3 Tommies work out for Bears, Vikings scouts

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Three Tommie football players worked out at Concordia University St. Paul March 9 in front of scouts from both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Jacques Perra looks for his check-down receiver in the first quarter of an Oct. 6, 2017 game against Augsburg. Perra was one of three players who worked out for NFL scouts on March 9, 2018. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)

Quarterback Jacques Perra, tight end Matt Christenson and linebacker Blake Weber spent the afternoon going through basic skills drills like the 40-yard dash and some measurements in an attempt to garner interest from pro-level teams.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Weber said. “All my life, I’ve dreamed about going to the NFL. It’s a slim shot, but there’s a chance, so I’m going to take every opportunity I get.”

Though a slim shot, it isn’t entirely unheard-of for players to make the jump from the Division III level to the NFL. At the start of last year’s NFL season, seven Division III players earned a spot on a final 53-man roster with a team in the NFL. All seven players are still listed on the teams’ active rosters.

“It’s not like it’s impossible to get to the NFL from D-III because there are people who have done it,” Perra said. “(It’s a) slim shot, but there’s definitely opportunity.”

For the Tommies, players getting looks from the NFL isn’t a new experience. Former tight end Charlie Dowdle signed with the Chicago Bears practice squad in 2015 and was invited to the Jacksonville Jaguars minicamp in 2017. Last March, standout quarterback Alex Fenske and three other Tommies were invited to the NFL’s regional combine in Eden Prairie.

Tight end Matt Christenson dives into the end zone during a Sept. 2, 2017 game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The senior tight end finished his Tommie career but is hopeful for a shot at the pros. (Carolyn Meyer/TommieMedia)

“It just says a lot about coach Caruso’s program,” Weber said. “It’s a D-III program, but there are … a lot of guys who definitely could have played at a higher level.”

For Perra and Weber, both juniors, the workout wasn’t just an attempt to garner immediate interest from teams, but also to get their names in front of NFL scouts heading into their senior year.

The two will play key roles on next year’s team. Perra led the MIAC last season in passing yards with 2,944, and was third in touchdowns and second in efficiency rating. Weber played in every game last season, recording 45 tackles, six sacks and an interception.

Weber said the chance to redeem last season, which ended with a 24-10 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament, along with the potential of garnering interest from pro teams, is a constant motivation.

“We were right there with one of the best in the nation,” he said. “We’re really excited about next season.”

While this round of workouts most likely won’t turn into an immediate NFL opportunity for any of the three players, all three are reveling in the opportunity.

“Coming from the D-III level, all you’re really asking for is just a chance to get looked at,” Christenson said. “Anything beyond that is just a bonus.”

Noah Brown can be reached at brow7736@stthomas.edu.