A week before a day that Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) had dreamed about for years, he found himself back in a place where his NFL dreams began to take shape to check out the University of New Haven football spring game.
Foelsch had 16 touchdown catches over the last three seasons at the University of New Haven as he helped the Chargers earn bids into the NCAA Division II football playoffs in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Foelsch was able to take part in the pro days at UConn and Yale with both events drawing plenty of NFL scouts as offensive linemen Kiran Amegadjie of Yale and Christian Haynes of UConn were both third-round picks.
Foelsch ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds and that would have put him in a tie for seventh at the NFL Scouting Combine. His numbers were close to what Ohio State's Cade Stover put up and Stover was picked in the fourth round by the Houston Texans.
"I was really fortunate to get into the UConn pro day and the Yale pro day so I pretty much did all of the events at UConn and ran routes at Yale," Foelsch said. "It was really good exposure, there were lots of teams there and I thought I did well with my numbers and I was happy with how I performed. My adrenaline through the whole thing was crazy."
The work paid off as Foelsch was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted rookie free agent. The call came on Saturday, a week after he last stepped foot on the UNH campus.
Carolina isn't exactly bursting with talent at the tight end position.
Tommy Tremble has 62 catches over the last three seasons. Jordan Matthews last played in the NFL in 2019 and at 212 pounds, putting him at tight end might be a bit of a reach. Stephen Sullivan has 14 career catches while Ian Thomas, a six-year veteran, was targeted just nine times in 12 games last season.
There could be opportunities for Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and Foelsch to make a push for a roster spot.
A year ago Shepherd quarterback Tyson Bagent was undrafted but was able to get into five games with the Chicago Bears so it is clear that if the talent is there, the NFL scouts will find the players.
"You just need a shot, that is all," Foelsch said. "That is our biggest weakness, we play at a Division II level and I totally understand that, and for myself, there is nothing else I can really do to showcase myself. I feel like if they give me a shot, I will make the best out of it."
At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Foelsch has the size to be a tight end at the next level.
A year ago it was quarterback Connor Degenhardt who went through this process and got invitations into the rookie camps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
NFL scouts are already checking in on the Ais brothers as Christopher is a star running back and Christian is a top-notch cornerback.
Defensive end Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) is among the other New Haven players who could be on the radar of NFL scouts.
"I want to go through the process, talk to them, and get the chance to be seen at the next level," Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) said. "Playing at the next level, it has been my dream since I was a kid so if I were to ever get that opportunity, I would make the most of it."
Regardless of whether he makes the Panthers roster or not, Foelsch knows that his time at New Haven helped them get to that point.
"I love this place," Foelsch said. "It is a second home for me, I will always call it home and I will always be a proud alum here. I love all the coaches, all the staff, and everybody, it is a special place for me and it always will be."
