Former Syracuse football star Eric Dungey is balancing his studies with his NFL dream job. Here are all the details and what’s next for him.
Eric Dungey is living the dream in the NFL.
Not many folks gave him a puncher’s chance coming from the Syracuse football program to make it in the NFL, yet here he is with the Cleveland Browns.
Back in September Dungey worked out for Cleveland and things went really well, but he left without signing a contract. Then an opportunity presented itself last week and he took full advantage by signing a deal with the Browns.
Eric appeared ‘On The Block with Brent Axe‘ on ESPN Radio in Syracuse this week and shared some details about it:
"“Yeah I worked out 3-4 weeks ago now and you just sit by your phone, hope for the best and stay in shape. It’s kind of a numbers game in the NFL. I think one or two guys went down and it opened up a spot for me. It’s an unfortunate situation but it’s the nature of the business. I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get and work as hard as I can.”"
It’s ironic that Dungey mentioned injuries creating opportunities because that’s how he got his start with the Syracuse football program.
Back in 2015, he stepped in as a freshman quarterback filling in for Terrel Hunt who went down in the season opener vs Rhode Island and he never looked back.
Of course, that’s not the last time that Eric and injuries would be in the same sentence. Throughout his collegiate career, he got banged around and was forced to miss a ton of time. It wasn’t until his senior season that he finally started every game of a single season.
But that never slowed him down or discouraged him from playing the game he loves.
Now he’s continuing that NFL dream with the Cleveland Browns on their practice squad.
Eric is a little behind the eight-ball because he joined an NFL roster in Week 6 of the NFL season, hardly ideal for someone trying to catch on in the pros, but that’s the hand he’s been dealt.
"“I mean it’s tough only because these guys have been here for months in Fall camp, preseason, and now seven weeks into the regular season. I’m pretty far behind, but I’ve been diving into the playbook and absorbing as much as I can at practice.”"
Luckily Eric Dungey is enjoying a bye week with Cleveland in Week 7, but he doesn’t have any time to really smell the roses.
"“I’m actually still in school so I had to come back to Syracuse to take a test during the bye week, so that came at a good time. Plus I’ve been studying the playbook as much as I can.”"
Now obviously the Browns didn’t sign Dungey to be their franchise quarterback, that title already belongs to former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield. Eric has already got a chance to pick his brain and work with him at practice absorbing as much information as he can:
"“Baker is a great guy. He takes it very seriously in the meeting room and his skills are obvious. It’s been fun to watch him and learn from him early on. Also, Drew Stanton is on this team he’s a 13-year NFL veteran and he’s got so much knowledge. I’m trying to soak up as much as I can.”"
So what’s the difference between being on the practice squad and being on the active NFL roster?
"“For the most part, it’s servicing scout squad or what the team needs. You’re doing everything but playing in the game honestly. If they need me on special teams, I’ll do that. I’ll do whatever I can to help the team. I just love playing football man. The good thing is I’m playing quarterback which I’m so much more comfortable with that. This is such a great organization and I’m so happy for this opportunity.”"
Being involved with any NFL team is obviously a big deal, but Dungey got what he really wanted by getting to play the quarterback position. After he completed his college career Eric immediately started working with quarterback coaches to refine his mechanics and improve his game ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft.
So it shouldn’t be overly shocking that Dungey was a bit apprehensive about switching positions or becoming a utility player after the draft when NFL teams asked. While things didn’t work out initially with the New York Giants and playing tight end for the first time in his life, everything happens for a reason.
Dungey is now balancing getting his degree at Syracuse, playing in the NFL with the Browns, and fulfilling his true calling of playing the quarterback position.