Former De Anza College football players have taken a step forward in the NFL as Trevor Pardula received an invite to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie mini camp and Robertson Daniel was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent.

Each year, the NFL Draft can be a dream come true for some players, a nightmare for others, a wake-up call for some and a lesson in silver linings for others.

Pardula and Daniel were among four former De Anza College football players who participated in a Local Pro Day on April 17 hosted by the San Francisco 49ers, seeking to improve their chances in this year’s NFL Draft. Also trying out were Joshua McCain and Kevin Vye who remained unsigned.

Local Pro Day is an event the 49ers host annually for players from Stanford, UC Berkeley and San Jose State, as well as players around the country who Bay Area.

De Anza head football coach Dan Atencio said the players can be selected anywhere from the third round through the seventh round. Atencio said he’s confident that three of the four players will be on NFL teams, whether on the first team or practice teams.

Atencio said he remembers the former players performed well academically.

“They were what we call OKG: our kind of guys,” he said, describing them as players who fit in well, are coachable, punctual, willing to listen and do the things they said they would do.

Atencio, who has coached for 46 years, said other former players of his have made it to the NFL, including two who are currently playing for the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills.

Atencio quickly deferred credit to his staff for recruiting “good players” and to De Anza College, citing the support system in place for student-athletes.

“This school sells itself,” Atencio said.

The four players who attended the 49ers’ “Local Pro Day” endured the NFL Draft’s roller coaster of emotions the weekend of April 30 to May 2.