Notre Dame Athletics

 

 

Each spring college football players around the country set their sights on the last weekend of April, hoping they will be one of a number of players selected or signed to join NFL rosters. 

This spring, three players from the Erie area will watch this weekend with hopes of realizing their NFL dreams.

Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs enters the 2023 NFL Draft after five seasons with the Nittany Lions. His path to Kansas City had a difficult start in Happy Valley, the former Cathedral Prep lineman suffered a broken back in a car accident that had some questioning whether he would be able to return to football. In a brace, Scruggs continued his recovery to return t the gridiron.

After sitting out the 2019 season, Scruggs returned in 2020 and appeared in seven games for Penn State. In 2021, Scruggs made his first career college start. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention after playing in 13 games. 

This past season, Scruggs started 13 games at center for the blue and white. He was named a team captain at Penn State and finished the year as an All-Big Ten Third Team selection. Scruggs was also named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List as the country's  best center.

Notre Dame linebacker Bo Bauer also leaves college football after five seasons. The former four-star college recruit spent five seasons with the Fighting Irish. Bauer wasted no time making an impact at Notre Dame. He played in all 13 games and made 10 tackles during his freshman season.

Bauer played in 38 games over the next three seasons recording 101 tackles. He secured his first career interception in 2020 against Pitt.

Last season, the Harbor Creek native was named a captain. Bauer played in five games, making one start before suffering a season-ending injury.

Despite the abrupt ending to his final season in South Bend, Bauer says he followed his process and is three months ahead of schedule in his recovery as he heads into draft weekend.

"I just feel very fortunate for teams to still want to talk to me and get to know me better and show their interest even with my injury," said Bauer I just feel fortunate to go through this process with a bunch of good people surrounding me"

Bauer said that his versatility as a linebacker and key member of the Notre Dame special teams unit could make him an attractive prospect for one of the 32 NFL teams. 

"I'm a versatile player. I played a lot of different positions in college," said Bauer, "Your four a special teams ace,  knowing inside and outside linebacker, running the nickel package. Also, there is some football intelligence that comes with that. Inherently you need to know so many positions, but also on the other hand, I had three different defensive coordinators in my time at Notre Dame. So they are getting a player who can fill a lot of roster spots.

Gannon quarterback Kory Curtis began his football journey began at seven years old playing flag football in Cape Coral, Florida. In a state full of top-tier talent, Curtis played against several current NFL players.

Leaving high school, Curtis had interest from several schools but chose Ohio State as a walk-on. He played three seasons for the Buckeyes and was part of a quarterback room that included Joe Burrow and the late Dwayne Haskins.

"It was a great experience. It taught me everything I know about football," said Curtis. "Coming out of high school you think you know football and then everything gets more in-depth. It gets a little more serious. 

In 2020, Curtis transferred to Bryant where he appeared in two games. Then in 2021, he joined the Gannon program. Entering his second season with the Golden Knights, Curtis's friend and former teammate Dwayne Haskins was killed on April 9, 2022. The Gannon quarterback then made switched his number from 17 to 7 to honor his late friend.

Curtis enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history in 2022. He was named a first-team All-PSAC West selection. The Cape Coral native threw for a school-record 27 touchdown passes. Curtis' 2,879 ranked second in school history. His 5,134 career yards rank third all-time at Gannon.

Curtis said while playing this season, he remembered a message from former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer from his freshman year that helped him navigate the tragedy of Haskins' passing.

"He instilled into us my E+R=O. You're going to have an event, how you respond determines the outcome," said Curtis. "I'm thankful for my support system and everybody around me that helped me through all the difficult times and everything like that to help me respond so we had a good outcome here at Gannon."

Now on the cusp of taking the next step of his football dream, Curtis thinks back to his football start, his dad's suggestion to play middle linebacker, and his persistence to stick at quarterback. 

"It's your dream it could come true in the next couple of days," said Curtis. "I'm trying to outwork everybody. I know everyone is battling for the same 32 spots as a backup quarterback or even starters. I know I have to try and outwork them and make up for the gap coming from a Division II school."

As the opening round of the draft begins Thursday in Kansas City, Curtis' faith is the guiding factor as he navigates the emotions of the seven-round marathon.

"If you don't have Jesus I feel like some people are always searching like they have a missing piece in their heart," said Curtis. "I think that I can be able to touch people's lives and help them. " I have the platform on the football field to be able to talk to people and reach people I wouldn't be able to reach other places. I think having that in my life has allowed me to just keep my ground, be where my feet are and continue to grow as a person. Everybody has their struggles and issues. As long as we continue to grow and develop as person and as a people that means more than anything.'