Nine years ago, Mitchell Van Vooren stood on the stage in Chicago, announcing a Miami Dolphins selection during the 2016 NFL Draft. Now, he harbors a dream of experiencing that moment from a different perspective – having his own name announced as a draft pick sometime before this year’s event concludes on Saturday.
In 2016, Van Vooren proudly declared UCLA tight end Thomas Duarte the Dolphins’ choice in the final round. The irony is striking: nearly a decade later, he himself is competing for a spot among NFL teams as a tight end.
Van Vooren’s journey to professional football is an unconventional one. His early collegiate career was dedicated entirely to track and field, where he excelled at Marquette University.
- Four varsity letters earned in track
- Qualified for the NCAA Division I West Regional in the 400-meter hurdles
- Set a school record with a time of 51.38 seconds
- Finished 18th in the NCAA West Quarterfinals (51.75 seconds)
Before transitioning to football, Van Vooren spent two seasons playing at St. Norbert College. During those 22 games, he quickly made an impact, accumulating impressive statistics:
- 65 receptions
- 1,045 receiving yards
- 13 touchdowns
Despite his limited time on the gridiron, Van Vooren’s performance garnered attention from NFL scouts. He reportedly participated in workouts with both the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Browns.
“Whether I get drafted or sign as a free agent, the goal is just to get a foot in the door,” Van Vooren stated via Marquette Today
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Adding another layer of significance to this remarkable story, Van Vooren hails from Marinette, Wisconsin – roughly an hour’s drive from Lambeau Field, the very location where he hopes to hear his name called. The prospect of having his football dream realized in his home state is a compelling one.
