What two KU football players are doing while caught in NFL limbo
Carter Stanley’s training session was almost over. Or so he thought.
The former Kansas quarterback had already been through 45 minutes of workouts at TopSpeed Strength & Conditioning when he approached owner Joseph Potts late Friday morning about what he should do next.
Potts thought for a moment, then mentioned the sledgehammer.
“Let’s have some fun,” he said with a smile.
A few minutes later, Stanley was hacking away out back, raising the mallet above his head — 15 reps at time — while bearing down on a 450-pound tire.
The work is grueling ... but necessary.
“Just controlling things I can control,” Stanley said, “and being as ready as I can for the opportunity.”
Whenever it may come.
As it stands now, Stanley is just one of many hopefuls stuck in pro football’s version of purgatory, working to navigate his way through an NFL offseason thrown off-kilter by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Every other year, undrafted players like Stanley would get clarity soon after April’s draft, as many would merit tryouts at rookie minicamps. That changed this offseason, though, with the NFL holding off on those activities because of safety concerns.
It’s led Stanley — and also some of his college teammates like safety Bryce Torneden — to continue focusing on the present here with Potts in Lenexa, even without a complete understanding of what’s ahead.
“Really just trying to stay clean, effective, efficient, really make use of this time,” Torneden said. “Because it’s probably not going to happen — hopefully it’s not going to happen — ever again.”
Both players have kept up routines in recent weeks.
For Stanley, that’s working out four days a week with Potts and also throwing 5-6 days with QB coach Jake Christensen.
Some hope came last week. Though Stanley said about 10 NFL teams contacted him or his agent before the draft, that communication had all but dried up in May.
Recently, however, he heard from one franchise that said while it wasn’t in a position to sign him, it wanted to bring him in for a future workout.
“It’s definitely motivating to get that call from an NFL team,” Stanley said. “Just an extra push.”
If that doesn’t materialize, Stanley said the Canadian Football League also could be a landing spot. One CFL organization has reached out to KU’s coaches about him, and he has chatted some about what that league is like with former Jayhawks and current Calgary Stampeders quarterback Montell Cozart.
“It’s an option, and I’m very fortunate to have that one the table,” Stanley said.
Torneden, meanwhile, figures to get his own NFL shot, as well.
The team captain was one of KU’s top performers at its Pro Day in March, posting a 35-inch vertical jump and 4.57-second 40-yard dash.
Torneden admits to getting “plenty of calls” from teams before the draft before not hearing nearly as much in recent weeks. He’s remained busy while working out with Potts and former KU safeties coach Cassius Sendish, who also is employed by TopSpeed.
“I’m just trying to stay hopeful and roll with the flow,” Torneden said. “I know a lot of people are in the same boat, so just trying to stay positive.”
Everything could change quickly, which is why both Stanley and Torneden have remained consistent in their work at TopSpeed with other former KU players like Darrius Moragne, Jelani Brown and Codey Cole.
Stanley has heard from NFL contacts that the best thing prospects can do right now is be in game shape. For a QB, the easiest way to get cut — at this point — is to show up to a workout either poorly conditioned or with an arm that gets sore following a few throws.
So when will that shot come for him? Stanley answers honestly with two words: “No clue.”
Torneden is in the same position.
“It’s really easy to say that, ‘any other year, what could have been?’ But you can’t change too much about it,” Torneden said. “It’s the hand that you’re dealt, and you’ve got to play it. That’s all you can do.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "What two KU football players are doing while caught in NFL limbo."
