Congrats, Jasen Oden. A lifelong dream has come true.
Yesterday, Oden signed with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL as an undrafted free agent, becoming the sixth former Colorado State Rams player to be picked up by an NFL team this weekend.
Rashard Higgins and Cory James were drafted, by the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders, respectively, while Oden, Sam Carlson, DeAndre Elliott and Kivon Cartwright were each signed as UDFAs by multiple teams.
For Oden, he constantly talked of fulfilling that dream of making the NFL, all throughout his senior season. After growing up in the rough, Buffalo projects, he was determined to make a better life for himself and the large family he shared a tiny, two bedroom apartment with. Even though he was a senior, Oden started the 2015 season as the third back on the Rams depth chart, something he admitted never got him down as he kept pushing to prove he was worthy.
He didn’t sulk or complain, Oden just kept grinding. After showing everyone he should have a chance to run the rock, Oden gained 746 yards with six touchdowns, numbers which were lower than he’d hoped due to a shoulder injury he sustained mid-way through the year.
Still, when it was all said and done, he earned the respect of teammates and coaches, and eventually of the Atlanta Falcons, too. The Falcons will bring him into rookie minicamp next week after an MRI of his knee, which was injured so he wasn’t able to participate in the Rams Pro Day. But he held his own Pro Day a month later and performed well.
Watch as Oden is interviewed by his hometown Buffalo, New York’s TWC News here.
Of note: After the football season was over, Oden split time between New Jersey and Fort Collins in order to finish his degree at Colorado State. As he explained in an exclusive interview, making his way into the NFL and graduating college are two lifelong dreams; now he’s accomplished both.
We’re incredibly proud of Jasen and wish him only the best from here forward.
Must read: Jasen Oden on Rams head coach Mike Bobo as a father figure to CSU Football.
