Matt Furstenburg came to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine without much buzz.
The Maryland tight end was projected as a late-round draft pick or possibly an unrestricted free agent after catching 16 passes during a disappointing senior season for the Terrapins. He was the only Terrapin invited to the combine.
But Furstenburg has attracted some attention and helped his stock with a strong series of on-field workouts Saturday. He was in the top-five for all tight ends in the 40-yard dash (4.62 seconds), vertical jump (35.5 inches), 20-yard shuttle (4.35 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (11.76 seconds), showing that he could have the athleticism to translate to the next level.
"Right now, I think I'm a five-to-seven-round draft pick, but I don't really pay attention to that stuff," Furstenburg said Thursday before going through the workouts. "I'm just trying to get people to know my name coming out of this, and you know, raise my stock a little bit more."
Furstenburg, 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, was primarily a blocking tight end in college, and he caught 60 passes and four touchdowns during his four years at Maryland.
But part of the reason for his low numbers in the passing game was that Furstenburg didn't have anybody to throw his way last season. Maryland had a litany of injuries at the quarterback spot, and they had a freshman linebacker playing quarterback by the season's end.
"It was tough," Furstenburg said. "You know, we had a tough break at quarterback. We were on our fifth string, and it was tough the way we ended it my senior year. But it is what it is, and I think they see that – the scouts and coaches."
Furstenburg sees himself translating to the NFL as a tight end who splits his time in the blocking and passing games.
That could make him an intriguing late-round option for the Ravens, who could be looking to add a No. 3 tight end to the roster. Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson are both restricted free agents and expected to be back next year, but veteran Billy Bajema is an unrestricted free agent. Bajema was primarily an extra blocker and special teams player, and Furstenburg could possibly compete for that role if he were to end up in Baltimore.
Coming to Baltimore would also put Furstenburg alongside Pitta, one of the NFL players he most likes to watch.
"In the NFL, I like to watch Dennis Pitta, Owen Daniels," he said. "[Pitta is] just so smooth. Everything in his routes – catching and everything."
Furstenberg said he had met with a number of teams informally, and wasn't sure if he had a formal interview scheduled with the Ravens during the combine.
His showing at the combine has likely attracted the attention of some teams around the league, and could potentially land him back in Maryland competing for a job with the Ravens.
