Iola-Scandy grad practicing with Ravens
By Greg Seubert
Kristian Welch’s shot at the NFL is underway.
The Iola-Scandinavia High School graduate signed as a free agent earlier this year with the Baltimore Ravens after four years at the University of Iowa.
Welch is currently at the Ravens’ training camp, which opened July 28 at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland.
Welch, an inside linebacker at Iowa, finished his senior season with 44 tackles and three sacks despite missing three-plus games with an upper-body stinger. He played in 46 games in four seasons with the Hawkeyes and wrapped up his career with a 49-24 win over USC in the 2019 Holiday Bowl.
After his playing days ended, Welch turned his attention to preparing for a shot with the NFL. Like other college players, he didn’t have an opportunity to show his skills at a pro day because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would have liked to get invited to the (NFL) combine, but that didn’t happen,” he said shortly after the Ravens offered him a free agent contact. “Shortly after, they pretty much shut all our training down and a pro day was not even an option without moving the draft date. We didn’t get a chance for a pro day and I think that really would have helped having that opportunity to display my physical abilities. I think that would have really helped my chances and turned some heads more. Not having the opportunity hurts.”
Welch ended up making a video that he recorded at Goerke Field in Stevens Point.
Evaluation
“Ninety-five percent of the evaluation of any player comes down to their scouts, their other personnel and coaches watching the tape of each player,” he said. “My agent and I started thinking that I should just film position drills that I would do at a pro day and send it out to personnel, coaches and whoever would really want it. That’s what we did. I was able to send it out, it definitely impressed some people and sort of confirmed what they were seeing on film: that I could do any type of movement that any middle linebacker or inside linebacker should be able to do.”
Baltimore’s roster includes the NFL’s 2019 MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson, who led the Ravens to a second straight AFC North Division championship before their season ended with a 28-12 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs.
“I know they have a really great head coach,” Welch said. “They were a heck of a team this last season and they still are. I think they would have wished the year would have ended a little better by winning the Super Bowl and they have every piece to do that. With the class we’re bringing in this year, we definitely have a chance to compete for that. They have a great defense and love to play physical, especially at the linebacker position. They have a lot of undrafted free agents like myself that make the team and are able to contribute.”
Welch realizes he may not be able to make his mark with the team as a linebacker, at least not at first.
“The first thing is to get a role and start on special teams, which is within my capabilities,” he said. “I’ve done it at Iowa. A lot of guys will not even play a snap on offense or defense, but they can really play on special teams, they can make an impact on games and that’s why they can stay in the league for so long.”