SmashMouth

While other rookies are primarily focused on adjusting to the complexity and speed of the NFL, Nate Wozniak has another priority as part of his transition.

He has to eat. A lot.

Wozniak has played tight end his entire football career, including collegiately at Minnesota, but with the New Orleans Saints, he's going to play offensive tackle after signing as an undrafted free agent.

The 6-foot-10 Wozniak said he weighed 268 pounds at his pro day in March, but when he showed up to Saints rookie minicamp last week, he was already up to 283. He's planning on getting closer to 300 as quickly as possible by eating from the time he wakes up in the morning until he goes to sleep at night.

"Just eating throughout the day until you get as full as you think you can be and then eating a little more than that," he said Saturday (May 12).

Wozniak said other teams pursued him as an offensive lineman, and he said he's not going to miss his longtime position.

"Especially if this ends up working out for me, I'm not going to miss catching the ball at all," he said. "I'll be happy to put on weight and not have to run any more routes."



Of course, Wozniak said he wouldn't mind being a target if he enters the game as an extra, eligible offensive lineman. In rookie minicamp, though, he was playing left tackle.

Coach Sean Payton said it was "hard to read" Wozniak as a tight end from his college tape, so the Saints wanted to "think outside the box."

"He's got the length; he's got the stature," Payton said. "We didn't feel like he was a tight end prospect, and it's nothing against the O-line, but that's kind of your last stop. I do like his length, and I think he can develop. I think he can put on weight. He's got the athleticism. So, we'll just keep working with him, getting him reps and he's handled it well."

Wozniak was primarily a blocking tight end in college. During his final three seasons with the Gophers, he caught a total of just 28 passes for 314 yards, so even though he towers over defenders, his height advantage didn't come into play much as a pass catcher.

"I was kind of surprised. It seems like certain teams were more interested in a tackle than a tight end," he said. "There's not a lot of tight ends you see out there like me and that's probably why it would be an easier transition in their mind to be a tackle, and I feel like I'm doing well so far."

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