Foot tapping, pacing, excessive talking and spells of silence are all signs of nervousness. But imagine five years of hard work all coming down to the next 72 hours.
Five years of sweat, determination, frustration, inspiration and dedication to one sport will be decided within seconds as Thomas Morstead anxiously anticipates learning about his future in the NFL Draft this weekend.
I have no idea [how I’ll react],” said Morstead about what his emotions may be like this weekend. “I’m a little bit worried, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I’m sure I’ll be emotional in some way and capacity, but my buddies have assured me they’ll be there.”
Morstead, SMU’s former star punter and kicker has been projected as the No.1 draft pick in his position, and is expected to be drafted anywhere between the third and seventh round. If the 6-foot-4-inch, 225 pound Houston native fails to get drafted, he will still be a free agent, allowing him to select the team he wants to play with.
“I won’t be nervous at all on Saturday because I’ll be doing stuff all day and I won’t be drafted on the first day,” said Morstead. “I mean it could happen but it could not happen. Nobody would draft a punter on the first day.”
Come Sunday afternoon, Morstead plans to watch the draft here in Dallas with his family and about 20 to 25 of his closest friends from the SMU football team. Morstead will learn which team wants him just moments before he is drafted, but has been hearing from coaches and analysts he may go into the fourth round.
“The advice I’ve received from Frank Gansz was don’t even bother trying to figure it out because as soon as you think you’ve got it, you’re wrong,” said Morstead. “I don’t know what to expect, but at least everything isn’t pointing in one direction or I’m sure I’d have higher expectations.”
When the time comes for Morstead’s name to be called, the SMU student explained it could be the head coach or team manager calling him and simply asking him if he wishes to play for the organization currently on the clock. Morstead could also receive a call from a coach welcoming him to the team without any previous discussion.
“From what I’m hearing I’m projected to be the first guy drafted, but you know I don’t control it,” explained Morstead. “It just takes another team to like another guy better, but regardless if I get drafted then I go to that team, but if I’m not a drafted guy I’ll be a very high profile free agent and I would have my deal done within an hour of the draft ending.”
Having participated in private workouts with the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers, Morstead said in an interview Monday there was the possibility of working out in front of the New England Patriots. Still hinting at the idea of playing close to home, Morstead said that while he has family in Houston, all teams have positive aspects.
Calling the Eagles and Patriots some of the best organizations in football, and explaining Lambeau Field, home of the former Houston Oilers as the “Holy Land,” Morstead said the indoor fields of the Saints and Colts would also be “fantastic career moves because there aren’t any weather elements.”
Morstead has just been trying to stay busy in the days leading up to the draft. Logging over 2,200 hours as part of his senior design team project and balancing labs has helped, but Morstead is still a few credits away from graduating. Fortunately, the NFL has a policy allowing athletes to return to school to finish their degree, at the expense of the organization. However, Morstead will not be able to practice with his new teammates until the day after SMU’s graduation.
With the support of his family, Morstead has given football his top priority. After missing three of the first six weeks of class due to training and practices, Morstead called his mom to tell him he would not be graduating in the spring. Morstead, a mechanical engineering and Pre-Med double major, plans to graduate eventually, but with everyone telling him he only gets one shot, being drafted has become a top priority.
“I called my mom up and she was like ‘what are you worried about, don’t you have workouts with the Packers tomorrow?’ She was like ‘drop your class, you need to focus on football,'” joked Morstead.
Being drafted does not secure a future in the NFL, though. Morstead will still be required to make the 53-man roster before he can consider himself a professional football player.
“I can hope for is this opportunity,” said Morstead. “If I get drafted I get a nice signing bonus, which is more money than I can fathom having. I’m probably going to save every bit of it and continue to live like a college student.”
