Former Aztecs tight end Daniel Bellinger benefits from NFL combine exposure – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Daniel Bellinger’s mission in the four months leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft is convincing teams that he’s a complete tight end — that he can block in the running game and catch in the passing game.

That was the impression the former San Diego State tight end wanted to leave in last month’s Senior Bowl and last week’s NFL combine.

“I think I’ve been under the radar a little bit,” Bellinger said following a week in Indianapolis at the combine, where he opened a few eyes with his performance. “Everybody just saw me as a blocking tight end.”

There were 21 tight ends invited to the combine.

Bellinger rated at or near the top in measurables, ranking fourth in the 40-yard dash (4.63 seconds), tied for first in the bench press (22 reps at 225 pounds), tied for third in the vertical jump (34 1/2 inches), first in the broad jump (10 feet, 5 inches), tied for fourth in the 3-cone drill (7.5 seconds) and seventh in the 20-yard shuttle (4.47 seconds).

“Some teams were not sure about if I could run and about my routes and ability to catch and things like that,” Bellinger said. “I was able to show that at the workout.”

The consensus coming into the Combine was for Bellinger to be a late Day 3 — sixth round — selection in the draft.

Bellinger’s combine effort has some observers regarding him now as an early Day 3 selection — fourth or fifth round? — of the seven-round draft. Could SDSU’s Pro Day (March 22) and/or private workouts with NFL in coming weeks improve his stock even more?

“It’s unsure,” Bellinger said when asked where he thinks he will be drafted. “Anything can happen and draft boards keep changing as time goes on. I’m not 100 percent sure, but I’m hopeful that a few teams like me.”

Bellinger had his work cut out for him more than he might have because he didn’t get many touches in SDSU’s offense last year, despite assurances to the contrary coming into the 2021 season.

SDSU offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski said he anticipated Bellinger getting a dozen targets a game.

It didn’t work out that way. Not by a long shot.

Bellinger had only five receptions through the season’s first four games. Three of the catches came in a Week 2 win at Arizona in which Bellinger had a 73-yard reception — SDSU’s longest pass play of the season, with most of the yards after the catch — and a 25-yard touchdown reception.

Did that make Bellinger more of a focal point thereafter? Nope. He had one catch the following week against Utah. None the week after that against Towson.

For the season, Bellinger 31 receptions in 13 games (2 1/2 catches a game) for 357 yards and two touchdowns.

While he did seemingly everything well on the field, Bellinger was overshadowed in the Mountain West by Colorado State tight end Trey McBride.

The Rams got the ball to McBride 90 times, nearly three times as many catches as Bellinger made for the Aztecs.

That has made these recent months working out and getting in front of NFL team officials especially important. Even more so since this is a deep tight end class.

Bellinger compares favorably with former SDSU tight end Kahale Warring, who, in a lighter year for tight ends, was a third-round selection by Houston three years ago.

“I got a really good feeling from a lot of the coaches,” said Bellinger, who met informally with each NFL team. “They had a lot of good things to say about me. How I performed definitely helped me improve my stock.”

Bellinger said the team that showed the most interest at the combine was San Francisco, which requested a formal interview that included 49ers GM John Lynch.

“First they asked some general questions to try to get to know me,” Bellinger said, “then they pulled up my film from last year, a couple good ones, a couple not so good ones.

“They asked me to recall the plays, go through the plays and coach myself on what I could do better and what I did well. … I guess to see my football knowledge and how I take to learning.”

The NFL Draft is seven weeks away, taking place April 28-30 in Las Vegas.

Bellinger will continue to train and stay in shape as the draft approaches.

“Just stay mentally locked in for whatever comes my way,” he said. “Keep this edge going and focusing on what I need to do.”

Bellinger was among six Aztecs who participated in the combine. There were ups and downs among the others.

Defensive end Cameron Thomas has been regarded as SDSU’s top draft prospect — perhaps the second round — but he hasn’t been healthy enough to really be himself and potentially improve his standing.

Thomas has been bothered by a hamstring issue that cut short his Senior Bowl visit last month and persisted at the combine.

Thomas limited himself to the bench press, where he tied for third with 24 reps, and positional drills. If all goes well, Thomas could do the 40 and other activities at SDSU’s pro day.

Matt Araiza boomed punts — some approaching 80 yards — just as he did throughout the season.

A tweet from the NFL’s official Twitter account read: “This punter’s got a leg AND WHEELS” after Araiza clocked 4.68 seconds in the 40.

Some draft observers have Araiza as a Day 2 selection — second or third round — which hasn’t happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal’s Bryan Anger in the third round.

Only two punters have been drafted in the second round: Todd Sauerbrun (Chicago, 1995) and Rohn Stark (Baltimore, 1982).

Day 2 is probably optimistic for Araiza, who more realistically is a Day 3 choice. Then, again, it only takes one team to like you, as they say.

The SDSU contingent also included offensive linemen Zach Thomas, who ran 4.96 in the 40 and had 21 reps on the bench, and William Dunkle, who ran 5.44 in the 40 and had 25 reps on the bench.

Running back Greg Bell also attended. He did not run the 40, but had 17 reps on the bench.

At this point, Zach Thomas, Dunkle and Bell are not projected to be drafted, but could sign as priority free agents.