INDIANAPOLIS — You'll have to excuse Marian seniors Brandon Dillon and Owen Gilbert for missing commencement this weekend. When the NFL calls, it's hard to say no.
This pair of Marian football players have earned invites to NFL mini-camps. Dillon signed as a free agent with the Vikings. Gilbert will be staying close to home and participating in rookie camp with the Colts.
"My agent called and said we're between the Vikings and Panthers, which one you gonna choose?" Dillon said. "The Vikings were higher on my list. He called me back and said, 'You're signed with the Vikings.' It's kind of a surreal moment when it hit me at first, and the more I celebrated with my family, like wow, it really hit me."
"This whole thing's just been so cool," Gilbert said. "From the moment I got that phone call to this now when I found out I'd be graduating yesterday, it's just been a dream come true."
Gilbert has been a four-year starter as Marian's long-snapper. He worked out at the Colts' draft combine a couple weeks ago. Clearly, he impressed enough to get the call-back. Extra excitement for the Brownsburg High School grad who has always been a Colts fan.
"My grandpa told me when I was in fourth grade that if I picked up long snapping, I'd get a scholarship," Gilbert said. "So at the time, I was the only center in the Brownsburg junior league that could snap a spiral. Being a four-year starter here helped me gain experience and confidence. Got a lot of good film, ready to move along."
Dillon is a small-school product. He graduated in a class of 74 students at Carroll High School. He carved out a solid career as a tight end in Marian's high-powered offense.
"I'm a superstar at home right now," he said. "It's surreal, getting texts from my friends and teachers in high school."
Both are following in the footsteps of Krishawn Hogan. The Marian All-American worked his way onto the Colts roster in 2017.
"They handled the attention well," Marian coach ??? said. "I think watching Krishawn go through the process helped both of them. It became when you didn't realize NFL scouts were at practice."
"I just want to be a sponge, absorb as much as I can," Gilbert said. "Then hopefully put my best version of myself out there on the field and come away from there knowing I showed up and performed well."
