PHILADELPHIA — A year ago at this time, Rasul Douglas was an unknown college football player. His draft stock was nonexistent. Sunday afternoon, he is a projected starter for the Eagles in their home opener against the desperate Giants.
“It’s a blessing,” he said, a smile splashed across his face. “Not a lot of people make it. I got the chance to make it, and play football, something I’ve dreamed of doing.”
For so long, that dream didn’t seem realistic. A baseball and basketball player growing up in poverty-stricken East Orange, N.J., he played just two years of varsity football at East Orange Campus High School, and because of academic problems, went to Nassau Community College on Long Island. The 6-foot-2 cornerback only appeared in five games as a junior at West Virginia and started his senior year as a backup before emerging that season and finishing with eight interceptions.
“It taught me to be grateful, thankful for everything I got, because I didn’t have all of this before,” said the 22-year-old Douglas, a Chargers fan as a kid because of his LaDainian Tomlinson fandom.
But Douglas isn’t some awed rookie. He impressed in his NFL regular season debut last Sunday against the Chiefs, more than holding his own. According to Pro Football Focus, Douglas played 39 defensive snaps, and helped limit Chiefs star Tyreek Hill to just four catches for 43 yards. The analytics website rated him as the ninth-best cornerback in Week 2, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz praised Douglas for making “no mental mistakes” and playing physical.
“He went out there and made a couple of plays,” Eagles cornerback Jalen Mills said. “Now with even more snaps going against New York, he’s going to make even more plays.”
He undoubtedly will be tested again Sunday, by the Giants’ talented wide receivers, a group led by Odell Beckham Jr. Douglas, forced into action because of injuries to Ronald Darby (dislocated ankle) and Jaylen Watkins (hamstring) expects quarterback Eli Manning to go after him, a challenge he welcomes.
“I hope he throws me one,” he said, referring to an interception, which would be the first of his young career.
Douglas described his time at Nassau Community College as a “grind.” Since the school had no dorms, he lived in an apartment eight miles away and had to take a bus each way. With little money, he battled hunger and couldn’t afford a mattress. The ordeal did teach him a lesson.
“I can save money,” he said with a smile. “I know how to save money. I know how to go without money.”
Even after a big senior year at West Virginia, and a solid showing at the Senior Bowl, Douglas wasn’t certain he would get drafted. It wasn’t until the Eagles called him in the third round before selecting him that he was convinced. He was merely hoping to make an NFL roster. Now he’s likely starting in his team’s home opener.
“It’s amazing,” Douglas said.