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Former Maryland lacrosse standout makes NFL 53-man roster
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Former Maryland lacrosse standout Jared Bernhardt is used to being on the field, just not a football field. That didn’t stop Bernhardt from making the 53-man Atlanta Falcons roster. The Falcons unveiled their roster after the NFL’s Tuesday deadline, with the former Terrapin listed at wide receiver.
It was just a year ago that Bernhardt won the Tewaaraton Award, given to the best collegiate lacrosse player in the country. Bernhardt led the Terrapins to a lacrosse national championship in 2017, his freshman season. In his time at Maryland, he accumulated multiple lacrosse records, including all-time scoring leader in points and goals, single season records in points and goals, and records for points and goals in an NCAA tournament.
In 2021, the lacrosse player transferred to Ferris State, a Division II school, to play QB. Bernhardt found another niche in football, leading Ferris State to an undefeated season, and the Division II national title. In the title game, the former Terrapin rushed for three touchdowns, finishing the season with 1,322 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns, along with 1,273 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.
Bernhardt’s outstanding performance in the national title game begot an invitation for the Falcons tryouts this summer. Bernhardt again impressed, starting in all three preseason games, finishing with five catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. Will the WR be as successful on the football field as the lacrosse field? If history is any indication, we’ll be seeing Bernhardt play on Sunday for a long time to come.