College football: McHenry East grad Robert Tonyan of Indiana State hopes to impress NFL scouts

Robert Tonyan completely embraced the learning opportunity last summer.

Tonyan returned from Indiana State to work with trainer Chris Leathers at Your World Fitness in Spring Grove. Also back in the area at the time was Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, preparing for his third NFL season.

“I did some field work with him,” Tonyan said. “I got to be with him for a handful of days but learned a lot within that week, picking his brain and talking about the ins and outs of being an NFL player. Not too into the football aspect, but the mindset and the taxing on your body and mind. Little tips and reminders he had for me. I couldn’t thank him enough.”

At the time, the 2012 McHenry East graduate realized he might have a shot at the NFL. His senior season with the Sycamores further solidified that notion, as he led Indiana State with 56 receptions for 699 yards and a school-record 10 touchdowns.

Now, Tonyan (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) has two-plus months to prepare for the NFL draft. He has added weight and will move from wide receiver to tight end. Tonyan, who is No. 2 on Indiana State’s career receiving list with 150 catches, will leave next week for Frisco (Texas) Exos, a training facility at which he will work for about three weeks.

Indiana State recruited Tonyan as a quarterback, but his athleticism allowed him to switch to receiver. Now, he will try a less drastic switch in positions in effort to reach the NFL.

Tonyan did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine this month in Indianapolis, but he will attend the NFL Regional Combine at the Minnesota Vikings’ training facility March 4, then Northwestern’s Pro Day on March 14.

Tonyan hired Califonia-based Jack Bechta as his agent. Bechta also is Fiedorowicz’s agent.

“I was kind of going through the agent process, and I looked to C.J. for help with it,” Tonyan said. “I got in contact with Jack to help me through the process, just to ask questions. He looked through some of my film and he asked me about representing me.”

Tammy Tonyan, Robert’s mother, is friends with LeeAnn Fiedorowicz, C.J.’s mother. So the familiarity and trust with Bechta was there.

“Jack is doing a really good job getting my name out there,” Tonyan said. “He has to go out and market me more as the hybrid speed tight end, see what they’re looking for out of me, what they want to see me do and get better at.”

Tonyan will work on conditioning, receiving skills and even things that may come up in interviews at Exos. The regional combine and Northwestern Pro Day should help with exposure.

“There’s plenty of people that get drafted or go undrafted and are successful that don’t get (NFL) combine invites,” Tonyan said. “I’m not too worried about it. It was a far shot, especially switching position from receiver to tight end.”

Fiedorowicz, who had a breakout season with 54 receptions and four touchdowns, encouraged Tonyan last summer to consider the switch to tight end.

“He talked to me about being an athletic tight end,” Tonyan said. “He said, ‘You have a big frame, you can get up to 240 or 250 and keep your speed. You’re already disciplined and what people want, you just need to believe in yourself.’ ”

By the Numbers

A look at some of McHenry East graduate Robert Tonyan’s career statistics at Indiana State:

Season Rec. Yards TD

2014 54 747 4

2015 40 601 6

2016 56 699 10

Career: Ranks No. 2 on the Sycamores' reception list at 150. … Led ISU in receiving as a junior and senior. … His 10 TD receptions this season was a school record, as are his 20 TD receptions for a career. … Ranks ninth on Sycamores' all-time scoring list at 140 points. … Owns school record for most consecutive games with a reception (21). … His three touchdown catches against Minnesota this season tied a school record for a game.