Quote:
Originally Posted by penbrook
(Post 13008828)
I actually think Dieter could be a decent slot receiver
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I'm rooting for him.
https://youtu.be/Z8kzUuoGc1A
https://youtu.be/7BU3_A6Xc1s
With the NFL Draft coming up, Gehrig hopes he made a big enough name for himself as a do-it-all receiver. Though a humble guy, he still holds supreme confidence in his abilities and his skill set as a receiver.
“I just think that I can do anything that a coach asks me,” says Dieter, “I feel that I’m a complete football player. If I have to go deep and make a catch I think I can do that. If I need to get down and block a linebacker or a (defensive end) I think I can do that. I feel like I’m really, very versatile in my style of play.
“A lot of guys coming out next year haven’t done as much as me versatility-wise in college, so I think that helps me overall.”
At Alabama’s Pro Day, Dieter turned some heads. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash – putting him ahead of projected early-round picks like Houston’s Greg Ward Jr., Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp, Clemson’s Artavis Scott, and Ole Miss’ Damore’ea Stringfellow. His 32.5” vertical jump puts him tied with USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster and Clemson’s Mike Williams – both of which are considered first or second round prospects and immediate impact-makers.
“Obviously, I’m not in the rooms with people making the decisions,” Dieter stated, “but I think I helped myself on Pro Day. I’ll have to continue working hard every day, but I think I had an overall good day.”
In addition to a tremendous showing in the athletic drills, he caught all but one ball thrown to him from his former quarterback, Matt Johnson, in the receiver drills.
“Any team that picks me up I feel I can fit in because I can do a lot of things other receivers can’t do.”
Whichever team does decide to pick up Gehrig come draft week will be getting a lot more than just a talented guy on the field. The guy Dieter can be off-the-field for the community may rival what he can do on it.
“I’m a pretty down-to-earth person, I love spending time with my dogs… I have two French Bulldogs.”
In just the few months he was enrolled at Alabama, Dieter managed to snag the Pat Trammell award at the end of the season along with Dalvin Tomlinson. The award – given to those who demonstrate ‘integrity, character, academic importance, and inspirational leadership’ – has been given to chosen Alabama players since 1988. The list includes names like Shaun Alexander, Andrew Zow and Richard Mullaney.
Even though he may not have had the year he wanted, he alluded to the level of talent he faced each day in practice and the relationships he built with the other guys on the team as to why he has no regrets on the season, and why his time at Alabama will forever be invaluable to him.
“There’s competition every single day. The best players in the country come here to play and you have to compete every single day if you want to be on the field on Saturdays. You can’t really pick a favorite moment from the season, but getting to play with that group of guys and getting to know people from the team and building relationships with guys that I’ll probably keep talking to the rest of my life is definitely the thing I’ll remember the most.”
A story-book ending is in store for Gehrig Dieter. A 3-star kid from Indiana that went from having just a handful of offers, to starting for the Alabama Crimson Tide in a National Championship game. He has had to earn each opportunity awarded to him, and he has always taken advantage of those. Next up is an opportunity to chase a dream and play in the National Football League. I fully expect that Gehrig will make the most out of this opportunity, and that we will be seeing him for many Sundays to come.
He deserves it.
***** 2017 Chiefs Training Camp Megathread *****
(https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=308928)