Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger is a hot name I have seen many Bills fans fancy when talking about the NFL Draft.

It is kind of ironic since Dugger's been anything but on the radar of the football world for most of his life.

He entered high school standing just 5'6 and 140 pounds. Then there was a growth spurt heading into junior year that pushed Dugger to 5'11 and 170 pounds.

Even with his size increasing, playing time on the football field didn't, not becoming a starter until his senior season.

Despite the struggles, Dugger would not let his football path end there.

"Honestly just the love for the game more than anything," Dugger said at the NFL Combine last month. "I can honeslty say there were a lot of times I didn't know, I'd be standing on the sideline wondering what am I doing? But I wasn't missing any practices. I was going hard. I was doing what I was supposed to do. Making sure I was doing everything I was supposed to do on my end. It was really just the love for the game."

To no surprise, the lack of playing time brought a lack of college opportunities, with only Division II Lenoir-Rhyne showing interest.

Boy did they hit the lottery with that ticket.

Dugger continued to grow and now stands 6'2 and 217 pounds. Those physical traits now paired with athleticism that has always been there. 

He ran a 4.49 40 at the NFL Combine. Dugger's 42 inch vertical jump was best among all safeties, 2nd highest of any participant in Indianapolis. He also posted the second best broad jump at his position, with a mark of 11'2.

Those tools allow Dugger to be the versatile defensive back the NFL is moving towards. He can be a ball hawk in the back end or drop down into the box, which is what he prefers, giving Dugger the chance to be physical.

"That's definitely something I've always had," Dugger said. "Even as a basketball player I was different on the court as far as I wasn't afraid to make no contact. I was kind of doing the dirty work, getting in, locking out, playing defense. That's definitely something that's been with me."

As for production on the field, Dugger stuffed the stat sheet. He finished his career with 237 tackles, 10 interceptions, 36 passes defensed, 6 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries.

Dugger also is a special teams ace, blocking two kicks and having six punt returns for a touchdown.

He capped his college career by winning the Cliff Harris Award, given to the small college Defensive Player of the Year, despite playing only seven games.

Of course now come the questions about whether the numbers are a product of the player or who he went against?

"The competitor in my definitely wanted more at times, but I wouldn't describe it as boredom," Dugger said. "It was more how am I going to use this situation to where I can't look at everything I do well and say it's because I'm so great. I had to really dive into the detail of what I'm doing and really see if I'm doing what I'm supposed to or is it me just getting away with it because of the competition."

Beyond the competition concerns, Dugger also has an injury history. He missed an entire season with a meniscus injury and a thumb injury ended his senior season after just seven games.

Still, Dugger's physical talents will have him off the board sometime on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.