DARLINGTON - Former University of Wisconsin wide receiver and Darlington native Alex Erickson plans to watch the NFL draft with family and friends at his parents' house in Darlington.
Sometime during the three-day event that starts Thursday, Erickson hopes to hear his name called.
He's not sure if he will be drafted. Erickson said he has talked to 15 teams and made trips to meet with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals.
"I think I have a good chance (to be drafted)," Erickson said. "You can't predict how it will go. It will be a special day regardless if I get drafted or not. It will be cool to share the day with all of my family and friends who have supported me."
Erickson understands there are no guarantees that he will get a shot in the NFL. He wasn't handed anything by the Badgers. Erickson enrolled at UW in the fall of 2011 but was not part of the 105-man roster. He didn't join the Badgers as a walk-on until 2012 after using 2011 as a redshirt year.
"It doesn't matter how you get there," Erickson said of the NFL. "It just matters what you do when you are there. Wherever I go, I want to compete like I did at Wisconsin. I'm excited wherever I go."
After starring as a quarterback at Darlington High School and earning a scholarship with the Badgers after joining the team as a walk-on, Erickson isn't afraid of competition.
In his final year with the Badgers, Erickson had 77 receptions for 978 yards and three touchdowns, which was one catch away from tying Jared Abbrederis' single-season school record (78). However, it was after his breakout junior season at Wisconsin when he had 55 receptions for 772 yards and three touchdowns that he started to see an opportunity at the next level.
"Through my junior year, I realized I had a shot in the NFL," he said. "It's all I could ask for."
Erickson wasn't invited to the NFL combine, Senior Bowl or other postseason All-Star games. He spent eight weeks in Detroit working to prepare for his Pro Day in Madison. Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and 30 other NFL scouts were on hand for Erickson's pro day where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, which would have placed him fifth among wide receivers at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. His 3.88 second pro-shuttle time would have placed him second among wide receivers at the combine. He displayed his strength by bench pressing 225 pounds 14 times. Erickson, who stands 6 foot, showed his athleticism with a vertical jump of 33.5 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, 8 inches.
"I knew that would be my day," he said of the pro day in Madison. "I just wanted to give it everything I had. I wanted to run a 4.5 or 4.4 so they wouldn't doubt my speed and could go back and look at the film. Your film is your resume and the type of football player you are."
Darlington football coach Scott Zywicki sees Erickson as a good athlete who has worked hard to become an "elite athlete." Erickson starred at quarterback for Darlington where he racked up 2,489 yards his senior year and 33 touchdowns in helping lead the Redbirds to the state semifinals. He also was named all-state as a defensive back. He passed for 1,250 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 1,239 yards with 20 TDs.
"He's far exceeded any limitations people may have put on him," said Zywicki, who has coached football for 32 years. "He's always had the gift of athleticism and has been willing to put in the hard work. He has always been a hard-working person with great leadership ability. Now he has the physical characteristics to match. He's willing to put the time in to study film and do the little things to run routes better that people don't see on the football field."
Erickson has talked to 15 teams, but he's not sure where he may end up. He met with the Jacksonville Jaguars before Pro Day and the Miami Dolphins after the Pro Day.
"They just want to get a feel for the type of person you are," he said. "They have an idea from talking to coaches. If they are going to make an investment in you they want to find out more about who you are."
Erickson said he didn't field any weird questions like some players have at the NFL combine.
After the Pro Day, Erickson went to Florida and trained at Chris Chambers' facility. He trained with former Badgers Chambers and Brandon White.
Wisconsin wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore, who was a wide receivers coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to '14, likes some of the intangibles Erickson brings to the table. After working with some NFL wide receivers, Gilmore is confident he can find a home in the NFL. Before the Badgers' 23-21 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl, Gilmore noticed one area Erickson has excelled in comparison to most other wide receivers.
"It's his attention to detail to master the position," Gilmore said. "His work ethic is unmatched by others. He wants to do it right the first time, and he takes pride in that. He's a good route runner. You can't account for all of the intangibles he brings. Alex has the same ability as the guys at that level. Anything is possible. It's such a crapshoot. It's a crazy league. He can handle the grind and the work it will take."
If Erickson isn't drafted, he could still hook on with a team as a rookie free agent.
"I think it would be cool to say I was drafted by one of the 32 organizations," he said. "If I'm not drafted I can evaluate the teams and find the best fit for me where I may have the best chance. It allows you to have some freedom of where you want to go. I will get an opportunity and after that it's up to me."
Sometime during the three-day event that starts Thursday, Erickson hopes to hear his name called.
He's not sure if he will be drafted. Erickson said he has talked to 15 teams and made trips to meet with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals.
"I think I have a good chance (to be drafted)," Erickson said. "You can't predict how it will go. It will be a special day regardless if I get drafted or not. It will be cool to share the day with all of my family and friends who have supported me."
Erickson understands there are no guarantees that he will get a shot in the NFL. He wasn't handed anything by the Badgers. Erickson enrolled at UW in the fall of 2011 but was not part of the 105-man roster. He didn't join the Badgers as a walk-on until 2012 after using 2011 as a redshirt year.
"It doesn't matter how you get there," Erickson said of the NFL. "It just matters what you do when you are there. Wherever I go, I want to compete like I did at Wisconsin. I'm excited wherever I go."
After starring as a quarterback at Darlington High School and earning a scholarship with the Badgers after joining the team as a walk-on, Erickson isn't afraid of competition.
In his final year with the Badgers, Erickson had 77 receptions for 978 yards and three touchdowns, which was one catch away from tying Jared Abbrederis' single-season school record (78). However, it was after his breakout junior season at Wisconsin when he had 55 receptions for 772 yards and three touchdowns that he started to see an opportunity at the next level.
"Through my junior year, I realized I had a shot in the NFL," he said. "It's all I could ask for."
Erickson wasn't invited to the NFL combine, Senior Bowl or other postseason All-Star games. He spent eight weeks in Detroit working to prepare for his Pro Day in Madison. Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and 30 other NFL scouts were on hand for Erickson's pro day where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds, which would have placed him fifth among wide receivers at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. His 3.88 second pro-shuttle time would have placed him second among wide receivers at the combine. He displayed his strength by bench pressing 225 pounds 14 times. Erickson, who stands 6 foot, showed his athleticism with a vertical jump of 33.5 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet, 8 inches.
"I knew that would be my day," he said of the pro day in Madison. "I just wanted to give it everything I had. I wanted to run a 4.5 or 4.4 so they wouldn't doubt my speed and could go back and look at the film. Your film is your resume and the type of football player you are."
Darlington football coach Scott Zywicki sees Erickson as a good athlete who has worked hard to become an "elite athlete." Erickson starred at quarterback for Darlington where he racked up 2,489 yards his senior year and 33 touchdowns in helping lead the Redbirds to the state semifinals. He also was named all-state as a defensive back. He passed for 1,250 yards and 13 TDs and rushed for 1,239 yards with 20 TDs.
"He's far exceeded any limitations people may have put on him," said Zywicki, who has coached football for 32 years. "He's always had the gift of athleticism and has been willing to put in the hard work. He has always been a hard-working person with great leadership ability. Now he has the physical characteristics to match. He's willing to put the time in to study film and do the little things to run routes better that people don't see on the football field."
Erickson has talked to 15 teams, but he's not sure where he may end up. He met with the Jacksonville Jaguars before Pro Day and the Miami Dolphins after the Pro Day.
"They just want to get a feel for the type of person you are," he said. "They have an idea from talking to coaches. If they are going to make an investment in you they want to find out more about who you are."
Erickson said he didn't field any weird questions like some players have at the NFL combine.
After the Pro Day, Erickson went to Florida and trained at Chris Chambers' facility. He trained with former Badgers Chambers and Brandon White.
Wisconsin wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore, who was a wide receivers coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to '14, likes some of the intangibles Erickson brings to the table. After working with some NFL wide receivers, Gilmore is confident he can find a home in the NFL. Before the Badgers' 23-21 win over USC in the Holiday Bowl, Gilmore noticed one area Erickson has excelled in comparison to most other wide receivers.
"It's his attention to detail to master the position," Gilmore said. "His work ethic is unmatched by others. He wants to do it right the first time, and he takes pride in that. He's a good route runner. You can't account for all of the intangibles he brings. Alex has the same ability as the guys at that level. Anything is possible. It's such a crapshoot. It's a crazy league. He can handle the grind and the work it will take."
If Erickson isn't drafted, he could still hook on with a team as a rookie free agent.
"I think it would be cool to say I was drafted by one of the 32 organizations," he said. "If I'm not drafted I can evaluate the teams and find the best fit for me where I may have the best chance. It allows you to have some freedom of where you want to go. I will get an opportunity and after that it's up to me."
