Watch CBS News

Concordia Grad Waits On Possible Future With NFL

By Mike Max, WCCO-TV

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Calvin Simon grew up in Shakopee and went to Concordia University in St. Paul where he established himself as a wide receiver. Vancouver owns his rights in the CFL, but Simon would like to play in the NFL.

"Very tough, but its fun. I don't dread it. I actually look forward to it. I like working out, I love getting better and at the end of the day, if I didn't do that, I don't feel like I did enough. I don't feel like I did what I need to," said Simon. "And every day I'd like to be able to reflect on what I did and know that I was working as hard as any guy who's trying to do what I'm doing. And I want to feel like I'm one of the hardest working guys in the nation."

Simon has the attention of the NFL because of how he performed at Concordia. But because of the lockout he's in no man's land as an undrafted free agent who will get an opportunity.

"Calvin and I have been talking about this for two years. Here's a guy that's close to 6-3, 220 pounds, can go up and catch a ball with anybody. So this was a plan and he's dreamed about it and he's worked extremely hard to get to this point," said Concordia University Football Coach Mark Mauer.

Simon went to Arizona and trained one of the best wide receivers in the business -- Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

"It's not even so much asking him and drilling him with questions. You can just learn by watching him. His work ethic is second to none," said Simon.

So he works and waits, hoping he will know something soon.

"That's the tough part, the uncertainty. I really don't know. We're continuing to play it by ear. This weekend was big as far as the draft, and I didn't get picked up. So that kind of shuts a door in a sense now," said Simon.

Whenever he goes to a camp, they will get a committed football player and a committed person.

"And that's where I'm proud as heck to talk about Calvin to be honest with you. The playing ability speaks for itself but to talk about his character and what he's like as a person, they don't come any better," said Mauer.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.