Former Nebraska football fan favorite Heinrich Haarberg wasn't drafted but he's still got his chance to play in the NFL.
Haarbgerg participated in a rookie mini-camp with the Seattle Seahawks this week. The camp started on Thursday and ends today. Depending on how he performs, the ex-Husker could get an offer to come back and even be on the roster for fall camp.
Heinrich Haarberg is auditioning for the Seahawks after going undrafted
Haarberg didn't get an invite to the NFL combine, but he did show off his athletic ability at Nebraska's Pro Day. Previously, the former quarterback-turned-tight end said he trained six days a week in Pensacola, Florida, from the end of the season until mid-March.
Some NFL analysts saw a great deal of potential in Haarberg. There were some who believed he might have the same kind of talent base as Taysom Hill when he transitioned from college quarterback to "do-it-all" player. There were some who even believed he'd be drafted late because of his ability to do a little bit of everything.
Heinrich Haarberg’s Nebraska football versatility still gives him a real NFL long-shot path
Haarberg started his career at Nebraska as a quarterback and even took the starting job in Matt Rhule's first season. However, while he was very clearly great at running the ball, his throwing motion kept him from being a standout quarterback.
In Rhule's second season, he transitioned to a hybrid role, and this past season, he moved to full-time tight end. However, the Huskers still often used Haarberg as a kind of "wildcat" player, even though their usage of him was not nearly as imaginative as it could have been.
Throughout his time and, at times, his struggles, he was always a Nebraska fan favorite. He credited the support of the fanbase as something that keeps him trying to keep his football career going.
"I stay as humble as I can, but I believe in myself, the work I've put in, and the intangibles I bring," Haarberg said in a recent radio interview. "If it's God's will, I'll be on a team come August. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate everyone who has supported me," he said. "That support pushed me through a lot in Lincoln and gave me something bigger than myself to play for."
With the rookie minicamp wrapping up on Sunday, the former Nebraska football star will find out how long his shot at the pros lasts. Or at least, this version of his shot at the pros.
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