Nobody knew who Ruben Hyppolite was when the Chicago Bears drafted him. Fans had believed the team would focus on areas of need to start the third day of the draft. Running back still hadn't been addressed. They had questions at edge rusher. So, for GM Ryan Poles to select a linebacker that several experts had as an undrafted free agent was a frustrating surprise. It felt like an unnecessary reach. Later details suggest Hyppolite was well-regarded by other teams in the league. He would've likely been drafted at some point.
Still, it was hard to understand why the Bears chose to take him when they did. It turns out there is an interesting story behind that. Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic got some fascinating information from Hyppolite's agent. It turns out the Maryland linebacker and team captain wasn't invited to the NFL combine despite a productive career for a not-insignificant program. When he contacted the people running the event, he was basically told to deal with it.
Rather than complain, Hyppolite used that disrespect to his advantage.
The combine invited 329 prospects to Indianapolis based on feedback from the clubs on draftable players. Hyppolite wasn’t on the list.
Phillips told him to call NFS (National Football Scouting, Inc.) to find out why his name was omitted. The first time he called, they told him to call back in a week. They’d have another wave of invites going out.
“When I called the second time, they said, ‘Nah, you’ll run at your pro day,’” Hyppolite told The Athletic in a conversation during rookie minicamp. “I wasn’t upset. I was a little aggravated. But I didn’t go in the tank. I said, ‘It’s time for me to get out the mud a little bit. And that’s what I did.’”
Phillips knew what her client had to do.
“The way to get the needle to move in the league during the draft process is to run fast,” she said.
Hyppolite ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, which would've been the fastest time of any linebacker at the combine.
Ruben Hyppolite responded the exact right way.
He didn't whine. He didn't pout. The linebacker took that insult and used it as fuel to push his abilities forward. If he'd run that 40 at the combine instead of his pro day, there is a good chance he might've been drafted even earlier than the 4th round. It is all about getting enough eyeballs on you. That run at the pro day started enough buzz to get his name out there. It, along with maturity and work ethic, was what sold the Bears on him. Ruben Hyppolite hasn't rested on those laurels, either. He's been looking sharp in early practices, pushing hard for the starting linebacker spot alongside Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. If he pulls it off, it will be one of the best stories of the entire offseason.
