Hunt left his native Estonia for SMU in order to hone his skills as a discus thrower. Instead, SMU dropped its track and field program, and Hunt was convinced to give football a try. Coach June Jones offered Hunt a scholarship, and he played four seasons on the defensive line for the Mustangs' football team, earning a reputation for getting in the way of extra-point and field-goal tries with his 6-foot-8 frame. After earning first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2012, Hunt became a second-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed with the Colts before last season and started for the first time in his career, recording a career-high 29 tackles in 2017.

Long started every game for Nebraska in his sophomore and junior seasons, but had his senior season cut short by a knee injury. Long was the third-round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2014 NFL Draft, and became a regular starter in 2015, starting 13 games for the NFC East champions. He made 12 starts in 2016 and 6 more in 2017 during an injury-plagued season.

Berger walked on at Division II Michigan Tech and became a two-time first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection (2003-04). He was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round in 2007, but was picked off of the Panthers' practice squad by the Miami Dolphins. He was with the Dolphins in 2005-06, was released in 2006 and picked up by the Dallas Cowboys, returned to the Dolphins in 2009, and then signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 after being released for a second time by Miami. He's started all but two games over the past three seasons and moved from center to guard in 2017.

Wagner walked on at Wisconsin, which was a three-time Big Ten champion during his time as a starting offensive tackle. The Baltimore Ravens made Wagner a fifth-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he was a full-time starter there from 2014-2016. The Lions made him one of the league's highest-paid right tackles when they signed him before last season.

Paradis played eight-man football at Council High in Idaho, and he had to walk-on at Boise State to continue his career. He was a developmental player for both Broncos teams -- redshirting at Boise State in 2009 and spending his NFL rookie season on Denver's practice squad in 2014 -- but emerged as a starter for both thereafter. He was an All-Mountain West pick at Boise State and was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 draft by Denver, where he's started every game over the past three seasons.

The Titans appear to have struck gold in selecting Conklin with the No. 8 overall pick of the 2016 draft. But when he came out of Plainwell (Mich.) High School, he couldn't get noticed. He nearly went to Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy in hopes of gathering scholarship offers, but ultimately decided to accept walk-on status at Michigan State for the fall of 2012. He went on to start as a redshirt freshman and was later named a 2015 USA Today All-American. As a rookie with the Titans, Conklin was selected first-team All-Pro. Unfortunately, his fine 2017 season ended with him suffering a left ACL tear against the Patriots in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, putting his health status for the start of next season in question.

Gostkowski initially attended Memphis on a baseball scholarship, but was a walk-on for the football team. He emerged as a two-time first-team All-Conference USA pick as a kicker in 2004-05. He was then a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2006 NFL Draft. In his 12 seasons with the Patriots, Gostkowski became one of the NFL's most reliable kickers, earning four Pro Bowl selections. He was also a member of the Patriots teams that won Super Bowls XLIX and LI.

Schobert didn't receive any scholarship offers as a recruit and nearly walked-on at North Dakota before the Badgers gave him a shot, albeit still as a walk-on. His role grew with each season and he went on to earn a scholarship from Wisconsin, receiving Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors in 2015. A fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, Schobert became a full-time starter this past season and was added to the Pro Bowl roster as an injury replacement. He was credited with 144 tackles in 2017, tied for most in the league.

Ansah tried out for BYU's basketball team and successfully walked on to the school's track team before being persuaded to try out for the football team. For most of his career at BYU, Ansah was a reserve defensive lineman. However, in his senior season, an injury pressed Ansah into action. His play -- as well as his freakish athleticism -- helped him quickly rise as a first-round selection of the Detroit Lions in the 2013 NFL Draft. In 2015, Ansah had a breakthrough season, finishing second in the NFL with 13.5 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl nod. He's battled injuries in each of the past two seasons, though. He recorded a career-low 2 sacks in 2016 before his production returned to form with a 12-sack campaign in 2017.

Norman had no scholarship offers coming out of Greenwood (S.C.) High, despite being a key player on a South Carolina state championship team. He walked on at Coastal Carolina, where his brother Marrio played, and earned a scholarship by his sophomore season. The Carolina Panthers made him a fifth-round pick in 2012, and he became an All-Pro in 2015 before signing a $75 million contract with the Washington Redskins before the 2016 season.

The former walk-on safety at Oregon was a second-round selection of the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft. After a Pro Bowl season in 2013, Ward signed with the Denver Broncos and was a Pro Bowl pick again in 2014. He made his third straight Pro Bowl in 2015, but was released by the Broncos before the 2017 season. He signed with the Bucs and worked in a rotation at safety. Ward was arrested on a marijuana possession charge last month.

Nelson walked on at Kansas State and was to play defensive back, but coach Bill Snyder moved him to wide receiver. He emerged as a top receiver as a senior, and became a second-round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2008 NFL Draft. Nelson has posted four 1,000-yard receiving seasons for Green Bay, and was a vital member of the Packers' Super Bowl XLV-winning team, scoring the game's first touchdown.

Despite having a grandfather who played four seasons in the NFL and a father who played 19 NFL seasons, Clay III was a walk-on at USC. A special-teams stalwart for the Trojans, Matthews was moved into a hybrid pass-rushing defensive end position for his senior season and emerged as a top prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft. In that draft, the Green Bay Packers used a first-round selection to get Matthews, who became a six-time Pro Bowl selection with the team. He also helped the Packers win Super Bowl XLV. While injuries have slowed him in recent years, he remains a disruptive edge defender for Green Bay.

Brown was a quarterback in high school, but walked on as a receiver at Central Michigan. Brown quickly emerged as a dangerous return specialist -- he was an all-conference choice as a returner in his freshman season -- and receiver. After his junior season with the Chippewas in 2009, Brown opted for early entry into the 2010 NFL Draft, where he was a sixth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the Steelers, Brown is a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He posted his sixth 1,000-yard receiving campaign in 2017, leading the league with 1,533 yards.

Watt initially went to Central Michigan in 2007 on a scholarship to play tight end. However, he opted to return to Wisconsin to walk-on as a defensive end for the Badgers, for whom he emerged as a first-team All-Big Ten selection and second-team All-American in 2010. After becoming a first-round selection of the Houston Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft, Watt became a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014-2015). He's played in just eight games over the past two seasons due to injuries.