GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s rare that an undrafted rookie could be considered as having a good shot at making an active roster in time for Week 1 of the regular season. Running back John Crockett might be the exception this year after signing with the Green Bay Packers.

One surprise coming out of Ted Thompson’s 11th draft as Packers general manager was not selecting a running back. Green Bay didn’t need a starter, of course. Not with Eddie Lacy just entering the prime of his career and plowing over defenders on a regular basis. But there was an obvious lack of depth at Green Bay’s running back position, and Crockett became the beneficiary of that.

Crockett was strongly courted by the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens in undrafted free agency, but the North Dakota State star ultimately chose the Packers after realizing the opportunities he would have.

"I truly feel like I’m in the best place for me," Crockett said.

There wouldn’t be great expectation placed upon Crockett in his first NFL season. James Starks has proven to be a quality backup and a very good complement to Lacy. However, 2015 is the last year on Starks’ deal. When Green Bay would be considering whether to re-sign him next offseason, Starks will be 30 years old. That’s never a good age to be as a running back, especially one with an injury history.

That could set up nicely for Crockett in terms of having a long-term future with the Packers.

Though he’s new to Green Bay, the surroundings already felt familiar to Crockett. The culture of the city reminded him of Fargo, North Dakota; his college town. The winning atmosphere is similar, too.

In his four seasons with the Bison at North Dakota State, Crockett was a part of four Division I-FCS championships. The Packers can’t boast that level of success, but they do offer about the closest thing that there is to consistent winning in the NFL.

"The way that all they talk about is winning (in Green Bay), and that’s all I’ve been accustomed to, and that’s what we talk about," Crockett said. "The mindset of a champion is still the same, and it remains the same. That’s the only way I come into this thing. I’m coming into this organization to do whatever I can to help the team, whatever they need to get to the Super Bowl. And that’s the main goal."

Crockett produced 1,000-plus-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior, but it was his senior year when he really exploded onto the scene. A school record of 1,994 rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns will do that for a player.

Still, exploding onto the scene when playing for an FCS-level school is a lot different than doing so at a Division I powerhouse.

"I went to a program where we were kind of spoiled a little bit at the FCS level; being able to win four national championships, you got a little bit of pub," Crockett said. "The bigger school guys, from the Alabamas and the Ole Misses, they give you a little crap for it. But it’s definitely fun to be amongst these guys and be able to say ‘I think that these FCS guys can play.’

"That’s one of my biggest goals is to show that FCS guys can play at this level and just play amongst these boys. There’s some great players out there, but we have some good football players, too."

Crockett was projected to be picked between the fifth and seventh rounds. Part of the reason he somewhat unexpectedly fell out of the draft entirely was due to the lack of competition he had played against.

With a great frame for the position (5-11 6/8, 217 pounds) and a tough, physical running style, Crockett seems poised to make people forget which college conference he came from.

It’s likely a given that Green Bay keeps three running backs on its 53-man roster, and that does not include the fullback position. Crockett will directly compete against Rajion Neal (an undrafted player from 2014 who is back for Year 2) and fellow 2015 undrafted running back Alonzo Harris out of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Packers have those three inexperienced players, plus Lacy and Starks. And that’s it.

"We’re in the mindset of evaluating personnel, (and) it’s definitely wide open there," head coach Mike McCarthy said during rookie orientation when asked specifically about the No. 3 running back.

McCarthy isn’t looking for any particular set of skills when it comes to choosing between Crockett, Neal and Harris. It will simply be a case of "May the best man win."

"I don’t think you can just say ‘This is what we want,’" McCarthy said. "There are so many talented young men out there. If somebody has unique talents, your system of offense, defense or special teams needs to be able to absorb that.

"I’m looking for another good football player, especially at that (running back) position. Whoever can produce, we definitely have enough flexibility to take advantage of his skillset."

Crockett is trying not to get ahead of himself. Projections and predictions could make a young player focus on the wrong things.

The reality, though, is Crockett put himself in the perfect situation by choosing Green Bay and taking advantage of Thompson’s decision to have an open battle for the third running back spot.

"I’m just happy to be here," Crockett said.

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