COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Even at an early age, Nick VanErp was already demonstrating an aptitude for what he hopes will be his future career.
 
"I've always been interested in the law," the Saint John's University senior wide receiver said. "If you ask my Mom, she'll tell you I've always been pretty good at arguing. When I was a kid, she used to say I'd make a good lawyer someday."
 
VanErp will take his law school admission test in October. But before he begins preparing to bring cases in front of a judge, he has a closing argument he wants to make on the football field.
 
A Battle Lake High School graduate (Ottertail Central for prep football) who had 55 catches for a team-best 926 yards and seven touchdowns last season, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound VanErp is returning this fall to use the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted to all college athletes as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
 
He's being driven at least in part by the way his last two seasons ended.
 
In both 2021 and '22, VanErp suffered season-ending injuries in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Two years ago, he dislocated his hip in a first-round victory over Lake Forest (Ill.), keeping him out of his team's second-round matchup against Linfield (Ore.).
 
Last season, he dislocated an elbow in the Johnnies' second-round loss to Wartburg (Iowa), forcing him to the sideline for the remainder of the game and sending him into a second straight year of offseason rehabilitation.
 
"I was in a sling until the end of the first semester and my arm was pretty swollen," said VanErp, whose team, ranked No. 6 in the nation in D3football.com's Division III preseason top 25, opens the 2023 campaign by playing host to No. 4-ranked Trinity (Texas) on Sept. 2. The game is scheduled to kickoff at noon in Clemens Stadium.
 
"The physical therapy wasn't as difficult as it was the year before when I was dealing with the hassle of being on crutches and trying to figure out a way to get up and down stairs," VanErp continued. "But it was still frustrating to have that happen. You work so hard all offseason to get back and have the chance to play in big games. Then it feels like it all gets ripped away in just a few seconds. 
 
"I remember being on the sidelines after it happened with (head trainer) Scott (Bierscheid) and (assistant trainer and head strength and conditioning coach) Justin (Rost) and saying 'Why does this always seem to happen to me?' I was trying to make a joke out of it. But it's hard. That's not the way you want to go out."
 
The injuries were hard on his family too. They also watched older brother Andrew '20, also a standout wide receiver at SJU, suffer a season-ending injury during his senior year in 2019, while younger brother Brady, a junior wide receiver for the Johnnies, dealt with a broken collarbone that ended his season last year.
 
"Football hasn't always been super-kind to the VanErp boys," Nick said. "But injuries are part of the game. And we've all enjoyed every minute we've had the chance to play here – being part of this program and getting the chance to spend time in practice with our friends and teammates."
 
VanErp is back for one last go-around, feeling as healthy and quick as ever. His time in the 40-yard dash (4.56 seconds) was the fastest on the team this preseason.
 
"He's a playmaker," SJU head coach Gary Fasching '81 said. "He has so much athletic ability and he really makes things happen. You could really see the difference in our offense not having him out there when he got hurt in those playoff games the past two years."
 
VanErp is one of a number of big-play threats SJU returns in the passing game this season. Also back is two-time All-America senior tight end Alex Larson (6-7, 240), who had 68 catches for 857 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago, and senior wide receiver Jimmy Buck (6-4, 210), who had 68 catches for 899 yards and eight touchdowns while joining Larson as an All-MIAC selection.
 
That means senior quarterback Aaron Syverson has plenty of options to choose from as he begins his third season as the Johnnies' starter.
 
"Beyond that, we have some younger guys who I think are really going to step up as well," VanErp said. "(Sophomore) Dylan Wheeler (6-3, 200) really showed he could play as a freshman last season. And we have other younger players and transfers who can help out too.
 
"I was talking to (offensive coordinator) Kole (Heckendorf) about how we had three guys with over 800 receiving yards a year ago. We could have three, four or even five guys with around 600 or 700 yards this season. That would be great to see if it happens."
 
VanErp said he feels more confident in his own skills as a receiver than he has entering past seasons.
 
"I feel like I've always had speed," he said. "But now I have the experience to help me use it in the most effective ways. There were times in the past when I was running fast and just hoping things went right. Now I have a better sense of how to use my speed to my advantage."
 
And he's hoping that knowledge helps make this season his best yet.
 
"Especially with the way the last two years have ended, I'm really approaching this season from the mindset of enjoying the chance to go out there and play while I still have it," VanErp said. "I know I don't have another season after this one. 
 
"I want to take it one game at a time and savor every moment as it comes."