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Scott Thoma
West Central Tribune (Wilmar MN)
January 06, 2007
It’s hard to turn down a chance to become wealthy, especially at a young age. Visions of dollar signs dance in your head.
But Litchfield native John Carlson surprised many experts by announcing that he will forego the National Football Leage draft and return for another season with Notre Dame.
Despite a standout season with the Fighting Irish in which he was among the nation’s top tight ends with 47 receptions for 634 yards and four touchdowns, the redshirt junior felt it would be beneficial to play another season of college football.
“I just decided I wasn’t ready to take the next step,” said Carlson, by cell phone while attending his father’s Litchfield’s boys basketball game at Delano Friday night.
“It’s a great situation where I’m at. I’ve got a wonderful opportunity to play another year of football at Notre Dame. I felt this was the best decision for me.”
Carlson was among three finalists for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end in Division I. Matt Spaeth of the Minnesota Gophers won the award.
Carlson was the blocking tight end a season ago at Notre Dame, while Anthony Fasano grabbed most of the passes and glory. Fasano was a second-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys and has caught 14 passes for 126 yards this season.
Carlson stepped right in and admirably filled Fasano’s shoes this season.
Carlson tore his medial collateral ligament against Air Force Academy on Nov. 11 and missed the final two regular-season games. He returned to play in the Sugar Bowl against LSU on Wednesday night in New Orleans. He caught one pass for 13 yards in a 41-14 loss.
“I don’t think the injury made a difference in my decision,” said Carlson. “Even if I would have had good stats in those two games I missed, I don’t think it would have made a difference.”
Carlson feels he had a better chance of being a higher draft pick with another season of college football under his belt.
“I kind of felt all along I would come back,” he said. “But I never wanted to make the decision until the end of the season. Money was never a factor in my decision. I thought about injuries and all the other things and if (playing in the NFL) is meant to be, it will be.”
Scott Thoma
West Central Tribune (Wilmar MN)
January 06, 2007
It’s hard to turn down a chance to become wealthy, especially at a young age. Visions of dollar signs dance in your head.
But Litchfield native John Carlson surprised many experts by announcing that he will forego the National Football Leage draft and return for another season with Notre Dame.
Despite a standout season with the Fighting Irish in which he was among the nation’s top tight ends with 47 receptions for 634 yards and four touchdowns, the redshirt junior felt it would be beneficial to play another season of college football.
“I just decided I wasn’t ready to take the next step,” said Carlson, by cell phone while attending his father’s Litchfield’s boys basketball game at Delano Friday night.
“It’s a great situation where I’m at. I’ve got a wonderful opportunity to play another year of football at Notre Dame. I felt this was the best decision for me.”
Carlson was among three finalists for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end in Division I. Matt Spaeth of the Minnesota Gophers won the award.
Carlson was the blocking tight end a season ago at Notre Dame, while Anthony Fasano grabbed most of the passes and glory. Fasano was a second-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys and has caught 14 passes for 126 yards this season.
Carlson stepped right in and admirably filled Fasano’s shoes this season.
Carlson tore his medial collateral ligament against Air Force Academy on Nov. 11 and missed the final two regular-season games. He returned to play in the Sugar Bowl against LSU on Wednesday night in New Orleans. He caught one pass for 13 yards in a 41-14 loss.
“I don’t think the injury made a difference in my decision,” said Carlson. “Even if I would have had good stats in those two games I missed, I don’t think it would have made a difference.”
Carlson feels he had a better chance of being a higher draft pick with another season of college football under his belt.
“I kind of felt all along I would come back,” he said. “But I never wanted to make the decision until the end of the season. Money was never a factor in my decision. I thought about injuries and all the other things and if (playing in the NFL) is meant to be, it will be.”
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