Colorado Mesa University’s football quarterback, Eystin Salum, is heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the NCAA Division II Senior Bowl. However, the school isn’t sending him…he is sending himself. 

Salum, who finished his last season for the CMU football team and edged himself in the record books as one of the best quarterbacks the school has ever seen, is looking to continue his football career. One of the ways he can do that is by attending the Div.II Senior Bowl on Dec. 15.

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“It is basically a football job interview,” Salum said. “And a chance to play another game.” 

The CMU athletic program would not send Salum or any other Maverick that has the intention to go. Salum had to raise the money himself and he did so by getting a bill approval from the CMU Associated Student Government.  

Salum made his proposal to ASG and it was approved to give him the full $863 he asked for. It will pay for his travel and lodging costs. 

There will be scouts from the NFL, CFL and about 13 other professional football leagues ranging from arena football and German football leagues at the Senior Bowl. Salum got invited and was one of three people to get a scholarship to go. 

“It’s about getting yourself some exposure,” Salum said. “[To] get some familiarity with the teams so that they know you…if they don’t even have a chance to see you or look at your film then you kinda have like no chance.” 

That’s all that Salum wants, is a chance. 

The whole event will take place from Dec. 12-15. It will consist of practices of the teams along with meetings. There will also be a banquet for a chance for the players to interact and network themselves with the scouts and representatives of the professional leagues that will be attending. but it also about networking.

After the combine and graduation, Salum will return to his hometown of Denver to continue to train and compete in combines in order to increase his chances of playing professionally. This is the path Div. II athletes normally find themselves taking if they want to continue playing the game they love. 

There is no NFL Draft, NFL Combine or regular ESPN coverage of their film. This is the long road just to get a chance to play professionally.

‘This is a step in the right direction,” Salum said.  

Former CMU teammates Austin Fleer and Virnel Moon had similar paths as Salum. Both of them continued to train and get scouted by NFL teams with small Div. II combines and camps. 

Fleer was able to get picked up by the Broncos but was eventually cut back in August before the regular season started. 

Salum was part of the 18-month selection process and was informed about eight weeks from the event that he was selected. Other Mavericks such as Antonio Clark are also trying to raise money after being invited to the event.