St John’s QB, D3 Player of Year Jackson Erdmann hopeful on Day 3 of NFL Draft

Things haven’t been easy for former St John’s quarterback Jackson Erdmann recently. The health crisis shut down in-person tryouts and pro days where he might’ve impressed NFL general managers, and then in the days leading up to the NFL Draft – his parent’s house flooded. But he’s still hopeful he’ll have a shot at pro football one way or another in the coming hours, days or weeks.

Click the video box on this page to see KSTP Sports’ pre-draft conversation with Rosemount High and St. John’s University grad Jackson Erdmann as he prepares for whatever step he can take to get himself to playing pro football

In re-writing just about every entry in the Johnnies’ passing record books, Erdmann won the Gagliardi Award as the nation’s top Division 3 football player in 2018, and finished second by the slightest of margins in 2019.

Prior to his senior season in Collegeville, Erdmann decided to put professional plans in the business world on hold in order to take a shot and landing a job playing football.

RELATED: Chasing perfect end to college career, St John’s QB Jackson Erdmann keeps pushing

Erdmann is a longshot, but still possible, late-round pick in the NFL Draft. He expects it’s more likely he could sign as an undrafted free agent or receive a rookie camp tryout with an NFL team once the Draft is completed.

However, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic leaves a lot of uncertainty with the NFL calendar and how – or if – rookie camps will happen before the start of training camps.

Nonetheless, Erdmann remains positive and will take any avenue he’s given to prove himself to an NFL team.

He’s also rooting for his fellow recent St. John’s grad Ben Bartch, who’s angling to be the first MIAC player drafted since Ryan Hoag from Gustavus was the last player taken in the 2003 NFL Draft.

RELATED: St. John’s OL Ben Bartch ready to make jump from D III to NFL

The NFL Draft concludes on Saturday. Coverage begins on 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS at 11:00 a.m.