Local College Football Standouts Pursue NFL Dreams

Four local college football standouts from Cortland, Ithaca, and Cornell are set to take their talents to the NFL. Hunter Nourzad, J.J. Lapp, Cole Burgess, and Derek Slywka have all earned opportunities to showcase their skills at the professional level.

Former Cornell and Penn State offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad was selected in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Nourzad, a standout blocker, earned All-American honors and was named the Ivy League Offensive Lineman of the Year during his time at Cornell. He transferred to Penn State for his final two collegiate seasons, where he continued to excel, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.

SUNY Cortland teammates J.J. Lapp and Cole Burgess both signed unrestricted free agent deals with NFL teams. Lapp joined the Los Angeles Rams, while Burgess signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Lapp, a wide receiver, helped power Cortland’s high-flying offense, while Burgess showcased his skills as a receiver and return specialist, totaling over 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in his college career.

Ithaca College’s Derek Slywka, a standout defensive back, earned invitations to rookie mini-camps with both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Slywka’s shutdown defense and impressive stats earned him recognition as the D3football.com Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

These four talented players have worked hard to reach this point in their careers, and now they have the opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level of football. Stay tuned to see how they fare as they chase their NFL dreams.