Rondell Biggs has been here before. A lightly recruited linebacker out of
Southfield-Lathrup, Biggs worked himself into a starting defensive end for
Michigan. Now, as he prepares for the NFL Draft, Biggs once again finds himself
struggling to be the center of attention.
”I definitely wasn’t highly recruited at all,” he said. "That
really gave me an edge. Coming in with All-Americans who were supposedly
better than me, it made me work harder.”
That work ethic paid off for Biggs. He became the fulltime starter as a senior
and finished second on the team with six sacks. Prior to his senior season,
Biggs had only made five starts, had not recorded a sack, and had struggled
with injuries. Still, he never got down on himself or his situation and
just continued to work.
”Perseverance is key,” he stated. “Things might not go your
way all the time, but you have to keep fighting through it. I know that
at the end of the day, it makes me stronger.”
Scouts have told Biggs he may go as high as the fifth Round or as low as the
seventh. So far, he has received the most interest from the Chicago Bears,
Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders and the Detroit Lions.
He has received a great deal of feedback from those clubs on what he brings
to the table.
”They like the way I get off blocks and control the blockers, especially
against the run," he said.
Biggs spent his time leading up to the Michigan Pro Day training down in Florida
at former NFL star Cris Carter’s complex. He ended up running a 4.91
forty, doing 28 reps of 225 lbs. on the bench press, and posting a vertical
jump of 31.5 inches. Now that he is done with that, Biggs is back in Ann Arbor
working out with teammates and fellow NFL prospects Lamarr Woodley, Willis Barringer, and David Harris. They plan to go through the entire process together,
all of the way to the end.
”Me and Dave are great friends. I might watch the draft with him.”
That day will be the culmination of a long football journey for Biggs, and
the beginning of a new one. Although there is uncertainty surrounding when
he will go and which team will select him, there aren't any questions about
two things: how hard Rondell Biggs will work and what he’ll do with his
first NFL paycheck.
”I’m going to buy my mom a house," he said. "I'm
going to get a nice little place for her.”