Beaver Football Alumni Gunner Olszewski and John Vogeler Participate In Gopher Pro Day

The stopwatches were out, and cones were set up all over the Gophers practice facility this morning as many NFL hopefuls went through a series of physical tests to try and get the attention of the NFL scouts on hand. For many prospects like Bemidji State’s Gunner Olszewski and John Vogeler, this is their one and only chance to show scouts what they can do.

“I was just pumped,” Olszewski said. “I had three months of just working for one day, and I think it all came together pretty well.”

“It was a fun environment, and it’s truly a blessing to participate in front of most of the NFL,” Vogeler said.

Vogeler impressed on the bench press with 16 reps, which would have put him in 20^th place out of 51 defensive backs in the combine. He then followed it up with a 32.5-inch vertical and a 4.63 40-yard dash.

“I thought I did exactly what I needed to do to have an opportunity at the next level,” Vogeler said. “I thought I had a great day; I felt really good on my 40 and all my testing, I felt fast and loose.”

Olszewski sat out the bench press because of a nagging shoulder injury, but then recorded a 36-inch vertical, which would have been good for 27^th in his position group at the combine. Finally, he clocked in at 4.57 on the 40-yard dash.

“I couldn’t even tell you if I did good, I’d like to think I did good,” Olszewski said. “It’s one of those things where you line up and the last thing you see is your just looking down, and you run and you black out, and then you’re at the finish line, and then you’re like, ‘how’d I do?'”

With leagues like the AAF and the XFL possibly emerging, there are more opportunities than ever for Gunner and John to have a chance at the next level.

“It’s a fantastic time to be playing football and looking for opportunities to play after college,” Olszewski said. “In the NFL there is a big paycheck, obviously. AAF, I don’t know exactly what the money is, but I’d play for three hots and a cot, I’d play football for three hot meals and a bed to sleep in, so I’m just looking forward to calling it my job.”

Both Olszewski and Vogeler were pleased with their performances at Pro Day, and now they just have to wait for the phone to ring to see if they get an opportunity at the next level.