Despite the steady stream of former University of Toledo players who have made the jump to the National Football League successfully, the Rockets are in a bit of a slump when it comes to the NFL draft.

Eleven former Rockets are under NFL contracts, but no UT player has heard his name called in the draft since 2008.

A memorable class of former Toledo players hopes to change that this year, though the UT draft hopefuls are ready to traverse the undrafted route successfully navigated by several former Rockets if necessary.

“All the people I’ve talked to who have been through this process just told me to be patient and do what I can do, which is to focus on being a football player first,” said former UT cornerback and St. John’s Jesuit graduate Cheatham Norrils.

“You never really know, especially with the NFL.”

The St. Louis Rams selected former UT offensive lineman John Greco 65th in 2008, and he was followed by teammate Jalen Parmele, a running back whom the Miami Dolphins selected 176th later that draft.

Since then, many notable Rockets were passed over and made NFL rosters the hard way. Safety Barry Church (Dallas Cowboys), wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (Cleveland Browns), and punter Brett Kern (Tennessee Titans) are now regulars who made teams as undrafted free agents.

Since 2014 alone, seven former Rockets have stuck on NFL rosters despite going undrafted.

Last season, offensive lineman Greg Mancz (Houston Texans) and linebacker Junior Sylvestre (Indianapolis Colts) made the cut, while linebacker Jayrone Elliott (Green Bay Packers) and defensive end T.J. Fatinikun (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) became contributors after going undrafted after their senior years.

Former Toledo defensive tackle Orion Jones said he has kept in touch with Elliott and Mancz to gauge what can be an unpredictable weekend.

“Them making it gives me hope that I can make it, too,” Jones said. “I’m just thankful knowing that anything can happen.”

Avalanches of misleading information are natural to weeks leading up to the draft, and even the players in the middle of the process are in the dark.

Some projections have tabbed Jones as high as the middle rounds; Norrils has heard everything from fifth round to undrafted.

Former UT receiver Alonzo Russell’s size and safety Rolan Milligan’s excellent senior season have enticed some teams, and former quarterback Phillip Ely has proved to be in excellent shape as a potential option to round out a team's depth chart.

Ely, who tore his ACL in 2014, said thoughts of his knee injury remained early in 2015, causing him to be a bit more hesitant than usual.

But Ely played his best game in Toledo’s bowl victory and impressed at his pro day, at a regional tryout in Minnesota, and at a workout with his hometown Buccaneers.

As NFL rookie camps draw near, Ely said he feels healthier than ever.

“Now, after four months of hardcore training and putting your body through some things it hadn’t, you gain a lot of trust,” Ely said.

“I think the momentum is carrying me to where I am today. Just feeling healthy is the main thing I’ve gotten out of this four months.”

So, is the year a Rocket hears his name called to break the streak?

Even for the potential draftees, it's impossible to say.

All of the Rockets going through the draft process are well aware of the only rule of draft season: Nothing is promised.

“I just really have no idea what to expect because it can be such a crazy day,” Jones said.

“I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst.”

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at: npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 724-6110, or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz

First Published April 29, 2016, 4:12 a.m.