Indiana University Athletics
NFL Journey Keeping Sudfeld Busy
2/1/2016 1:07:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nate Sudfeld is busy these days. Really busy.
The former Hoosiers quarterback is in the market for a spot on an NFL roster. Since graduating in December, he's been training behind the scenes in San Diego under long-time NFL coach Mike Sheppard. His most public session came in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he completed 6-of-13 passes for 46 yards and one touchdown.
Sudfeld said his week in Florida included meetings with more than 25 NFL teams that have all expressed interest in the 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterback who's name sits atop practically every major passing record at Indiana. Though the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel and practices, it's only the beginning of what will be a few hectic months leading up to April's NFL Draft.
"It's been a lot of work, a lot of work," Sudfeld said. "But it's absolutely the dream. It wasn't really that stressful because I was just excited and honored to be there. It was fun to get to meet new people and have conversations with teams."
Sudfeld's time in Florida began with a visit to a local Shriners Hospital to visit with children with some of the other NFL hopefuls. The players spent time playing with the kids, taking pictures and having their faces painted in alignment with the Shrine Game's mission to be "more than just a game."
"That was really fun to be a part of," Sudfeld said. "You kind of get that perspective at the beginning of the week of why the game is there."
Then all the attention turned to the football field where Sudfeld had to quickly develop chemistry with his short-term teammates, which he admitted was tricky for everyone. The all-star game format meant the players all had to learn a new offense in a few hours and try as best they could to pick up on their teammates' tendencies.
Scouts from virtually all 32 NFL teams were on hand to watch Sudfeld throw. He said he hasn't gone through any major mechanical overhauls since leading the Hoosiers to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and was trying to present himself as an all-around quarterback.
"I was just trying to do what I do," Sudfeld said. "I didn't really think there was any one thing that I needed to show them what I could or couldn't do. I knew if I played well, I would show them everything they wanted to see."
And based on the feedback he received, Sudfeld thinks he did just that.
"I feel like I'm a bit under the radar in terms of the national spotlight. That's no problem," Sudfeld said. "Talking to a lot of the teams, it didn't feel like I was under the radar at all."
Oftentimes the conversations were the trickiest part of the trip, Sudfeld said.
Teams would interview him after practice, peppering him with mostly basic questions about his family, school and off-the-field record. The surreal part was that the teams had practically all the answers already but just wanted to see what Sudfeld had to say, he said.
There were nights where Sudfeld would meet with half a dozen teams in a row after practice where he found himself answering the same questions over and over again. It made for marathon interview sessions with Sudfeld never knowing who may have him near the top of their draft lists already.
"You want to be really engaged," Sudfeld said. "By the time you're on your seventh interview of the evening, you're kind of tired but you have to make sure you're still on top of it giving good, articulate answers. You want every interview to be a good first impression."
Sudfeld will remain near his home in San Diego to train over the next few weeks where he's focused on developing his strength and speed. He plans to stay there until the NFL Combine where he'll test out before returning to San Diego once again for a couple of weeks of practice.
He'll return to Bloomington a few weeks before his pro day and try to make a few more lasting impressions on NFL teams while he can to earn individual workout invitations. After that, his future NFL status is out of his hands and the waiting begins.
"It's a little bit surreal to realize how close my dreams are, but I'm not satisfied at all yet," Sudfeld said. "I've still really got a lot of work to do for the combine and my pro day and then individual workouts and visits. I'm still working extremely hard every day and trying to have fun in each phase of the process."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nate Sudfeld is busy these days. Really busy.
The former Hoosiers quarterback is in the market for a spot on an NFL roster. Since graduating in December, he's been training behind the scenes in San Diego under long-time NFL coach Mike Sheppard. His most public session came in the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he completed 6-of-13 passes for 46 yards and one touchdown.
Sudfeld said his week in Florida included meetings with more than 25 NFL teams that have all expressed interest in the 6-foot-6, 240-pound quarterback who's name sits atop practically every major passing record at Indiana. Though the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel and practices, it's only the beginning of what will be a few hectic months leading up to April's NFL Draft.
"It's been a lot of work, a lot of work," Sudfeld said. "But it's absolutely the dream. It wasn't really that stressful because I was just excited and honored to be there. It was fun to get to meet new people and have conversations with teams."
Sudfeld's time in Florida began with a visit to a local Shriners Hospital to visit with children with some of the other NFL hopefuls. The players spent time playing with the kids, taking pictures and having their faces painted in alignment with the Shrine Game's mission to be "more than just a game."
"That was really fun to be a part of," Sudfeld said. "You kind of get that perspective at the beginning of the week of why the game is there."
Then all the attention turned to the football field where Sudfeld had to quickly develop chemistry with his short-term teammates, which he admitted was tricky for everyone. The all-star game format meant the players all had to learn a new offense in a few hours and try as best they could to pick up on their teammates' tendencies.
Scouts from virtually all 32 NFL teams were on hand to watch Sudfeld throw. He said he hasn't gone through any major mechanical overhauls since leading the Hoosiers to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and was trying to present himself as an all-around quarterback.
"I was just trying to do what I do," Sudfeld said. "I didn't really think there was any one thing that I needed to show them what I could or couldn't do. I knew if I played well, I would show them everything they wanted to see."
And based on the feedback he received, Sudfeld thinks he did just that.
"I feel like I'm a bit under the radar in terms of the national spotlight. That's no problem," Sudfeld said. "Talking to a lot of the teams, it didn't feel like I was under the radar at all."
Oftentimes the conversations were the trickiest part of the trip, Sudfeld said.
Teams would interview him after practice, peppering him with mostly basic questions about his family, school and off-the-field record. The surreal part was that the teams had practically all the answers already but just wanted to see what Sudfeld had to say, he said.
There were nights where Sudfeld would meet with half a dozen teams in a row after practice where he found himself answering the same questions over and over again. It made for marathon interview sessions with Sudfeld never knowing who may have him near the top of their draft lists already.
"You want to be really engaged," Sudfeld said. "By the time you're on your seventh interview of the evening, you're kind of tired but you have to make sure you're still on top of it giving good, articulate answers. You want every interview to be a good first impression."
Sudfeld will remain near his home in San Diego to train over the next few weeks where he's focused on developing his strength and speed. He plans to stay there until the NFL Combine where he'll test out before returning to San Diego once again for a couple of weeks of practice.
He'll return to Bloomington a few weeks before his pro day and try to make a few more lasting impressions on NFL teams while he can to earn individual workout invitations. After that, his future NFL status is out of his hands and the waiting begins.
"It's a little bit surreal to realize how close my dreams are, but I'm not satisfied at all yet," Sudfeld said. "I've still really got a lot of work to do for the combine and my pro day and then individual workouts and visits. I'm still working extremely hard every day and trying to have fun in each phase of the process."
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