BOZEMAN — Callahan O’Reilly sat anxiously by his telephone, hoping for a name. If his telephone did ring, he figured 10 digits he didn’t acknowledge would pop up on the display.
His iPhone started to buzz about half-hour after the NFL Draft ended final Saturday. To O’Reilly’s nice shock, the decision didn’t come from an unknown quantity. The display confirmed Ryan Weese’s identify.
“What’s up, man?” O’Reilly mentioned to Weese. “It’s been some time.”
Weese was the Montana State soccer workforce’s basic supervisor through the 2021 season, again when O’Reilly starred at “Will” linebacker for the Bobcats. O’Reilly’s nervousness changed into optimism as he waited for a response from Weese, who has spent a couple of 12 months as a scouting assistant for the Chicago Bears. Certain sufficient, Weese was calling on behalf of his group. The Bears have been inviting O’Reilly to their rookie minicamp.
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“It is good for me to listen to from any individual like that who was round me for a full 12 months and noticed how I labored and the way I ready and the way I performed,” O’Reilly informed 406mtsports.com on Tuesday, including, “To suppose that I can are available in and compete at that stage positively provides me some confidence going into it.”
Montana State linebacker Callahan O’Reilly defends a go meant for Weber State tight finish Davis Rasmussen on Oct. 22, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
O’Reilly was one in every of three former Bobcats to obtain NFL alternatives after the draft concluded. The opposite two, defensive backs James Campbell and Ty Okada, each joined the Seattle Seahawks as undrafted free brokers (so did former Montana linebacker Patrick O’Connell).
The trio of ex-MSU defensive standouts understand how robust it will likely be simply to make 53-man NFL rosters this 12 months, not to mention earn enjoying time and construct careers. They’re not anxious, although. They’re optimistic.
“I really feel very blessed,” Okada mentioned Tuesday. “I would wish to suppose that almost all youngsters after they first choose up a soccer, that is their dream: reaching the head of enjoying within the NFL. To say that I’ve gotten so far and I’ve a chance to make the workforce in Seattle is simply surreal.”
Earlier than the draft, analysts thought of Okada a precedence free agent who had a chance to get drafted. The Seahawks have been one in every of a number of groups that acquired in touch with the Woodbury, Minnesota, native after his spectacular Professional Day final month, and he mentioned he developed a very good relationship with Armani Perez, a Seahawks participant personnel scout who attended every of MSU’s final two Professional Days (former Bobcat Kevin Kassis signed with Seattle final 12 months). Within the sixth spherical, Seattle and Okada “mainly did a handshake deal” to signal with the workforce as a UDFA, he mentioned.
Inking a free agent contract has some benefits over being a late spherical draft choose. In contrast to draftees, some UDFAs can select which groups they go to. Okada “type of had the choose of the litter,” he mentioned.
Okada selected the Seahawks largely as a result of they reminded him of MSU, which he joined as a walk-on.
“Montana State has a terrific historical past of walk-ons being huge time contributors of their profession,” he mentioned. “That’s the identical means I really feel concerning the Seahawks, with undrafted free brokers attending to play there and beginning there and contributing in an enormous means.”
Montana State nickelback Ty Okada tackles McNeese State’s Mason Pierce as MSU linebacker Danny Uluilakepa (30) pursues through the Gold Rush recreation on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
Broad receiver Doug Baldwin might be probably the most profitable UDFA in Seattle’s latest historical past. One other is Jordan Babineaux, who performed security, the identical place Okada plans to play within the professionals. Okada was MSU’s beginning nickelback the earlier two seasons, and whereas would possibly nonetheless get probabilities in that spot with the Seahawks, his foremost place of their 3-4 protection will likely be free security, he mentioned.
“That is only a actually good alternative to the place they really feel like my athleticism can flourish,” Okada mentioned. “I am constructed very equally to guys which have had a whole lot of success on that protection. Quandre Diggs I used to be evaluating myself to. Clearly that is an enormous comparability, contemplating how profitable he is been, however by way of simply the best way we play — downhill, athletic, aggressive tacklers which might be possibly smaller in stature however pack a punch — I believe that I am very related.”
Okada mentioned he’s “ecstatic” to maintain enjoying with Campbell. Each signed with MSU in 2017 and have become starters after unsure early years. Whereas Okada was an injury-prone walk-on, Campbell earned a scholarship as a large receiver. He switched to the opposite facet of the ball about halfway by means of his profession and spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a strong, regular cornerback. The Palatka, Florida, native and Okada each ran 4.44-second 40-yard dashes on the Professional Day.
“We got here in collectively, so we all know what one another’s about. We all know we’re each hardworking, keen to grind and push one another to the max,” Campbell mentioned Tuesday. “I am excited to see what he does. I am excited to see what I do. Simply compete with one another every day and train one another to be higher. He’ll maintain me accountable and I’ll maintain him accountable.”
As UDFAs, Campbell and Okada know it will likely be onerous to get snaps on protection in the event that they survive preseason cuts, so each are more than pleased to be particular groups contributors. Campbell believes his particular groups aptitude contributed to Seattle’s curiosity.
“I take a whole lot of pleasure in particular groups,” Campbell mentioned. “Most individuals in all probability do not suppose particular groups is enjoyable. I believe it is enjoyable. Take any individual’s soul each play.”
Montana State cornerback James Campbell catches an interception as Rhedi Brief (3) defends in opposition to Idaho State on Oct. 8, 2022, at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
Campbell and Okada hope to turn into the second pair of former Cats on the identical NFL roster. Edge rusher/linebacker Daniel Hardy and extensive receiver Lance McCutcheon each play for the Los Angeles Rams. Troy Andersen is an Atlanta Falcon, fellow ex-MSU linebacker Alex Singleton is a Denver Bronco and former MSU offensive lineman Lewis Kidd is a New Orleans Saint.
Seahawks rookie minicamp will happen subsequent weekend, whereas the Bears will conduct theirs Friday and Saturday.
Making an NFL roster will likely be extra of an uphill climb for O’Reilly than Campbell and Okada. A UDFA deal hardly ensures a 53-man spot, nevertheless it displays a workforce’s religion in a participant greater than a contract-less minicamp invite. Kidd and McCutcheon, who was teammates with O’Reilly at Bozeman Excessive, each signed as UDFAs final 12 months and made their respective rosters, whereas former MSU teammate Tre Webb was minimize by the Falcons within the preseason after receiving a minicamp invite (albeit after signing a contract).
O’Reilly is embracing the problem and specializing in the positives, like the possibility to play for a corporation that has produced a number of hall-of-fame linebackers.
“I am positive after I present up there and undergo the halls, I will see the photographs of fellows like Brian Urlacher and (Dick) Butkus and all the good Bears that performed earlier than,” O’Reilly mentioned. “To have the ability to stroll these halls and have a chance in that group, it is going to be fairly cool.”
Even when he does not make the NFL, O’Reilly will all the time have that telephone dialog with Weese final week. He’ll all the time know an NFL workforce appreciated him sufficient to provide him a shot.
“You are sitting there ready to your telephone to ring, and it couldn’t ring, it might ring in an hour, it might ring in half-hour,” O’Reilly mentioned. “It positively was a little bit nerve wracking, however I used to be assured that I’d get a chance. Excited to go and present what I can do.”