Bills RB Frank Gore Jr. says there’s ‘no way’ 257 prospects are better than him

The Gore family waited by the phone throughout the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft, with Frank Jr. anxiously awaiting a call that would serve as the fulfillment of a lifetime of hard work, perseverance and resilience. His father, legendary running back Frank Sr., waited alongside his son, also anticipating the moment his son would officially enter the league in which he played for nearly two decades.

The call would not come during the draft itself.

Frank Gore Jr. would fall through the cracks in the 2024 NFL Draft, with each of the event’s 257 picks being used on different prospects. It was a bit of a shock to Gore Jr., who had 4,714 scrimmage yards and 30 total touchdowns during his four years at South Mississippi, but it wasn’t a demoralizing, all-encompassing blow; rather, it was a source of motivation, an opportunity to choose your own destination and reserve a place for a team that wanted him as hard as he wanted them.

And that team was the Buffalo Bills.

“I was praying and hoping I could come here,” Gore Jr. told reporters after the first day of the Bills 2024 rookie minicamp. “My prayers are answered.”

Gore Jr. knows a bit about Western New York, as his father donned the iconic “Charging Buffalo” helmet during the 2019 NFL season, the penultimate of 16 he would play in the NFL. Frank Gore rushed for 599 yards that year, which was just a small portion of the 16,000 he accumulated throughout his career en route to becoming the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher.

Related: CBS Sports ranks Bills’ UDFA signing of Frank Gore Jr. as one of NFL’s best

And his son has fond memories of his father’s time in Buffalo, particularly the passion with which the team’s fans grew. He spoke to the media about their fervor on Friday, even singing the team’s Shout Song.

“It was great, I came to love three games,” Gore Jr. said. “It was cold when they played the Jets at the end of the season, but I loved it here. What do they say? Ey-ey-ey-ey? I loved that one, I love that. It’s one of the most enthusiastic places I’ve ever been.

Enthusiasm and legacy aside, Gore Jr. faces an uphill climb to a roster spot. He has some agility and elusiveness – that was demonstrated throughout his time at Southern Miss – but he is undersized by NFL standards. He is also an uninspiring athlete, recording a remarkably low Relative Athletic Score of 0.60 (out of 10).

He also joins a crowded Buffalo backroom topped by third-year guard James Cook, fourth-round pick Ray Davis and returning Ty Johnson; just like going undrafted wasn’t a devastating blow, Gore Jr. isn’t going to shy away from the competition.

“(I’ll come) every day,” Gore Jr. said. “Come learn. Come and improve yourself. Find your way on special teams. Either way, I can help this team overcome the obstacle and be able to contribute to the team.

Although Gore Jr., like any undrafted free agent, is nowhere near making his team’s active roster, he is eager to prove his doubters wrong. It’s a great story about wanting to be a great player, an undrafted running back who uses the fact that he wasn’t drafted to light a fire under him and push him to a roster spot.

“That really pushed me,” Gore Jr. “I feel like there’s no chance that 257 people are going to be better than me in this draft. Now that this process is over, I’m a Bill and I’m here to compete I’m here to push my teammates and push the running back room and try to get on special teams.