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He sat and watched as the names were called, one after the other, hoping to hear his own. But when the Kansas City Chiefs made Ryan Succop the 256th—and final—selection, Eric Peterman’s dream of being drafted into the National Football League ended.

Yet 10 minutes after the draft’s conclusion on April 26, his professional football career began.

The Chicago Bears called Northwestern University’s fourth all-time leading receiver even before the last pick was made, offering him a free agent contract. And though other teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, showed interest, Peterman’s mind was already made up.

“It’s where I wanted to be,” the Sherman, Ill. native said about Chicago.

Now, he faces an uphill climb to fulfill his goal of playing on Sundays.

NFL rules state teams can carry 53 players during the season. Currently, Peterman is one of 86 Bears fighting for those spots—not including the myriad unsigned players the team brings in for tryouts.

Though it’s not unheard of—current Bear and former Pro Bowler Adewale Ogunleye wasn’t drafted—it isn’t common for undrafted players to outlast the final cut.

Luckily, Peterman isn’t one to let long odds discourage him.

“He’s an extremely dedicated and focused young man,” said Kevin Johns, Northwestern’s wide receiver coach. “He would not let anything get in the way of his dreams.”

Former Northwestern teammate John Gill, a defensive tackle who himself is battling to earn a spot with the Detroit Lions, said if Peterman fails to make the team, it won’t be because of his work ethic.

“He is one of the hardest working guys I have ever seen,” Gill said. “He works out all of the time, on top of earning a degree in engineering.”

Gill has trained with Peterman at Highland Park’s EFT Sports Performance since their college careers ended. They will continue to do that until they graduate in June, after which they can join their teams.

And if he does make the Bears, it might be because of what he brings beyond catching the ball.

A standout on special teams in college, Peterman frequently threw his body into ball carriers while playing the “gunner” position on the punt team.

“They [the Bears] put a big emphasis on special teams, and I feel like that’s a part of the game I can offer,” Peterman said. “I plan on playing two, three, four different special teams, however many they’ll let me play.”

That willingness to tackle, something not all receivers like to do, could make the difference when the final roster is decided.

“I think it’s just up to them,” Peterman said. “They can cut you whenever they want. But right now, I’m a Chicago Bear.”