When the Buffalo Bills chosen College of Maryland broad receiver Kaden Prather within the seventh spherical of the NFL Draft on April 26, the Montgomery Village, Maryland native turned the primary ever Northwest High School graduate chosen within the NFL Draft.
Northwest Excessive College in Germantown, Maryland has had former gamers compete on the NFL gridiron up to now however Anwar Phillips and Joe Lefeged had been each signed as undrafted free brokers.
Prather, who was chosen at No. 240 total, has loved an fascinating path to the NFL.
He performed youth league soccer for the Montgomery Village Chiefs, the identical group that produced Stefon Diggs (Houston Texans) and his brother Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys). Jordan Addison (Minnesota Vikings) and Chop Robinson (Miami Dolphins) are additionally merchandise of the Montgomery Village Sports activities Assocation. In actual fact, Addison and Prather had been as soon as youth league teammates and labored out collectively previous to the draft.
Addison, a large receiver who received the Biletnikoff Award in 2021 on the College of Pittsburgh, was chosen within the first spherical of the NFL Draft in 2023 and Robinson, a linebacker, was a primary spherical NFL Draft choice out of Penn State final 12 months and was named to the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA) All-Rookie Crew.
Public Handle announcer Tracy Callahan has been the voice of Northwest Excessive College soccer video games since 2016 and he described Prather as a “man amongst boys” throughout his tenure on the Montgomery County Public College.
“No person,” mentioned Callahan, “may cowl him in highschool.”
Throughout his junior marketing campaign at Northwest, Prather helped lead the Jaguars to a 12-2 report and an look within the 2019 4A state championship sport the place he registered 101 receiving yards.
Prather, who earned first crew All-Met honors, caught 42 passes for 895 yards and 9 touchdowns that season.
“He labored laborious in observe and all the time wished to be the most effective,” recalled Callahan. “He cherished catching passes in visitors and was a constant house run menace. It was apparent from the primary time he performed for Northwest he was considerably extra proficient than those that coated him.”
Following his commencement from Northwest, Prather signed on to play faculty soccer at West Virginia College the place he made a direct impression as a real freshman.
The 6-foot-4 wideout performed in 12 video games and made 4 begins for the Mountaineers throughout his freshman marketing campaign. He completed the season with 12 catches for 175 yards. As a sophomore, Prather completed the season because the crew’s third-leading receiver with 501 yards. He additionally completed second in receptions (52) and third in landing receptions (3).
He transferred to Maryland and have become one of many Terps’ main receiving targets. As a junior, Prather caught 42 passes for 666 yards and 5 touchdowns. He completed his senior marketing campaign in Faculty Park with 56 receptions for 624 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Prather was invited to the NFL Mix and placed on a present in entrance of the varied scouts in attendance. He clocked an official 4.46-second 40-yard sprint on the mix.
Two days of the NFL Draft handed by and Prather was nonetheless on the board. He was outdoors taking part in cornhole together with his household on Day 3 when he obtained a name from the Payments.
“I wasn’t actually anticipating a name,” defined Prather, “however after I obtained the decision, man, I took off, I ran.”
The Payments are definitely banking on Prather to make use of his expertise to assist the franchise in the course of the upcoming season.
Final season, Buffalo (13-4) completed first place within the AFC East and misplaced within the AFC Championship sport.
“Whenever you win it’s a special feeling,” mentioned Prather, “so I’m glad that I’m with a crew that’s within the Tremendous Bowl dialog.”
The Payments boast Professional Bowl quarterback Josh Allen and Prather mentioned he seems ahead to taking part in with him.
“Whether or not I’ve to go up and catch a 50-yard cross or whether or not I’ve to show a five-yard cross right into a 20-yard achieve,” defined Prather, “I’m simply all the time looking for a strategy to win. On the finish of the day, Buffalo goes to discover a winner.”
