It’s amazing; just a surreal experience something you dream about from the time you’re a kid. – Sam Brenner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Brian Blechen and Sam Brenner were teammates at the University of Utah for three seasons (2010-12), but at Sunday’s Super Bowl game, they’ll be standing on opposite sidelines with some up-close-and-personal views of the big game at Levi’s Stadium.
Neither player will see action, although there is a longshot chance that Brenner, who hasn't played a snap all season, could get in the game as a reserve if the game gets out of reach one way or the other or if the Broncos’ offensive line suffers massive injuries.
Blechen, the four-year defensive starter for the U., can’t play because he is one of the 10 practice squad players for Carolina, and he’ll be decked out in some sort of Super Bowl gear he has received this week rather than a uniform as he roams the sidelines.
Still, for the two former Utes, it’s the thrill of a lifetime to be part of Super Bowl 50 even if they don’t get to play in the game. They’ve been involved in all the pregame festivities to this point, piling up loads of swag and being in the middle of all the hoopla.
“It’s amazing; just a surreal experience something you dream about from the time you’re a kid,” said Brenner. “I feel extremely blessed. It’s amazing to be here.”
“It’s been awesome. They haven’t shorted us one bit,” said Blechen, who still sports the Amish-style beard he wore at Utah. “Every day we get a new bag of gifts.”
Brenner, in his third year in the NFL and just his third month with Denver after being picked up on waivers in November, never really expected to be playing in the NFL after a solid, if unspectacular, career at Utah where he was a two-year starter.
He calls himself a lunch-pail, grind-it-out type of player, and that is how coach Kyle Whittingham remembers him also.
“He was a hard-worker, blue-collar tough guy, one of the toughest guys to ever play here at Utah,” Whittingham said. “He was a self-made guy, who really made himself into a tremendous player.”
Brenner started every game for Utah in 2012, the first two at right guard and the last 10 at left tackle after starting every game the year before, mostly at right guard. He went undrafted after college, but signed with Miami, where he started four games at center for the Dolphins in 2013.
He was up and down between the main roster and practice team in 2014 and again this year. Then in November, he was waived by the Dolphins and immediately picked up by the Broncos.
“They waived me on a Tuesday and Denver picked me up that night. On Wednesday, I was on a plane to Denver. That’s how it works, it’s crazy,” he said.
Brenner was not only happy to get claimed, but the San Diego native was also thrilled to be coming back out West and be closer to Utah and California.
He never got in a game for the Broncos and stands behind starter Matt Paradis and James Ferentz on the depth chart at center.
Blechen was a four-year starter for the Utes, earning all-Pac-12 honorable mention honors in 2011, 2012 and 2014 (he sat out 2013 with a knee injury). He was a signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent but was cut before the season began, and he has been on the Panthers’ practice squad, which he compares to the scout team in college.
“It’s been awesome, being in the playoffs and practicing with these guys and getting ready,’’ he said. “We’re practicing this week, giving Cam (Newton) a good look at all the Broncos’ blitzes and coverages and stuff like that.”
Blechen said he has bulked up to 235 pounds after playing at 215 for Utah last year and being 225 at the combine last spring. Although he played safety for most of his collegiate career, Blechen is playing linebacker for the Panthers.
“It’s much more fun suiting up on Sundays, but practice squad is huge for a lot of people,” he said. “Every day I’m out there with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, I’m picking up things from Roman Harper, watching those guys and soaking it up. This year’s been great, I’ve been putting on size, strength and developing my knowledge of how the NFL works.”
Brenner and Blechen hope to continue their NFL careers next year and earn more playing time with whichever team they might end up with. But for now, there’s Super Bowl week to enjoy.
As Brenner put it, “I’m just trying to take everything in and enjoy every experience, every moment because I know it’s once in a lifetime.”