New Orleans Saints' Chris Ivory drawing favorable comparisons / Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune (1 Viewer)

[justdave]

It also begs questions.

Who is this guy?

How did a guy that big, that strong and that fast end up at Tiffin?

And how does a guy who wasn't even drafted rush for more yards in his second start than Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas have in any game in their entire careers?

The answers tell one of the most remarkable stories of this young NFL season.

In many ways, Ivory's story mirrors that of Saints receiver Marques Colston. Both are prodigious talents who somehow slipped through the cracks in high school and college, only to blossom when given chances at the NFL level.

Ivory played fullback at Longview. He was overlooked on a roster brimming with 13 Division I prospects, including a future first-round NFL draft pick, tackle Trent Williams, and running back Vondrell McGee.

Ivory rushed for 659 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior but was mostly relegated to blocking for McGee, a star recruit who signed with Texas after rushing for 2,039 yards and 27 touchdowns.

"Chris would have started at tailback for 95 percent of the schools in Texas," Longview Coach John King said. "But we always knew he had talent."

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/10/new_orleans_saints_chris_ivory_1.html

 

[boutte]

I think his biggest challenge will be staying healthy.

 

[saintlyn8]

awesome article, thanks for sharing it!

 

[slowmotion]

great article. thanks for sharing. YYou could say this about every back, but skies the limit if he can take care of his body and stay healthy. What could of been if hadn't had those injuries?

 

[bobad]

I don't think anything but injuries made him "slip through the cracks" in the NFL draft. I think he could have been a 5th-6th rounder even being from Tiffin.

 

[usairpol]

Great article....One thumbs up.

 

[smchls23]

I think his biggest challenge will be staying healthy.

That seems to be the only problem with all of the RBs... Hopefully Ivory doesn't follow in the footsteps of every other RB on the team.