ATLANTA — Jared Bernhardt, a former college lacrosse star, has made the Falcons opening roster, the team announced Tuesday.
Channel 2′s Alison Mastrangelo first spoke to Bernhardt on Aug. 13, at training camp before his first preseason game, learning about his unusual journey to the NFL.
Bernhardt told Mastrangelo “it would be awesome” to make the team’s 53-man roster. Now, he has done just that.
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Bernhardt, 24, was impressive during the preseason, coming away with five catches for 102 yards, including the game-winning touchdown catch in the Falcons’ preseason-opening win against the Detroit Lions.
Bernhardt, who signed in Atlanta as an undrafted free agent, played just one season of college football at Ferris State University, a Division II school in Michigan, leading the team to a 14-0 season and a Division II National Championship.
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Before that, Bernhardt played lacrosse at the University of Maryland for four seasons, ending his career as the school’s all-time record holder in career points, goals, single-season points, and goals.
He won the 2021 Tewaaraton Award, which recognizes the year’s best college lacrosse player.
Earlier this month, Bernhardt said there are some similarities that could have helped him adapt and then readapt to both sports.
“I think maybe hand-eye coordination, you know, change the direction. I’m sure some people would probably say they’re similar,” Bernhardt said. “But again, football is its own sport. There are some things that carry over, but they’re also things that you go to work on.”
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