La Crosse, WISCONSIN (WXOW) Derek Dreher likes challenges.
He bounced back from a serious knee injury in 2010 to have a stellar senior season at UW-LA Crosse last fall.
But now he may be facing a bigger challenge.
"I'm really anxious. I've been playing the waiting game for a few weeks now. I got all the Pro Day stuff out of the way. So I'm just really anxious to see what's going to happen."
Derek Dreher wants to play in the NFL.
The UW-L senior knows he faces long odds.
But after finishing his career with 13 interceptions and as a division three first team all-America cornerback, Dreher is ready to tackle those odds.
"I would love to make it out there and to be able to come back here and to show if you come to D3 you still have a chance to do what you want," Dreher told News 19 Sports after a workout in La Crosse last week.
He'll also need to make it at a new position.
Scouts view him as a safety at the next level.
"When I was down in Atlanta for seven weeks they transferred me to safety. We did some 7 on 7 there and I got to see what it was like. I saw some D1 guys at the receiver level and the quarterback level. So getting back there was an experience and I love being able to see the whole field."
Dreher has all the measureables NFL scouts look for.
His biggest hurdle is the fact that he competed at division 3.
But he doesn't see it as an obstacle at all.
"I'm a fighter. I've come back from that knee injury and done amazing since then. I just feel like I can go out there and compete with anybody and I'm just as good an athlete as anyone on the D1 level."
There are thousands of athletes just like Dreher who will be hoping...and praying they get an opportunity.
Dreher likes his odds.
"I've been competing with people as far back as I can remember. I just can't imagine life not being competitive and not competing with people."
