The reality of an undrafted quarterback making it in the NFL is few and very far in between. Among the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, roughly 20 are first round selections. After the first round there are only seven starters in the NFL from the second round followed by two each from the third and sixth rounds of the NFL Draft.

That leaves us with one quarterback left.

Four-time Pro Bowler Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys is the only current starting quarterback in the NFL to not hear his name called in the draft. Romo earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors (2000-02) three straight times before leaving Eastern Illinois and beginning his journey to the NFL. He won the Walter Payton Award given to the top Division I-AA football player. 16 quarterbacks went drafted in 2002, the year Romo was not. That particular draft included three first round picks (David Carr, Joey Harrington and Patrick Ramsey). The only other quarterback from that draft class still in the league today is newly signed Cleveland Browns quarterback and journeymen Josh McCown.

The question now becomes – Is there another Tony Romo available in 2015?

Possibly…

“The coaches and players call me ‘Six,’” said Nash Nance, the former Tennessee Vols quarterback who transferred to Hampden-Sydney. “Because that’s how many points I put up on the scoreboard every time the offense goes out on the field.”

Nance, who led Calhoun High School (Georgia) to the Class AA state championship game in 2009, was a three-star recruit being sought after by over 15 Division I schools that included West Virginia, Florida Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas and others. He played two years with the Vols before transferring to Hampden-Sydney. Nance brings all the intangibles to the table to be considered a truly legitimate prospect.

“When I left Tennessee I knew it was going to be a big move,” Nance explained. “Obviously the biggest decision I made up to that point in my life.”

Nance just wanted to play football as well as get a quality education. He looked at both Harvard and Yale for quick minute. He also gave serious consideration to both Lehigh and Holy Cross. His father mentioned a tiny D3 school tucked away in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. A liberal arts college for men, but with a successful pass oriented football program.

Hampden-Sydney head coach Marty Favret’s system was the perfect stage for allowing Nance to unveil his NFL arm and also learning to play under pressure. He finished his career with 9,123 passing yards for 80 touchdowns. Nance also finished with over 1,000 yards rushing (1,096) and 30 touchdowns. He flourished in Coach Favret’s system and they went to win two Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles giving Favret five for his coaching career.

The high-octane offense featured a passing game where Nance put the ball up 40 to 50 times each game. Nance also found himself developing calm nerves in critical situations.

“Anytime we are past the 50 (yard line) it’s about 50-65%,” Nance explained of the frequency his team went for it on fourth down.

“He’s as bright as any quarterback I’ve coached in 21 years,” said Coach Favret. “Combine that with his size and athleticism and he’s a really intriguing prospect at the next level.”

Nance (6-foot-2 and 212 pounds) has been all over the country working with some of the best quarterback coaches and quarterback camps since first playing the position going under center his freshman year in high school.

“It’s been a fairy tale,” Nance says looking back and also looking forward. “I always competed with the big SEC quarterbacks and a few of them now are in the NFL and out played them.  So I knew I would get the looks I just had to be in a productive system and put up good numbers.”

He delivered big numbers recently at the NFL Regional Combine in Baltimore. Nance finished first in all the combine drills except the 40-yard dash and broad jump (finishing second overall at the position in both). He spoke with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens at the regional event.

“Killed it,” said Nance regarding how he felt his performance was throwing the football.

Among the 32 starters in the NFL today Nance says the guy he feels most similar to is Kansas City Chiefs Alex Smith.

“Dan Mullen recruited me heavily at Florida and Mississippi State and that’s the guy he told me that I reminded him of.”

Being close to the same size and weight the parallels between the two quarterbacks are conceivable.

The similarities may end there between the Chiefs starter and Nance. Smith was the first overall pick (2005) and Nance likely will be an undrafted prospect battling to make an impact in grueling heat of training camp.

“He’s really athletic and if you look back at his college tape there were times he’d have to get out of the pocket making plays with his legs. He is a very cerebral quarterback who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. That is kind of who I pride myself on and kind of who I relate myself to at quarterback,” Nance said.

Nance’s collegiate career began in the SEC and ended in ODAC. He wrapped up his regional combine performance and the next chapter is finding a big name college program to allow him to throw at their Pro Day. The Georgia native will aim to get his chance at Georgia or Georgia Tech.

The rationale of Nance making it in the NFL may seem a bit outlandish to most, but remember this story. In 1990 the Dallas Cowboys drafted Emmitt Smith in the first round out of Florida. That same year Minnesota Vikings signed John Randle who went undrafted out of Texas A&M-Kingsville. Both entered the league in 1990. One a first round pick and another undrafted. In 2010 both players shared the same stage in Canton (OH) being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The next chapter in Nance’s football life begins. How far can it go?