The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bogard giving pro football a shot
When Conner Bogard was a standout defensive lineman at Benedictine, he had dreams of one day playing at the highest level of college football.
Instead, he ended up at Division III John Carroll. It’s a decision he doesn’t regret. The University runs deep in Bogard’s family. His grandmother and aunt earned their undergraduate and master’s degrees from JCU.
“My grandma recently had her birthday,” said Bogard. “I asked her what she wanted, and she said, ‘The only thing I want is for you to get that degree in May.’ “
Grandma will be happy in a couple months. Bogard is set to graduate with a degree in sports administration in May. But Bogard isn’t done yet. With one semester until graduation, he’s hitting it hard in the classroom, but also in the weight room and on the practice field.
That’s because Bogard isn’t ready to call it a football career.
The two-time D-III AllAmerican is set to test NFL waters.
An opportunity to perform in front of NFL scouts is fast-approaching. Bogard has a spot to participate at the University of Akron’s pro day on March 18. Zips coach Tom Arth helped arrange a spot for his former player.
Arth was the coach at JCU in 2016 when Bogard was a freshman and the Blue Streaks won the Ohio Athletic Conference and finished 12-2. Bogard was a contributor on that squad, and then his career really took off in 2017.
By 2018 — his junior season — he was named a D3football.com All-American, and was a repeat pick last season as a senior. He wreaked havoc on the inside and outside, and for his career totaled 214 tackles, 63 solo stops with 20 sacks, 38.5 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles.
At 6-foot-1, 265 pounds, he might be a bit light as an NFL interior defensive lineman. But what he lacks in weight, Bogard said he makes up for it with his quickness.
“I’m just trying to get more explosive,” he said of his training for the Akron pro day. “Not just stronger, definitely more explosive.”
Like most young football players, Bogard dreams of the NFL, but upon enrolling and playing at JCU, he always felt it was “a long shot.” That is until he kept producing and earning accolades for the Blue Streaks.
“I went to John Carroll for the academics,” said Bogard. “I’m walking out of here with a degree. Nothing is stopping me from walking across that stage on May 17.”
That doesn’t mean he’s not interested in a career in pro football. Bogard recently hired agent and former JCU player Chris Overton, who also spent time at Kent State and is a 2016 Indiana State graduate. Overton enrolled at JCU in 2017 during Coach Rick Finotti’s first season, and with eligibility remaining was hoping to play while taking graduate courses but a knee injury ended his playing career.
“That propelled me to becoming a sports agent,” said Overton, who was certified as a Canadian Football League agent in 2019 and created his own agency.
Overton specializes in CFL players, as he has signed five for the league. He’s hoping Bogard is his first NFL client.
“That’s something we are shooting for,” said Overton. “The main thing is we have to get (Conner) on team’s radars.”
The good news, said Overton, is the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns have shown interest. Now the key is performing at Akron on March 18.
Bogard is working on his strength, specifically the bench press. He and others at Akron will be tested on how many reps of 225 pounds they can complete. Another key station will be the 3-cone, an important drill that tests a lineman’s speed and agility.
“I want to show (scouts) I’m quick,” said Bogard.
Overton and Bogard have a plan. The first option is to find Bogard a spot in an NFL training camp. If that doesn’t pan out, the two will explore options in the CFL.
“(The CFL) style fits mine,” said Bogard. “I’ll shoot for NFL, but if I have to go to CFL, I will.”
In the meantime, Bogard is excited to soon become a third-generation JCU grad within his family.
“Either way it goes, I’ll just be appreciative of the experience,” said Bogard. “Not many players have the opportunity to have a pro day. I’m really excited for the opportunity. It’s a dream of everyone who plays football. But the great thing about it is if it doesn’t work, I’ll always have my degree.”