The Denver Broncos hosted former lacrosse player Jared Bernhardt on a pre-draft visit on Wednesday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Yes, that’s right, a former lacrosse player.
Bernhardt (6-1, 189 pounds) won the Tewaaraton Award — given to the nation’s best college lacrosse player — as a fifth-year senior at Maryland in 2021. After that, he made a graduate transfer to Ferris State (Michigan) to play quarterback for their Division II football team.
Bernhardt completed 87-of-123 passes last season for 1,322 yards with 11 touchdowns against five interceptions. He also rushed 159 times for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Bernhardt led Ferris State to a DII title in his only season of college football, defeating Valdosta State 58-17 in the championship game.
Before becoming a star lacrosse player in college, Bernhardt was a star triple-option quarterback at Lake Brantley High School in Florida. He ran a 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds at Maryland’s pro day last month and he projects as a receiver/returner in the NFL.
Going from lacrosse to pro football is not unheard of — recent examples include center Jason Kelce, running back Alex Collins, wide receiver Chris Hogan, quarterback Kyle Lauletta and linebacker Micah Kiser, who played with the Broncos last season.
Bernhardt will likely go undrafted and he might be a college free agent target for Denver in early May.
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