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CSU Pueblo's Chris Bonner Trying Hard To Get Noticed By The NFL

PUEBLO, Colo. (CBS4) - Chris Bonner certainly looks like he could be an NFL quarterback.

"The way that ball jumps off his hand is impressive to watch," his QB trainer Warren McCarty said.

When asked for an NFL quarterback comparison, Bonner cites Joe Flacco and Tom Brady who have strong arms and can make plays in the pocket. McCarty likens him to Phillip Rivers. But when people talk about this year's top quarterback prospects, the CSU-Pueblo senior rarely gets mentioned.

"People think the Division II level is not as good," Bonner said. "So I have to prove I have the talent to be successful."

Bonner is 6-foot-7 and has a cannon of an arm. Last year he lead the Thunderwolves to the NCAA Division II national championship and McCarty thinks when it's all said and done he could be the prize pick in this year's draft.

"I'm telling you right now it wouldn't shock me to see him have the best career out of all the quarterbacks in this draft class," said McCarty. "Because of his arm strength, because of his mental toughness and because playing in an NFL style offense isn't foreign to him."

Chris Bonner
Chris Bonner (credit: CBS)

Bonner didn't have any Division I offers coming out of Clairemont High School in San Diego, so he played two years at Grossmont Junior College. Once again he didn't have any D1 offers, so he transferred to CSU-Pueblo.

It's safe to say he's used to being overlooked, and that's why he's had to plan out his pre-draft process, including attending three different pro days, starting with CU on March 11.

"Teams still don't know a lot about me," Bonner said. "So I am hoping to get out there and open their eyes and get them interested in me."

Bonner's star receiver Paul Browning is fighting the same small school stereotype, and trying to decide how to best get NFL teams to take notice.

Paul Browning
Paul Browning (credit: CBS)

"Am I going to do a regional combine? How many pro days do I do?" Browning says are questions he had to consider. "At a small school you never know how much exposure you will get so you want to get as much exposure as you can."

Browning chose to do the regional combines, and will also go to the CU pro day with Bonner.

"I have to go through the process, I have to be the underdog that they aren't expecting much from," Browning said. "And when I get my shot I will take advantage of it."

Bonner agrees.

"It is strictly motivation, no combine invite, any time I'm not mentioned in a draft discussion I know it was because I was at a D2 and often overlooked," Bonner said. "And I use that in training to work harder than I ever have."

Mark Haas is CBS4's weekend sports anchor and sports reporter. Read his bio or follow him on Twitter @markhaastv or on Facebook.

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