Venson invited to Chicago Bears rookie minicamp

[May 01, 2012]  NORMAL -- Former Illinois State tight end Brandon Venson will have a chance to continue his football career at the next level, after he received a call to join the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for their upcoming rookie minicamp.

Venson received the call Sunday from the Bears, who wanted to add some depth at the tight end position and see what he could do at the team's annual rookie workout. From Glendale Heights, Venson is hoping to turn that invitation into a free-agent contract with the team he grew up watching and dreaming to be a part of.

"When I got that call it was amazing, and I'm still not sure it has completely sunk in," Venson said. "I have been working my whole life to get the opportunity to play professional football and now that is a reality. It doesn't get much better for someone like me to have a chance to play for my hometown team. I am thrilled about the opportunity and can't wait to get in there and prove what I can do."

After transferring to Illinois State from the College of DuPage prior to the 2009 season, Venson went on to start for three seasons at tight end for the Redbirds. He played in all but one game during his Redbird career and finished with 17 catches for 238 yards (14 yards per catch) with one touchdown grab. In his first season with ISU, in 2009, Venson caught 10 passes for 148 yards and hauled in the lone touchdown pass of his career, a 38-yard tipped ball just before halftime at Missouri State.

Also a vital member of the Redbird protection team, Venson helped ISU rush for 183.4 yards per game in 2011, up from 131 yards per game in 2010, and was part of the unit that allowed just six sacks on the season, which ranked the group No. 3 in the country in fewest sacks allowed.

Venson and teammate Cody White are the newest Redbirds to be invited to NFL teams. They join former Redbirds Laurént Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars), Tom Nelson (Philadelphia Eagles) and Chris Riley (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in the NFL.

[Text from news release received from Michael Williams, Illinois State University]