Northwest’s Cass Weitl eagerly awaiting NFL draft
DAVID MERRILL/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State University senior defensive end Cass Weitl (73) helps take down Pittsburg State’s John Roderique during the Bearcats’ 69-10 win over the Gorillas on Oct. 29, 2016.
Former Northwest Missouri State University football player Cass Weitl won’t be the first Bearcat standout to make it to the NFL if he’s selected in this week’s draft.
He will, however, add to his legacy as Carroll-Kuemper (Iowa) High School’s most prestigious alumnus.
Weitl finished his senior season with the Bearcats second on the team in tackles with 83. Nineteen of those tackles were for loss and he had 10 sacks.
The Carroll, Iowa, native has drawn attention from the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders.
Weitl is continuing to train with Northwest strength and conditioning coach Joe Quinlin as the draft gets closer.
Mentally, Weitl is just enjoying the ride right now.
“I’m just trying to have fun with it,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal. I want to have a good time and be with my family. I just have to hope for the best and wait to see what happens.”
Much like teammate Collin Bevins, the small-town Iowa product didn’t always think the NFL would be within his reach.
“I never thought I’d have a chance at the NFL,” he said. “I don’t think anyone from my town has ever gone to the NFL. That’s why it never really went through my mind. It was more about pursuing my education. It turned out that Northwest had a great football program too, so it all worked out.”
Carroll, Iowa claims one-time NBA player Adam Haluska, as well as Ken Henderson, who played Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1980. Nick Nurse, who coaches the Iowa Energy basketball team, is also from Carroll.
Weitl, Bevins and Simon Mathiesen have drawn heavy NFL interest.
They are trying to join a quietly long line of Bearcats who have made it to the league.
Most recently, Matt Longacre signed with the now-Los Angeles Rams for the 2015 season. He played in 11 games in 2015 and six in 2016.
The Jets selected defensive back Brandon Dixon in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He was a running back at Northwest, but eventually wound up with the Tampa Bay for the 2014 season at cornerback and hasn’t played in a game since, but has been on the practice squad for Seattle, New England, New Orleans and is currently with Pittsburgh.
Twin brother, Brian, is currently on the Arizona Cardinals after playing three seasons with New Orleans, where he inked as a non-drafted free agent in 2014.
Another Bearcats running back —Xavier Oman — was the Buffalo Bills’ sixth round selection in the 2008 draft. He lasted two seasons with the Bills and last played in 2009.
The Green Bay Packers selected defensive end Dave Tollefson in the seventh round in 2006. He played six seasons in the NFL, including four with the New York Giants, where he won two Super Bowl championships. He played his last season in 2012 with the Oakland Raiders.
The Houston Texans picked up tackle Seth Wand in the third round of the 2003 draft. Wand played for five seasons and finished his career with the Raiders in 2008.
The Arizona Cardinals selected quarterback Chris Greisen in the seventh round of the 1999 draft. Greisen played from 1999-2001 then returned after a nine-year absence and was on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
Ed Tillison was the first Bearcat football player to be drafted. The fullback was an 11th-round pick in the 1992 draft and became a member of the Detroit Lions, where he played for two seasons.
Weitl, who plans on watching the draft with family and friends in Carroll, said he has had conversations with both Tollefson and Longacre about the process.
“It just shows you it’s possible,” he said. “It’s possible for a guy from a Division II college to be able to make it in the NFL. It eases my mindset. Knowing they’ve done it and succeeded, so far, in it, that I have a chance of doing it too.
“Dave Tollefson came down and helped us with some special teams stuff. That’s going to be a huge part of making a 53-man roster. Even as a defensive lineman, you’re going to have to play a lot of special teams to be able to make it.”
