(670 The Score) The NFL Draft is filled with prospects who began playing football at a young age and have since visualized hearing their name called to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Then there’s Purdue pass rusher George Karlaftis, whose rise in football has been quite different. He was a standout in water polo who played on the under-16 Greek national team before moving to the United States at the age of 13 after his father passed away suddenly. Karlaftis didn’t know much about football, but he joined the team when his family moved to West Lafayette. From there, he found a calling.
“I started falling in love with the game, thinking about where I wanted to be in a few years,” Karlaftis said.
Karlaftis is now one of the top edge rusher prospects in this NFL Draft class. He stayed home in West Lafayette and attended Purdue, where he recorded 14 sacks in 26 games for the Boilermakers. He became a disruptive presence at Purdue and caught the eyes of scouts.
Karlaftis, 20, turned himself into a prized prospect with a determined mindset.
“You’re trying to the quarterback every single time,” Karlaftis said. “You got to be relentless. You’re out there fighting for food basically. You’re like a lion trying to get after a gazelle. You’re trying to get there any means possible.”
Last Tuesday, Karlaftis showcased his toughness and athleticism for the NFL as he ran shirtless in frigid temperatures at his pro day. He was clocked as low as 4.71 in the 40-yard dash, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported.
This draft class is loaded with dynamic edge rusher prospects, with the consensus being that Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson is the top of that group. Karlaftis is among those with the highest upside, as he’s still relatively new to the game of football.
Karlaftis applied the same rigorous work ethic he used in water polo to football. It has turned him into a projected first-round pick in the NFL Draft in late April.
Now, Karlaftis is a rising football talent who wants the league to know he’s ready to build a future in this game.
“I don’t give a crap about the official numbers and that kind of stuff,” Karlaftis said. “The stuff we talk about internally more is like how you affect the game is the ultimate factor. How I was able to affect opposing offenses, how I was able to garner attention for myself. I had two or three blockers on me at all times, which freed up our other guys. I think that’s more significant. I think to a certain extent sacks are overrated. I know people like sacks and all that. I think the way you affect the quarterback, pressure the quarterback and affect the game is more significant.
“I am who I say I am. The tape speaks for itself.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.