Ryan Pope did not even start for the San Diego State football team until his senior year, but the offensive tackle did just enough in that one season to catch the attention of the Detroit Lions.

Signed just hours after April's NFL draft as a free agent, the Lions gave the 6-foot-7, 315-pounder a $145,000 base salary and $20,000 signing bonus, the biggest contract of any undrafted free agent in 2019.

“If he didn’t have potential, we probably wouldn’t bring him into the mix,” offensive line coach Jeff Davidson said Tuesday. “It’s why he’s here, that we think he’s got the potential to develop as a swing tackle. That’s really where we’re going to start him. Now, if he develops into anything more than that, we’ll see. Time will tell.”

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Activated off the non-football injury list just in time for camp, Pope, 22, is spending most of his time with the second and third team offense. That hasn't stopped his tremendous work ethic. Pope has been always one of the last linemen off the field after practice, doing extra drills and practicing his technique.

The biggest adjustment to the NFL thus far has been two-fold. First, the physicality. Second, what Pope describes as "the mental game."

"It's just you adapting to the next level," Pope said after a recent training camp practice. "At the end of the day, they throw you in and it's sink or swim."

Behind Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner and Tyrell Crosby on the depth chart, Pope is challenging for a roster spot along with Andrew Donnal and Matt Nelson. Pope is a good candidate for the practice squad if he doesn’t make the roster, and the Lions coaches are taking notice.

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“The thing that I noticed, and it’s really evident, is that the guy comes to work every day trying to improve,” Davidson said. “That’s what we ask of him, and I’m really looking forward to see what he develops in to.”

Decker is one of the tackles Pope watched, studying his technique during his college career at Ohio State. Now Decker is a teammate.

"I mean, that's kinda cool," Decker said. "I know when I was a young kid in college there were guys that I watched, so that's super cool. Hopefully he's able to pick up some things now that he's here with us, not just from myself, but from all the guys."

Pope's said he has carefully watched former first round pick Frank Ragnow and veteran lineman Kenny Wiggins since joining the Lions.

Their advice to Pope is to focus on only what he can control.

"Keep my head down and just do what I've do what I've got to do," Pope said. "Don't stick out, just do the work and my time will come."

An Inglewood, California, native, Pope began his college career at Long Beach City College in part because he did not pass through the NCAA clearinghouse out of Lakewood High School.

“I had to fight them to get this class passed through,” Pope said.

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Pope is the 66th player from Long Beach City College to reach the NFL including, along with the likes of Bryan Braman, Dwight Beverly, Carl Weathers, Harold Tucker and Marcus Steele.

LBCC coach Brett Peabody saw NFL potential from the jump.

“He’s always had the physical tools to play and compete at that level,” Peabody said.

“It was a blessing that I got my feet wet before being thrown into Division I,” Pope said.

After one season with the Vikings, Pope transferred to San Diego State and redshirted his first season. He played mainly on special teams as a sophomore and Pope got some time on the offensive line as a junior, playing 13 games, 11 at right tackle.

Last year, Pope started all 13 games, 10 at right tackle and three at left tackle. He was a second-team All-Mountain West selection. Finally, Pope was an established college football player.

His presence both on and off the field made an impact at San Diego State. College teammates adored him, both for his gregarious personality and sheer tenacity on the football field.

“He’s like a big teddy bear,” said Ethan Dedeaux, a sophomore wide receiver who played with Pope last year at San Diego State. “He’s one of those guys that you just bring home to your mom and are like, ‘look mom, that’s my best friend,’ and he’s got a smile on his face.”

Juwan Washington rushed for 999 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for the Aztecs. He benefited from the holes Pope created. They also were roommates during Pope's senior year, the year Pope finally realized he had an opportunity to play in the NFL.

"He’s a big guy himself, so any space he created it was super big for me being a little guy," the 5-7, 190-pound Washington said.

Pope joined San Diego State as an athletic prospect and solid pass blocker, but said he did not possess sound run-blocking skills. SDSU produced the nation’s leading rushers in 2016 and 17, and averaged nearly 40 rushes per game last season. That type of offense, he said, helped him develop into a more dynamic tackle.

Pope went from under recruited to depth piece when transitioning from Long Beach to San Diego State. He then cemented himself as a starter. Now in the NFL, he hopes to break though once again.

Decker said Pope has "all the physical tools" to play in the NFL.

“Either you adapt or you get lost in the shuffle,” Pope said. “I’ve been very fortunate to come across the coaches and teammates that I’ve had to walk me through this journey.”

Contact Greg Levinsky: glevinsky@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregLevinsky.