UWSP's Karlen gets opportunity with Seahawks

WAUSAU - Aaron Karlen wasn't selected during the NFL Draft this weekend and wasn't signed as an undrafted free agent either.

But the Edgar native and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point defensive lineman is still getting an opportunity with a team.

Karlen confirmed late Saturday that he has been invited to Seattle rookie tryout camp next weekend.

"There are many emotions going on today with the whole process," Karlen said Saturday. "It hasn't really sunk in, to be honest. It just feels so surreal to think that I will actually be getting a shot in the NFL. It is good to know that some teams out there respected you throughout the whole process.

Karlen has no financial commitment from Seattle, but hopes to be one of the few players that are offered a free-agent contract from the team at the completion of the weekend tryout camp.

"Seattle looked at me as a potentially a fullback, but I am going in there as a middle linebacker," the 6-foot-1, 245 pound Karlen said. "It's just nice to know my hard work and sacrificing is kind of paying off. I haven't made it yet, but I am closer than many. I'm not done grinding, that's for sure."

Karlen was a Division III All-American in each of his final two seasons with the Pointers, and had attracted some attention from NFL scouts this spring with his play in a college all-star game and also a series of combines and workouts leading into the draft weekend.

Karlen,  who led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with three forced fumbles, ranked 11th in the country with 11 sacks this past fall, said Seattle was among the approximately 15 NFL teams that had expressed some level of interest in him going into the draft.

"I was walking to class one day and I got a call from an unknown number from Washington and answered," Karlen said. "It was a guy from Seattle and was asking me the generic stuff. Then he said, 'I bet you are a big Green Bay guy I bet. Well keep your options open because you just never know.' Sure enough, it's the team that invites me to camp."

Karlen knew he was a longshot to get drafted, but felt he could get offered a free agent contract from a team upon completion of the three-day event. It made for a long day Saturday. Added to the wait was the fact that the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League called during the afternoon to tell him that the contract they had offered earlier in the month was now no longer available.

"You never know what can happen," Karlen said. "I had heard from multiple teams that were looking at me, and I thought the (New York) Jets had me chalked up to be taken as a free agent, but you can't count on that. I was sitting there watching all the day, the draft was over and I was starting to get a little down. I texted my agent and he was like, 'Hold up.' About 20 minutes later or so, the Seahawks called me  It was almost like a dream come true, that is for sure."

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11