Bears Quarterback James Cahoon Gets Looks From NFL Scouts
When the BSU football team played their final game of the 2023 season at the 44th Annual Cranberry Bowl in Buzzards Bay, seniors like quarterback James Cahoon though that this would be their last time on the field. But Cahoon hasn’t had to hang his cleats up just yet.
During the off-season, Cahoon has been getting looks by NFL scouts leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. Cahoon had a workout with the Green Bay Packers in January, followed by training at the Holy Cross Pro Day in Worcester on March 21. Cahoon was the only quarterback there and was one of three Division III players. Scouts from all 30 NFL teams were present at the pro day, as well as scouts from two CFL teams.
Cahoon started getting looks by scouts when he played in the FCS National Bowl on December 10 in Daytona Beach and then the Podyum All-Star Bowl in Hialeah, Florida.
Cahoon thinks of this process as a “dream come true.” He told The Comment, “If you were to ask me if I was going to have a chance to do this one or two years ago, I would’ve laughed at you. But I’m really fortunate to be in this position, and I think it’s just a testament to the great people that have surrounded me. I think Bridgewater was the ultimate place for me to become a better person and a better football player.” He credited the people he met along the way likem Head Coach Joe Verria, offensive coordinator Rene Moyen, and former Bears quarterback Mike McCarthy.
Cahoon was a three-year starter at quarterback at BSU since 2021, where he threw for 7,065 yards, a program record. For his first two seasons, he broke the single-season passing yards record with 2,308 in 2021 and 2,658 in 2022. He also had the highest career completion percentage with a 59.9% completion percentage. Adding to his impressive resume, Cahoon is second in team history for total passing touchdowns with 56, one behind Dan Maurer, who had 57 touchdowns when he played from 1996-1999.
Although a rarity, there have been a few Division III players who have made an impact on the NFL, like Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Mills out of Montclair State. Cahoon acknowledged the hard work D3 players must put in to get to the NFL level. “I’m super grateful for that opportunity,” he said. “People have that jarred [sic] perception of Division III athletes, although some of the guys that I played with or played are just as good as people who I’ve seen at this point.”
The NFL Draft is the weekend of April 25-27, where Cahoon will find out if he gets drafted. If undrafted, Cahoon could still have the option to sign as an undrafted free agent.
