NFL hopeful returns to draft as prospect nearly 10 years after stepping on stage to announce Dolphins pick

Nine years aft Mitchell Van Vooren announced a Miami Dolphins prime successful the 2016 NFL Draft, helium hopes to perceive his ain sanction called astatine immoderate constituent earlier the last enactment successful this year's draught is made connected Saturday.

Van Vooren announced UCLA choky extremity Thomas Duarte arsenic the Dolphins' seventh-round prime successful 2016. Now astir a decennary later, Van Vooren is successful the 2025 NFL Draft arsenic a choky extremity himself. 

Van Vooren did not play shot passim his assemblage career, however, arsenic helium started disconnected arsenic a way star. 

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Mitchell Van Vooren holds the draught paper of Thomas Duarte during the 2016 NFL Draft. (Courtesy of Mitchell Van Vooren)

Before Van Vooren transferred to St. Norbert to play football, helium received 4 varsity letters from Marquette successful track. He qualified for the NCAA Division I West Regional successful the 400-meter hurdles and broke the schoolhouse grounds with a clip of 51.38 seconds. 

He placed 18th successful the NCAA West Quarterfinals with a clip of 51.75 seconds.  

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Mitchell Van Vooren poses with a trophy.  (Cat Wavrunek/Pic6 Action Photography)

After way astatine Marquette, Van Vooren played shot for 2 seasons astatine St. Norbert. Over 22 games, helium caught 65 passes for 1,045 yards with 13 touchdowns. 

Despite having played conscionable those 22 collegiate games, Van Vooren’s occurrence connected the tract earned him workouts with the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, per NFL Network. 

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Mitchell Van Vooren catches a pass.  (Cat Wavrunek/Pic6 Action Photography)

"Whether I get drafted oregon motion arsenic a escaped agent, the extremity is conscionable to get a ft successful the door," Van Vooren said via Marquette Today. 

To adhd to what would already beryllium an unthinkable story, Van Vooren grew up successful Marinette, Wisconsin, astir an hr distant from wherever the NFL Draft is being held astatine Lambeau Field, and wherever his sanction could beryllium called. 

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