Shepherd's Pie.
The NFL Draft pits league hopefuls against one another in a game of musical chairs of sorts. There's a limited number of draft selections and a seemingly endless supply of players.
Most of those players happen to hail from blue-chip Division I programs. But every year, a few FCS and Division II talents slip under the radar, cloudy gemstones that, with a little polish, could become productive pro players.
Last year, it was Bailey Zappe, the air-raiding menace who made his mark at Houston Baptist before setting the NCAA record book alight at Western Kentucky. Zappe proved himself to be a capable backup next year and figures to play some part in the Patriots' plans in the near future.
So, who is this year's Zappe? Look no further than D-II gunslinger Tyson Bagent. Bagent's exploits at Shepherd University earned him an invite to the NFL Draft Combine. Now, he's hoping to hear his name called during the 2023 NFL Draft and join a rather exclusive list in the process.
MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2023, 2-round edition
With that, here's everything you need to know about prospective NFL draft pick Tyson Bagent.
Who is Tyson Bagent?
Tyson Bagent is a country roads boy through and through, having made his bones in his hometown of Martinsburg, West Virginia. Located on the state's eastern-most panhandle, Martinsburg isn't a particularly happening town, with just 18,835 residents calling it home, according to the 2021 U.S. Census. As such, it was always going to take some hard work — and a little luck — for Bagent to gain national prominence.
Fortunately, he had the genetics for it. Bagent is the son of a Shepherd baseball icon, one who also doubles as a hulking arm wrestler.
“In arm wrestling, I’m one of the first two guys on Mount Rushmore," Travis Bagent, Tyson's dad, told The Athletic. I’m proud and happy about that."
His grandpa, Jerry Boyd, also played a pivotal role into making the game what it is — one of the staple sporting events in all of Martinsburg.
All of that is to say, Bagent isn't just an athlete. He's an entertainer.
He proved as much at Shepherd, setting record after record less than 20 minutes away from his home.
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The numbers were staggering: 159 passing touchdowns, 16,869 passing yards and a nearly 70 percent completion rate in four years as a starter. Not bad for a zero-star recruit.
“As crazy as the odds are, it always made sense to me that this is the position I would be in,” Bagent said, per The Athletic.
Bagent ended in final season with the Rams in style, notching 41 passing scores to just eight interceptions.
Tyson Bagent Highlights
He put together a solid, if unspectacular, showing at the Senior Bowl, completing 17-of-22 passes for 138 yards (good!) but tossing an easy interception in the red zone to end the game (bad!)
Still, given his gaudy numbers, decent physical skills (Bagent stands at 6-foot-3 with a 210-pound frame, a comparable weight and height to many of the league's hurlers) and above-average mobility, don't be surprised to hear Bagent's name called late in this year's draft. If so, he would become the first DII QB taken since 1999 and the first Shepherd University player taken since 1960.
Tyson Bagent college statistics
| Year | Passing yds | Passing TDs | INTs | Comp pct |
| 2018 | 3,029 | 29 | 13 | 65 |
| 2019 | 4,349 | 36 | 15 | 71 |
| 2020-21 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 68 |
| 2022 | 5,000 | 53 | 13 | 68 |
| 2022 | 4,580 | 41 | 8 | 70 |
Where is Shepherd University?
Shepherd University is a liberal arts college located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, a small town about 90 minutes from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. There are approximately 3,100 students enrolled. Shepherd University's mascot is the Rams.
How many Division II players are there in the NFL?
The professional game is well-stocked with Division II players, with around 50 former Division II stars making the grade for NFL teams. This has fluctuated heavily over the years, reaching a peak of 90 in 2017 and a low of 47 in 2021. Although most are less-known names, there are a few who have made a mammoth mark in the league; namely Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler and Patriots edge Matthew Judon.
