Before Christian Rozeboom ever played in a game at South Dakota State, his linebackers coach Jimmy Rogers told him, "someday you can play football for a living."
Rozeboom's initial response to that?
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"What the heck? That's crazy. I don't know about that one."
He was skeptical because SDSU was his lone Division 1 offer when he got to Brookings in 2015 from his hometown of Sioux Center, Iowa. With just a few D2 offers and an NAIA offer, it didn't necessarily scream NFL future. But Rogers saw something in Rozeboom when he was at SDSU's summer camp going into his junior year of high school, and again when Rozeboom redshirted in 2015.
It didn't take long for Rozeboom to hit that potential. He was a HERO Sports Freshman All-American in 2016 and finished second in voting for the Jerry Rice Award (top FCS freshman). Rozeboom then earned multiple All-American honors in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
| Year | Tackles | TFLs | INT. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 132 | 5 | 2 |
| 2017 | 127 | 7.5 | 2 |
| 2018 | 105 | 10.5 | 2 |
| 2019 | 111 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 475 | 29 | 8 |
All of a sudden, what Rogers told him wasn't sounding so crazy.
"Going into college, I was just excited to play football and for the opportunity," Rozeboom told HERO Sports. "It was always a dream [to play in the NFL] but I was realistic with myself too. And the opportunity I have now, I didn't see it coming a couple of years ago."
Rozeboom is viewed as a fringe seventh-round NFL Draft pick/undrafted free agent right now. Currently training in Minneapolis, he hopes his Pro Day shows scouts his athleticism and versatility that NFL linebackers are asked to have in today's game. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Rozeboom was a sturdy force in the middle of SDSU's defense, but also made plays sideline to sideline and in pass coverage.
"I know some teams will like my style of play and I know I won't be a fit for other teams," he said.
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Rozeboom had a prolific career with the Jackrabbits and was one of the best defensive players in the FCS for several years. Yet it wasn't until late in the process when he got an invite to a pro prospect all-star game, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. And even with impressive showings on tape against FBS opponents (11 tackles vs. Minnesota in 2019 and eight tackles in his collegiate debut against TCU in 2016), a lot of draft sites and analysts are hesitant to label Rozeboom an NFL Draft pick.
He'll have a chance to change some minds at his Pro Day later this month. And while Rozeboom isn't worried about the things out of his control, he does note that this feels similar to his recruiting process.
"I don't think of it as a chip on the shoulder, but it is extra motivation for sure with the late invite to the all-star games, no Combine invite, stuff like that," Rozeboom said. "I'm going through the same process again like I did five years ago."
All he needed was some faith from one coach to play Division 1 football. Rozeboom seized that opportunity and became an All-American. Now he's working to make that next opportunity happen to live out his dream of playing in the NFL.
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