 "Photo: Brent Doscher")
There is always more than one side to a story.
Take for example, the NFL draft. When you mention the subject to a common passerby here in the small New England town of Durham, almost automatically the name David Ball rolls off of the tongue.
Of course, Ball's story is compelling. The local kid out of Orange, V.T. stole the national spotlight, breaking Jerry Rice's all-time Division 1-AA touchdown record, which capped a brilliant four-year career at UNH.
But Ball's tale is not the only side to Durham's NFL draft story. The other side belongs to that of senior defensive back Corey Graham, who-like Ball-has a chance of being the 10th player in school history to be drafted into the National Football League.
Graham, currently ranked by ESPN as the 22nd best cornerback prospect available in this year's draft, along with his more nationally recognized teammate Ball, are attempting to become the first players drafted out of UNH since the Chicago Bears took a chance, using a fifth-round draft pick to select tailback Jerry Azumah.
"I'm feeling pretty good," said Graham. "Everything is coming along well but I'm sure that everything will be a lot better after I get everything over with on the 30."
Graham's UNH career began in 2003, where he played in nine games as a freshman, recording three interceptions. In 2004, he started all of UNH's games, registering a team-high 110 tackles and four interceptions.
Also in 2004, Graham began to display his explosiveness on kick returns, registering an average of 28.6 yards a return, with a season long of 99 yards in a game against Georgia Southern that resulted in a UNH touchdown.
In 2005, Graham really exploded, making the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team as both a cornerback and kick returner. Graham was second on the team in tackles with 104, led the team with three interceptions, and also deflected a team high nine passes, along with two forced fumbles.
This past season, Graham was en route to another stellar campaign, which started in the off-season, when his own self-proclaimed career highlight was being named one of the team's three captains for 2006.
"The moment that meant the most to me was when I was named team captain," said Graham. "That meant so much to me and showed me that my teammates believed in me and that I was viewed as a leader. That meant more to me then the interceptions and touchdowns."
Graham had amassed a team-high two interceptions, and already had returned two kicks for touchdowns in the 2006 season, when his campaign was abruptly cut short because of a broken leg suffered towards the end of the regular season against UMass.
"I haven't really been able to do any preparation for the draft," said Graham. "For the past three months I have been training and getting healthy. I'm sure I'll be doing the same thing for the next few months."
Graham's chances of being drafted were hindered by his inability to perform at the NFL's scouting combine, still rehabbing his leg injury. The combine is an annual week-long event, where scouts are able to evaluate draft prospects through tests that show a player's speed, agility, strength, ball-handling skills and mental intelligence.
"I did several interviews, the medical examination, and I also took several mental tests that I feel I did very well on," said Graham. "I believe those things helped me because those are the things that I believe I excel at."
Graham's continuing rehab also prevented him from participating in the school's pro day.
His ESPN scouting report says that Graham's finer points include his great playmaking skills, above-average speed, and explosiveness on both interception and kickoff returns. Graham's coach for the past four years, Sean McDonnell felt those sentiments were fairly accurate.
"Corey was a big contributor for us on special teams," said McDonnell. "He's very raw athletically. He was probably our most athletic player on the team last year. When he went down, we lost our best cover guy in the secondary."
Yet McDonnell says the best aspect of Graham's game is what he does to prepare for it, along with preparing his teammates.
"Corey's a hard worker, both on and off the field," said McDonnell. "He's very quiet and unassuming, but when he talked, people listened. He's a leader on and off the field."
However, Graham does have his flaws.
"Something that I believe needs the most work is my technique," said Graham. "Sometimes I tend to get high in my backpedal and at the next level everything needs to be quick and low especially after my injury."
But Graham still feels that despite his small school stature and his inability to perform in front of scouts, his talent and numbers for the past three seasons in Durham should be enough to land him on one of the NFL's 32 teams in April.
"I believe I should be drafted but I don't make that decision," said Graham. "If I'm not drafted then I'll still be the same. Hopefully, I'll get picked up as a free agent and then I'll be okay. I'll be on the same field with the draft picks and they'll have to prove their better."
Should Graham hear his name called in April, it would be the climax of years of hard work for the student athlete out of Buffalo, N.Y. But it's a moment that he'll share with his family, should it arise.
"It means a lot to me," said Graham. "To play in the NFL is a dream I've always had. And to see that dream come true would be unexplainable. My family would probably be more excited than me. They worry about me and what happens in the next month."
Not only would Graham's family be proud, but so would his coach, who Graham says is an instrumental and guiding force in his success in the game of football.
"As a coach, you feel a sense of pride," said Coach McDonnell. "To see these kids work so hard and result in this is a tremendous feeling. It was great watching Danny Krieder (of the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Randal Williams (of the Oakland Raiders) succeed."
As for where Graham could end up in the draft, he says he'd be happy to end up with any team in the NFL, but does have a slight preference as to where he'd like to play, should his dream be nothing short of perfect.
"I would love to get an opportunity to play for my home team, Buffalo," said Graham. "I'm a big fan and that would be like a dream come true for me."
The NFL will hold it's draft on April 28 and 29, televised live on ESPN. And Graham's message to teams who consider taking him is a simple one with a clear-cut thought.
"I expect my name to be called and I know that I can play at that level," said Graham. "It's almost as if I expect it and even if my name is not called hopefully I'll get an opportunity. That's all I can ask for."
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