Mizzou and Lee’s Summit West grad Evan Boehm closes in on NFL dream

The NFL is the world’s most elite football fraternity, one that former Missouri center and Lee’s Summit West graduate Evan Boehm will join next month during the 2016 NFL Draft.

With Boehm’s record-setting Tigers career, the Reese’s Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and now his Mizzou Pro Day in the rearview mirror after Wednesday, it still seems surreal that his childhood dream is five weeks from realization.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Boehm said. “When I’m drafted, I think that’s when it’s going to hit me, when I get that phone call.”

He cleared the final major hurdle in the pre-draft process Wednesday with his eagerly awaited Pro Day at Devine Pavilion.

“You watch Pro Day for three years and wait for your opportunity,” Boehm said. “When it comes, you’ve got to make the most of it.”

He had watched the circus roll into town the last two seasons for Pro Days featuring defensive linemen Michael Sam, Kony Ealy, Shane Ray and Markus Golden.

While the craziness didn’t reach that level Wednesday, there still were 32 NFL scouts and coaches in attendance. Most were on hand to see workouts by Boehm, fellow offensive lineman Connor McGovern and linebacker Kentrell Brothers.

“There were four or five offensive line coaches there and they wanted to see how Connor and I move,” Boehm said. “They put us through the wringer and worked our (butts) off (Wednesday). It was a good time. They wanted to see two guys go after it for 20 minutes straight. But I enjoyed it, and it was a good time.”

Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and a trio of NFL assistants who work with offensive line groups — the Seahawks’ Brennan Carroll, the Colts’ Joe Gilbert and the Bengals’ Robert Couch — ran the drills for Boehm and McGovern.

Afterward, Boehm sat down with the Seahawks, Colts and Patriots. He’d already spoken with the Bengals extensively at the NFL Combine and previously met with the Eagles, Titans and Panthers.

Boehm, who has stressed to teams that he can play center or guard at the next level, is scheduled to meet with the Buccaneers next week and also will attend the Chiefs’ local Pro Day on April 8, which is more of an opportunity to meet the team’s staff rather than another critical workout.

“It’s a great situation to be in, and it was fun,” Boehm said. “It was a lot of fun being the guy doing the drills instead of the guy watching the drills. You always dream of that moment and that day, being able to participate in the Senior Bowl and the Combine and now the Pro Day. All three phases are done … and I’m honored and blessed to be in the situation I’m in now.”

Mike Mayock of NFL.com pegs Boehm as the No. 4 center in the 2016 NFL Draft, while CBS Sports’ Rob Rang lists Boehm as the No. 5 available center (No. 158 overall) with a fifth-round grade.

Rang’s prospect breakdown includes this nugget: “Frankly, he looks like a Coke machine with arms, legs and helmet.”

During the NFL Combine, Boehm, who has dropped roughly 10 pounds since the season ended, posted top-25 marks among offensive linemen in the bench press (24 reps), three-cone drill (7.52 seconds) and 20-yard shuttle (4.69 seconds) along with respectable marks in every other drill.

He and McGovern skipped testing at Pro Day and only participated in position-specific drills.

“I have to continue pushing myself for sure,” Boehm said. “I can’t be satisfied. I’ve got to keep working, because I’ve got to be ready for camp. I want to go in and be ready for camp.”

Boehm doesn’t know who his first rookie minicamp will be with, but he said he’s open for anything as it’s an NFL job.

“I was a kid in a second grade who had a huge dream of playing professional football,” Boehm said. “Then, when it got closer and closer, it’s started coming true. That’s the scenario I’m in right now, and it’s unbelievable.”

Boehm started all 52 games, a Mizzou record, during his college career, including the last 40 at center after playing left guard his freshman year.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Mizzou and Lee’s Summit West grad Evan Boehm closes in on NFL dream."