROUNDS 4-7: 11 a.m. Saturday
This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 11:57 PM with the headline "NFL Draft: Chanticleers lineman Chad Hamilton eager for chance in the pros."