Minnesota Vikings TE Tyler Conklin discusses NFL rookie year, Bunting's draft chances
Just a year ago, Tyler Conklin was in the same place as cornerback Sean Bunting.
Bunting is a Central Michigan football player who turned into a star in Mount Pleasant. He went on to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, Pro Day and multiple pre-draft interviews, and he's expected to be selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“It’s crazy to think it’s been a whole year," Conklin said at CMU Pro Day on March 14. "Time flies. Rookie year was a long, interesting year. Everything goes so fast.”
Conklin compared it to being a freshman in college, learning from the likes of fellow tight ends Kyle Rudolph and David Morgan on coach Mike Zimmer's team in Minnesota.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound CMU graduate was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Conklin said he believes Bunting could be picked in the second round, as he's "exactly what everyone is looking for" in the upcoming draft.
"Everyone is looking for that big corner, and he’s that. He’s got great ball skills, and he’s obviously extremely athletic.”
When Conklin was in high school, he didn't understand all that went into playing college football. Once he joined the Chippewas, he quickly realized. Now, the tight end is going through the same situation as a professional athlete.
In his first year for the Vikings, Conklin made five receptions for 77 yards in a backup role to starter Rudolph, who has 3,787 career receptions and 41 scores. Conklin played in all 16 games, starting three. During his three years at CMU, he made 83 catches for 1,159 yards and 11 touchdowns.
"Rudy’s a two-time Pro Bowler," Conklin said. "Talking to him and watching himself handle himself as a pro was huge for me. He’s one of the coolest football players I’ve ever been around.”
Conklin is still on his rookie contract, which has him making $480,000 per year for Minnesota. He said it's a "weird" situation because he only gets paid 7 months out of the year. A difficult transition for Conklin included getting his own place, paying rent, doing taxes and fully being on his own.
At the end of the day, football is football, Conklin said. However, learning to be alone in an entirely different state wasn't as simple as a rookie.
"In college, your parents help you in some cases," Conklin said. "Before that, you were in high school living with them."
Right now, Conklin's saving money while back in Michigan for the offseason by staying in his mother's basement.
"I love it," Conklin said. "I've been home in Michigan most of the offseason, and I didn't get to see (my family) all season, besides when they came to games.
"I'm staying in my mom's basement until she kicks me out."
