Former NSU Spartans Deon King and Lynden Trail are paving their NFL paths

NORFOLK, Virginia -- For players at smaller schools, the journey to the NFL isn't always pretty. From going undrafted, to waiting for training camp invites, the process can take a toll. "You have two options when facing obstacles, you can run from them and hide, or you can face them head on," said Redskins linebacker Lynden Trail.

Trail spent three seasons at Norfolk State after transferring from Florida. During his time with the Spartans, he garnered multiple All-MEAC selections, and was a finalist for the top FCS defensive player in the nation. After leaving NSU, Trail went undrafted, and spent a season injured with the Houston Texans before landing with the Redskins.

In the course of his time with the 'Skins, Trail has been cut twice from the practice squad, but that never stopped him. In Week 16 of the NFL season, he made his NFL debut against the Chicago Bears. "It's kind of a roller coaster, that's what I compare it to more than anything," said Trail. "You have your ups, you have your downs, but God's going to put certain things in your way to actually become stronger from it."

With the suspension of 'Skins linebacker Trent Murphy, Trail has an opportunity to be the next man up. "If you continue to grind, continue to work, eventually someone will see it."

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