Are we going to see more Pioneers in the National Football League (NFL)? On May 22, 2022, Julius Chestnut and Josh Sokol, a standout running back and offensive guard from SHU, were signed to the Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings, respectively. Now, five more Pioneers threw their names into the draft process in the annual University of Connecticut (UConn) Pro Day on March 25.
Tyreke Brown, Jalen Madison, Caleb Dennis, Isaiah Bishop and Marques Mason were the five that were invited from the Pioneers team this year.
“I think it is an outstanding opportunity for the players involved. It gets them in front of NFL scouts, and they also can get their times and measurements from NFL teams. Any exposure the player gets only helps them in the long run,” said head coach Mark Nofri.
Pro Days are events that are held by college football teams that allow scouts from the NFL and the Canadian Football League (CFL) to come see the talent that is draft eligible every year. 30 NFL Scouts were in attendance for this year’s showcase at UConn.
“It was an incredible experience. Just being out there competing, surrounded by other talented guys, and getting the chance to perform in front of scouts meant a lot. It’s something I’ve been working toward for a long time, so to finally have that moment was special,” said Madison, a graduate student.
Source: Jayden Hunter, Staff Writer and Photographer
Madison was a key part of the Pioneers offense this year, rushing for 948 yards and scoring seven touchdowns, amassing over 2000 yards of offense over his five-year career.
“Jalen has worked his butt off both in the classroom and on the field and has developed into an All-New England running back for us. I am so happy for Jay to leave Sacred Heart on a good note, having the success he has had. He is a great person and represented the university in a terrific manner,” said Nofri.
Tyreke Brown was another standout Pioneer. A graduate defensive end and two-year captain of the Pioneers, Brown finished tied for the most sacks on the team this past year and was also fifth in the team in total tackles.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity. Any chance given is a chance taken, so just thankful I got to be a part of the Pro Day,” said Brown.
“Tyreke has been a great leader and a great player for us. A lot of the young guys have learned from Tyreke on how to be a leader and how to work,” said Nofri.
Graduate student Marques Mason also looked to the pro league after he was the Pioneers’ second-leading tackler this past season.
“Mason has been one of the most unselfish players I have ever coached. He is a great example of a student-athlete who excels both on and off the field,” said Nofri.
Dennis and Bishop were also both leaders of this Sacred Heart football team.
“It was great to see CT college players getting an opportunity to perform for NFL scouts and to be included with an FBS program like UConn only helps Connecticut college football,” said Nofri.
Sacred Heart Athletics contributed to this article.
