Article reprinted courtesy of Fargo Forum and reporter Eric Peterson.
MOORHEAD – A former pass-and-catch combination for the Concordia Cobbers is chasing its professional football dreams.
Former Concordia wide receiver Brandon Zylstra is scheduled to participate in North Dakota State's annual pro day Thursday, March 24, at the Fargodome. Former Cobbers quarterbackGriffin Neal has been invited to work out with an NFL team this spring, said Concordia head coachTerry Horan. Horan couldn't confirm the team.
"It's been pretty exciting," Horan said. "You have two pretty hungry guys who have put a lot of time into it and are pretty determined."
Zylstra completed his Concordia football career last fall, while Neal last played for the Cobbers during the 2014 season. Neal played semi-professional football in Hildesheim, Germany, last season.
"To have the the ambition to want to give it a shot and believe in their abilities is pretty cool," Horan said. "They have been working pretty hard."
Zylstra had 43 catches for 692 yards and six touchdowns last season for Concordia. In 2014, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Neal completed 152 of 242 passes for 1,961 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Cobbers. Zylstra and Neal were teammates for Concordia in 2013 and 2014.
Neal is Concordia's career leader in passing yards (5,614) and touchdown passes (47). Zylstra had 1,932 career receiving yards with 18 touchdown catches in 29 games with the Cobbers.
"It's super fun. We have met so many cool people along this journey," said Zylstra, who has been training in Arizona with Neal.
Zylstra participated in a regional combine for the NFL in February, and has also been at four CFL tryouts, he said. At this point, Zylstra said he's received primarily CFL interest.
"That is the direction right now, which I am totally cool with," Zylstra said.
At the regional combine, the 6-foot-2, 214-pound Zylstra ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds and his vertical jump was measured 36 inches.
NDSU pro day is another chance for Zylstra to show his abilities.
"Hopefully, I attract some attention and play it out from there," Zylstra said.