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NFL prospect Christian Uphoff of Washington plays final college game at Senior Bowl
Wes Huett
Washington graduate Christian Uphoff played his final college game on Saturday.
The Illinois State safety helped the National team win the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., 27-24 over the American team. He had two tackles on special teams and added an assist on a defensive play.
Leading up to the game, Uphoff was voted the top safety on the National team over the course of the week, based on voting of receivers and fellow quarterbacks. Uphoff, considered a late round prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft, only helped his stock with his performance over the all-star week.
Uphoff has been called an "intriguing prospect" because of his versatility on defense and in special teams. He was fourth on ISU's team with 70 tackles last season. He also had 5 1/2 tackles for loss, broke up seven passes and added two interceptions.
Uphoff in December announced on Twitter that he was leaving the ISU football program. Two months prior, he had told his teammates he was returning to the team.
"Not having a season due to the pandemic was tough to deal with. Not having my senior season with my brothers will forever sting," Uphoff said on Twitter in December. "But with the support of my teammates and family, I will be pursuing my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL.
"I can't wait to play in the Senior Bowl against some of the best prospects in the NFL Draft. I will always be a Redbird."
Uphoff is the first ISU player to receive an invite to the Senior Bowl. And ISU is no stranger to top talent, making Uphoff's feat all the more special. ISU has multiple former and current NFL players, none of whom played in the Senior Bowl.
In this truncated COVID season, this game is important for prospective NFL prospects, agent Ron Slavin told SI.com. NFL teams feel better putting stock in guys they've seen first-hand, according to Slavin.
"I have an FCS and a Division III guy, who didn't get to play this year," Slavin said, referring Uphoff and Wisconsin-Whitewater lineman Quinn Meinerz. "This is their Super Bowl."
The Redbirds, whose fall season was canceled because of the pandemic, are set to open a spring schedule on Feb. 20.
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 29.
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