By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

SAN ANTONIO - Though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have limited potential opportunities this year, former Saint John's quarterback Jackson Erdmann '19 has not given up on his dream of playing professional football.

And now, he is getting a chance to showcase his skills at an elite level.

The former four-year starter for the Johnnies, who led his team to a berth in the NCAA Division III national semifinals a year ago, is among the players who have been selected to take part in The Spring League – an elite developmental camp established in 2017.

As the name suggests, the league – which is open to players who were eligible to be selected in the previous year's NFL Draft – has played its slate of games in March and April.

But this year, according to the league's website, the decision was made to play a fall season as well "in advance of league expansion for the spring 2021 season."

The six teams are currently in a bubble in San Antonio and will begin a five-week season on Oct. 27. The games are being played in the Alamodome and a number of them will be televised nationally on FS1.

Erdmann is one of two quarterbacks on the roster of the Blues. Former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson is the other. The team is coached by longtime NFL assistant Ted Cottrell, who served as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004 and 2005.

The Blues open play against the Alphas at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. That team features former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett on its roster.

"It is super-competitive," said Erdmann this week from San Antonio. "There are a lot of great players here. It will really provide a taste of what it's going to take to play at the next level."
  Erdmann, a multi-time All-American who rewrote the SJU career passing record book in his four seasons after transferring from Division I Penn State (where he redshirted in 2015), was not selected in last spring's NFL Draft.

In a normal offseason, he likely would have gotten an invitation to a rookie minicamp. But the pandemic meant those did not happen. CFL teams also showed interest, but that league cancelled its 2020 season.

Still, Erdmann has tried to remain optimistic.

"The way I look at it, I'm fortunate to be in the position I am," he said. "I'm healthy, I have a job (back in Minnesota) and I have a roof over my head. This pandemic has hit a lot of people really hard – health-wise and economically. All it did to me was delay my chance to keep playing football. 

"So I really just count my blessings."

But the pro dream still burns in him, which is why he is determined to make the most of the opportunity he has over the next month.

"I just want to get out there and show people what I can do," he said. "My goal is to keep playing. If that's in the CFL, that would be awesome. If I could get a shot to try out in the NFL, that would be a dream come true.

"My goal is to play at the highest level I can. So this is a big opportunity for me down here."