Rakeem Cato's Fight for the NFL

6’1” may still get you a shot as quarterback in the NFL, if you’re talented enough. What about if you’re 6’1” 178 lbs.? That height and weight usually won’t even get you an opportunity to play Division 1 football. Rakeem Cato is the exception. As a 170-pound senior in high school, Cato was given the chance to play quarterback at Marshall University and he took full advantage of it.

As a true freshman Cato led the Marshall Thundering Herd to a 7-6 record and a Beef O’Brady’s Bowl victory. Although it wasn’t a Jameis Winston break out season, leading Marshall to a winning record as a true freshman is significant. Cato wasn’t a one and done either. Over the next three years, he would lead the team to 2 winning seasons and continuously increase his statistics.

All NFL scouts are comparing the numbers between Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota in order to decide on the number one pick in the draft. It’s absurd to think that a 6’1” 178 lb. quarterback can have the same numbers over the last 3 years as the two highest rated players had and is still not considered to be in the same playing field as Winston and Mariota. 4,000 yards and 39 touchdowns a season are numbers that would certainly get NFL scouts looking. Well, unless you’re 6’1” 178 lbs., then it doesn’t get you more than a write up in a personal blog.

Cato shows all the qualities of a first round pick except for his physical attributes. His accuracy is elite and he has the spiral that can cut through most defenders’ hands. As a quarterback, Cato is a leader. He’s shown that he is an extremely determined player and knows how to win. Throughout his career, he has done nothing except succeed and improve his performance every season. Cato has become one of the best statistical quarterbacks in college football history, tying 4^th all time with 131 career touchdowns. He has also lead Marshall to their first 10 win season since 2002.

Cato has shown all the perks of a first round quarterback and has grown tremendously over his four-year career. Every scout loves to see a progression over years and Cato did exactly that, yet he is still projected to be undrafted. His performance in college didn’t even earn him an invitation to the NFL combined. The fourth most touchdowns in FBS history and he doesn’t get an invitation to the combined!

Cato is a prime example of what happens if you aren’t the “norm” in the NFL. NFL teams are afraid of change and risk and it shows with Cato. His size may be unappealing for NFL scouts and coaches, but Cato has the arm to shine and the ability to grow. Any football team in the NFL has the personnel to build Cato’s size and make him the right weight for a quarterback. Just because he isn’t there right now doesn’t mean he can’t be, teams just need to work with him.

Yes, NFL teams are looking for starters now and many who will draft a quarterback won’t want to be responsible in working on his size. The teams who don’t need a quarterback right away though, should take the time to build this star because he wins. Cato has only had one losing season at Marshall and hasn’t had a quarterback rating under 70.0 since his freshmen year. The highest QBR in the NFL last season was only 82.0.

Cato may not have the appearance of a NFL superstar, but he does have the play of a winner. He can’t go into an NFL team and immediately compete for a starting job, he needs to take time to grow physically. Once he does that though, Cato can be a star for any team he plays for. NFL coaches need to break away from the “norm” during the draft and look for Cato.

6’1” doesn’t always get you an opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL. 178 lbs. usually never gets you an opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL. For Rakeem Cato, however, he has done everything he could to earn his opportunity. During this season’s draft, NFL coaches need to remember the winning play of Cato before they remember his size.