Former St. Thomas tight end Charlie Dowdle will head to Jacksonville, Florida for the Jaguars minicamp next week. Dowdle, a 2015 All-American, got a similar opportunity last year from his hometown NFL team, the Chicago Bears.

“I feel a lot more prepared, and I know what to expect in these rookie camps,” said Dowdle about his experience with the Bears. “I dropped 25 pounds from last year, so physically I’m in a much better position and mentally I know what to expect.”

This year he took a different approach and is seeing the results pay off so far.

“So I did the combine last year, and this year I just did a workout in front of a couple of teams,” said Dowdle. “I don’t really know my numbers, but I’ve just been working on my own. I couldn’t do any combines because I was too old this year.”

St. Thomas head football coach Glenn Caruso, believes that it is Dowdle’s work ethic that got him this far.

“When you get to the highest levels of college or even having an opportunity in the pros, certainly, everybody is going to be very athletic and have a lot of tremendous measurables,” said Caruso. “But I think what sets him apart is the opportunity to continue to focus on the work and grow both literally and figuratively.”

Dowdle helped bring two St. Thomas teams to the Stagg Bowl and racked up 168 points in his four year career. He also ranks second in total receiving yards as a tight end and second in total touchdown (24) in St. Thomas history.

“I’ve been working for a while to get something, and I’m just happy I’m getting an opportunity to go make another team,” said Dowdle.

Caruso thinks that St. Thomas connections, such as Mark Ellenz who is the director of scouting for the Jaguars, helps give players additional opportunities.

“When you have connections at the next level through the university, like Mark or like a John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks GM), it doesn’t allow you to get any preferential treatment, but it does give you an opportunity to at least get your film and your body of work in front of them, and I think that was a sincere help this time,” Caruso said.