He was a three-year starter. He had 60 tackles and six interceptions in his senior year and eight career sacks and tackles for a loss -- impressive numbers for any aspiring NFL cornerback.
NFL scouts, however, only saw one number when they looked at Virginia's ball-hawking cornerback Almondo "Muffin" Curry -- "5-foot-8-inch." For all his exploits on the gridiron, Curry was passed over by the NFL in favor of taller cornerbacks to match up with today's towering receivers, a fact not lost on "Muffin."
"To me, it's not even a point of how good you are, or what you can do out on the football field," Curry said. "For me, it was 'you fit this category, you have this body type.' I just wanted to play."
Curry did not have to wait long to get his chance. Instead of waiting for NFL training camp invites, he tried out for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in May.
The CFL has a reputation for making stars out of undersized players coming out of college. Players such as former British Columbia Lions and Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie, thought to be too short to play NFL football, have gone on to stellar careers in Canada.
Canada's version of the game features a much different field than the American game. The field is 30 yards longer and 12 yards wider, which favors wide-open offenses and places tremendous emphasis on cornerback play.
"It's a completely different type of football," Curry said.
After being cut during training camp, Curry's prospects dimmed. He managed to earn a spot on the Montreal practice squad, though, and another shot to impress the coaches.
Through hard work and smart play, "Muffin" worked his way into the starting lineup by the season's opening day. Showing he'd lost none of his big play ability from college, Curry pulled down four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, in July. His performance earned him Defensive Player of the Month honors. In part, because of his stellar play at cornerback, the Alouettes currently stand at a league-leading 12-4 and first place in the Eastern Division.
Curry's success has come as no surprise to his former teammates at Virginia.
"I've never met a person like Muffin," Virginia defensive end Brennan Schmidt said. "He's a little guy, but played with so much energy. His energy and intensity for the game kept the team motivated and moving along."
In Canada, however, Curry has done more learning than leading.
"As a rookie, you come into a new environment -- a whole bunch of new faces," he said. "You're out there fighting again, learning a whole new system."
Curry still relishes his experiences while at Virginia.
"Winning against West Virginia in the bowl game, that was one of the greatest moments," he said. "No one expected the type of season we had. Winning our bowl game -- it was great. And beating Virginia Tech last year."
Curry said he wants fans to remember him not as a football player, but for what he stood for -- hard work and never giving up.
"When you're old and you look back on what you did, I don't think it really matters how everyone else sees you as a football player," he said. "Once you go, they're not going to remember you. After your name is gone, the guys that are coming on -- it's their turn. I want to cherish what they do"
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