Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

KALISPELL- One Montanan played in Sunday's Super Bowl, former Bozeman High School and Montana State University star Dane Fletcher came out on the losing end with New England. Meanwhile, one other Treasure State native decided to pass up his final year of college to chase his own NFL career.

Brock Osweiler became the first true freshman in nearly 20 years to start as a quarterback at Arizona State University In his freshman year of college and this past fall, he re-wrote the school's record book for passing when he threw for over 4,000 yards on the season.

Osweiler had a promising senior year to look forward to, but he was already looking ahead to something much bigger- the 2012 NFL draft.

Playing the NFL has been a dream and a goal of mine since I was eight years old. Being at the cusp of that now [is] almost surreal," Osweiler recently told reporter Laura Wilson.

He says the decision to forego his senior year of college was a difficult one to make, but one night while sitting alone inside Sun Devil Stadium he says it suddenly became clear what the right decision was.

"As far as the college atmosphere, that's just something that can never be replaced. I definitely did have the time of my life for three years, while playing ASU football. I really have no regrets," Osweiler commented.

The former Flathead High School Braves QB says no matter which NFL team he gets drafted to, his connection to the Flathead community will remain strong.

"I have a lot of pride in coming from Montana. I like to tell that to a lot of people. I always believed that people from Montana are some of the kindest, most genuine people you could ever find. Just to be able to represent Montana, Kalispell, and the Flathead Valley. It's a very special feeling for me," Osweiler said.

"Brock's had a lot of support out of the Flathead, and I think he's given a lot back to the Flathead. I know when he goes back there-anything he can do to help out when there's kids. He's really great with kids," his dad John told us.

"Whether it's teaching them or anything he can do, he tries to do every time he goes back to Kalispell. He'll always continue to give back to Kalispell, I have no doubt," John Osweiler concluded.

Osweiler is now focusing on training for the draft. "You start up about 7:30 or 8 in the morning and we don't get done until 7 or 7:30 at night. So ASU was definitely a huge help in getting me ready for this process," he concluded.

Internet sites are predicting Osweiler could go anywhere from the late first round to the fifth round of April's draft. But either way, he still plans to finish his degree. Osweiler needs only 18 credits to graduate and he hopes to complete the rest of his classes online next year.