PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Coming off an outstanding final year in college, Pitt linebacker John Petrishen hoped his 2021 performance would lead to an opportunity in the NFL. Buffalo and Washington showed interest, so did a couple of other teams, but nothing stuck. Instead of quitting, Petrishen hasn't accepted no. He continues to battle for a pro football career.
Petrishen is not ready to give up on the dream, even though he graduated high school in 2015. The 6'1", 230-pound LB was working out in Florida this winter, sometimes sleeping on a couch in his trainer's spare room. He was staying ready just in case. To shake up his chances, Petrishen decided to change his representation.
His new agent had an idea. Why don't you check with Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi and see if you could try out again at the Panthers Pro Day in front of NFL scouts? Petrishen checked with Narduzzi, who was wary of taking attention away from the 2022 class and maybe setting a precedent. He told his former linebacker to get a team to tell him they wanted to see Petrishen work out. Then he would allow it.
Wouldn't you know, Petrishen and his agent convinced the New York Giants to give him a look. The Pittsburgh native was back with a rare second chance at the Pitt Pro Day in front of 31 NFL teams.
"I never even thought of it," Petrishen said. "I thought, I'm ready, I've been running fast, jumping high every day. I haven't been practicing the specific drills. I never thought I'd need to get in a 40 stance again. I was like, let's do it."
"I felt like I had a lot to lose last year. I felt like I was a little nervous. This year I came in and let it rip. I got nothing to lose. Let's have fun. I already know how this day is going to go. I know everybody here. This is my home, my comfort zone. Let's go out and do what I do."
By all accounts it was successful, the 26-year-old said he put up good numbers in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps along with various linebacker drills. His goal was to show up five pounds bigger and put up the same or better numbers. He feels like he showed he kept his athleticism even with more weight.
It was 2015 when Petrishen started his college career, Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda, who also competed in Wednesday's workouts, was 12-years-old then.
The playing career filled with redshirts, injuries, position changes. There were tough days. He feels if he hadn't done through that, it would be much more difficult now. Those experiences taught him to embrace every opportunity going forward.
"It prepared me for this process and this time in my life," Petrishen said. "If I didn't go through that than this would be really hard emotionally and mentally for me. Now, this is a breeze for me, I just stay ready, stay in shape. Do what I love, chase my dream. 2016-2017 were the hardest years of my life, this is nothing compared to that. This is easy. I have a goal in mind and I got a good, strong support system and a lot of people I want to prove right."
Proving people right and proving this is not a far-fetched clinging to the glory days. He doesn't believe it's yet time to move on with his life's work. He's also now willing to listen to the XFL and USFL where last year he thought that would hurt his NFL chances.
"It's not a pipe dream," Petrishen said. "I'm at the one-yard line of this thing. I've heard conversations and been in rooms where I'm right there. I think anybody who is in my position wouldn't give up. People say it gets really hard right before you get to that new level."
"I'm so close and I'm not going to give up until I make it."
"And stay there a little bit."
