Sept. 21, 2009

(11:41 a.m.): After a 2008 NFL Draft in which three UC defensive backs were selected, only one has emerged on an active roster. It wasn’t Mike Mickens – who was cut by the Cowboys and then signed to their practice squad. And it wasn’t DeAngelo Smith – who’s been involved with three organizations already this season.

Instead, it was the least-heralded of the group, Brandon Underwood, a player who was highly-recruited out of Hamilton High, flamed out at Ohio State, transferred to UC and transformed himself into an NFL prospect.

Underwood, drafted by Green Bay, made the 53-man roster out of training camp, and although he hasn’t been on the 45-man active roster for the Packers’ first two games this season – including their loss to the Bengals on Sunday – he’s beginning to make an impact at the professional level.

Last week, I talked with Underwood on the phone, and here is the transcript of that interview:

Katzonthecats: With all the tribulations you had in your college career, especially at Ohio State, how did you get to a point where you could become an actual NFL player?

Underwood: “It’s been crazy. I feel like I have a story that is very common here that people go through. Well, it’s not common, but you know people go through certain things and go through adversity. It’s easy to quit unless you keep pushing forward. After Ohio State, I didn’t even know if I wanted to play football anymore. But I found out I was going to have a son. That made me change my whole mindset. Just to be a part of the team last year and being able to play in the NFL is a dream come true.”

KOTC: When did you start thinking about whether you had a future in the NFL? During your senior season at UC?

Underwood: “I tend to focus on things at hand, so at that point, I was just focused on the season. As the season neared more toward the end, I thought it was a real possibility that I could play in the NFL. I felt like I could play with anybody in the country. I thought I could take my game to the next level.”

KOTC: How amazing was the day you got drafted?

Underwood: “It really was. Everything I came from and had been through, just to be able to be drafted, I was like a little kid because it was dream come true. For anybody who’s known me – messing up, getting hurt and not playing much, and getting released – it wasn’t much of a legacy at a school like Ohio State. I was blessed to transfer to Cincinnati and do what I had to do.”

KOTC: Going into training camp with the Packers, what was your mindset? It’s not like a sixth-round pick is guaranteed to make the team.

Underwood: “I didn’t know where I was at, where I was being looked at. I knew every day that I had to get better. I had veteran guys, Al Harris and Charles Woodson, and they told me that every rep you take – whether it’s on the scout team or if you’re in there with the first or second team – it’s important. I tried to model myself and get better for every rep I take.”

KOTC: Although you haven’t been active for a game, how much can you learn during the week of practice?

Underwood: “You can always learn and craft your game at every level. One thing I’m learning to do now is: now that I know what to do with the playbook, I’m trying to sharpen my reads up and sharpen my techniques to make myself a more complete player.”