Photo by Nick Gast
The clouds opened up and rain fell over Missoula. Students rushed from buildings and the Oval, which was populated days ago with Frisbees and sunshine, was abandoned.
Rain poured over an empty Washington-Grizzly Stadium. It dripped off the goal posts, slid down the seats and cleansed the turf. It cleaned away the hours of work, the wins and the anxieties that have troubled the Grizzly football team over the past few months. They are ready to move forward, just like graduating senior and former linebacker Caleb McSurdy.
McSurdy, along with half a dozen players from Montana, is hoping to be taken in the NFL Draft, the first round of which began Thursday evening.
Several draft experts predict the 6-foot-1 Boise, Idaho, native will be drafted in the later rounds of the draft, which will take place on Saturday. There is no dream team for McSurdy. Any place will be a new city, a new state and endless possibilities that he said he is excited for.
“I honestly didn’t give it too much thought until the end of my junior year,” McSurdy said. “I didn’t expect the opportunity. I improved well enough to get on some people’s radars, and if there is an opportunity, it would an awesome deal to play in the league.”
At the end of his junior year, McSurdy earned all-conference honors for the Big Sky. Then an agent called wanting to represent him. From there, it was the domino effect. This February, McSurdy was invited to the NFL Combine, along with teammate Trumaine Johnson, to showcase his skills in front of NFL coaches.
During his four years at Montana, McSurdy played linebacker, but on Pro Day in Missoula last month, scouts wanted to see him at fullback. Instead of shying away from the new task, he embraced it. Football is football, you’re going to be running, blocking and hitting, he said.
Three months later, the former Griz player is waiting to hear whether he will get to suit up in something other than the maroon and silver. A call can come from any team anytime during the weekend, but even if he gets drafted, McSurdy has to make the final 53-man roster. If he gets cut, he said he will stay in shape and look for a new opportunity.
His older brother Kevin was not surprised that his younger brother could made it this far.
“Overall, the emotion is satisfied that he’s getting the opportunity he deserves,” Kevin said.
Growing up, McSurdy underestimated his abilities. Kevin said he remembered his younger brother being nervous before summer training camp his sophomore year of high school, but found he could hang with the older players. When he hit college, all he talked about was how glad he was that his education was paid for. Big brother always believed he could make the roster of an NFL team in some form.
The other supporting fan in his life is mom Nancy McSurdy. She said he grew up racing BMX bikes, and serious football play entered his life in junior high. It was his high school coach Vince Mann, who said McSurdy could play at the next level.
“Dedicated,” Nancy said is one word that describes McSurdy. “He does everything that way. He’s a responsible son and brother and strives to do the best in whatever he’s doing.”
On Saturday, McSurdy said he will not be watching the draft because it is too nerve wracking. Nancy and the rest of the McSurdy family won’t be parked in front of a TV this weekend, either. Instead, they will be driving to watch younger brother Daniel play in a football scrimmage at Idaho State.
Nancy said that everyone has been thrilled about the prospects for him, especially her co-workers at Amity Elementary School where McSurdy and his three siblings went for school.
Throughout this whole process McSurdy has come to learn that just like in any professional sport the competition is steep, and it is a business. He is entering into the entertainment business where players are a commodity to the team, and the pressure to be the best is there for the biggest sport in the U.S.
The sidewalks are clean, the grass will turn greener, and McSurdy waits for one call.
