INDIANAPOLIS — Julian Edelman knows how to deal with adversity.
The New England Patriots third-year player has had to go from playing as a quarterback to a wide receiver to a defensive back since he entered the NFL in 2009.
Playing at Kent State, one of the 13 teams in the Mid-American Conference, has made his journey into the NFL even more improbable.
Yet, despite the significant transitions he's faced, he'll be playing for his first career Super Bowl title on Sunday.
It's been a lengthy journey to get to this point for Edelman.
Like many MAC players such as those at Ball State, Edelman ran under the radar during his pre-draft workouts and generated little buzz in the media.
That status didn't change on the day of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected him in the seventh round with the 232nd pick.
With such little notoriety and expectations, Edelman had to face the same uphill battle most MAC players face at the next level of football — securing a roster spot in the NFL.
For Edelman, it's a challenge that makes the destination all the sweeter.
"We are hungry," Edelman said of MAC players. "Usually the MAC guys have a chip on their shoulder because they feel like they were snubbed their opportunity to play big-time ball in college. I think that is what helps small school guys get into the NFL."
Edelman understands the system. Players who are spoiled with national coverage from bowl games receive the hype entering the draft. Others left out of the spotlight have to earn their fame the hard way.
"You go in and see guys talking about Alabama and they just won a National Championship or this bowl game," Edelman said. "Well, I never went to a bowl game, and I really don't care. I am here to play football in the NFL now, so that is kind of what you have to be."
As a former MAC player, Edelman doesn't stand alone at the Super Bowl. Chase Blackburn, a three-year starting linebacker for Akron, will join him on the opposing side of the field with the New York Giants.
Blackburn joined the Giants in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. In similar fashion to Edelman, he had to earn a spot on the Giants as a special-teamer. He eventually became a starter on defense, but only after years of proving his abilities on kickoff and punt teams.
Looking back on the trials of his NFL career, Blackburn said coming from Akron and playing in the MAC taught him an important rule in the NFL.
"Nothing's easy," he said. "Coming out of Akron, I went there because they won the MAC the year before and I wanted to win championships. When I was there they didn't win, but they won one the year after. The thing that most prepared me for was just the fact that I knew I didn't want to come short again."
With Ball State players such as senior Sean Baker and juniors Jason Pinkston and Travis Freeman eyeing a shot in the NFL in the coming years, they'll likely face the same challenges Edelman and Blackburn faced.
Who knows? Beating the odds could someday put them in the same position Edelman and Blackburn face this week – playing in the most important game of the NFL season.
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