Blake Proehl

Blake Proehl
Personal information
Born: (1999-01-12) January 12, 1999 (age 26)
Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Providence
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
College:East Carolina (2017–2020)
Position:Wide receiver
Undrafted:2021
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Christian Blake Proehl (born January 12, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football at East Carolina. He is also a music recording artist.

Early life

Proehl was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he attended Providence High School. As a senior, he caught 52 passes for 1,016 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named first-team All-SoMeck 8 Conference.[1]

College career

Proehl was a member of the East Carolina Pirates for four seasons. He used a medical redshirt as a true freshman after suffering a season-ending injury at the beginning of preseason training camp.[2] As a junior, Proehl caught 47 passes for 577 yards and four touchdowns.[3] After his junior season, Proehl announced that he would forgo his final year at East Carolina to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.[4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		186 lb
(84 kg) 		31+1⁄2 in
(0.80 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.47 s 1.55 s 2.53 s 4.20 s 7.00 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		 12 reps
All values from Pro Day[5]

Proehl signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL draft.[6] He was waived/injured on August 16 and placed on injured reserve.

On August 23, 2022, Proehl was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the season.[7] He was activated on October 17, then waived and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2023.[8] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[9]

Music career

While rehabilitating his knee injury in 2021, Proehl rediscovered his love for music and posted a video of himself singing for his Grandma which went viral.[10] In March 2022, he announced his first ever single release titled "Falling Into You," released on March 25, 2022, which was written with a small circle of rising songwriters including Rachel Grae, Spencer Hendricks, Kaitlin Stark, and Austin Zudeck and Justin Thunstrom of Parkwild, who also produced the track.[11]

Proehl appeared on the 22nd season of American Idol, and his audition was aired on February 18, 2024, successfully advancing to the Hollywood rounds.[12] He later advanced to the Top 24 on April 1, 2024, performing the song "Anyone" by Justin Bieber. He did not advance to the Top 20.[13]

Personal life

Proehl's father, Ricky Proehl, played wide receiver in the NFL for 17 seasons.[14] His brother, Austin, played for the New York Giants but was released on August 16, 2022.[15]

References

  1. ^ Shanahan, Tom (September 6, 2018). "ECU receiver Blake Proehl looks forward to UNC game". The News & Observer. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Friedlander, Brett (August 8, 2017). "ECU, family members rally around Proehl after season-ending injury". North State Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Chandler, Joey (December 3, 2020). "ECU junior wide receiver Blake Proehl to declare for NFL draft". Star-News. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Igoe, Stephen (December 3, 2020). "ECU WR Blake Proehl declares for NFL Draft". 247Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Blake Proehl, East Carolina NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Tomasson, Chris (May 2, 2021). "Blake Proehl 'excited' to become a second son on Vikings of a Super Bowl winning receiver". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Peters, Craig (August 23, 2022). "Vikings Waive Harrison Hand & Shaun Beyer, Announce More Roster Moves". Vikings.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Peters, Craig (January 16, 2023). "Vikings Sign 6 Players to Futures Contracts". Vikings.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Peters, Craig (August 29, 2023). "Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Hockert, Amy (November 13, 2022). "Football player by day, singer by night: Vikings WR Blake Proehl surprise success on TikTok". FOX 9. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Young, Lindsey (October 22, 2021). "Blake Proehl Shares Secret Gift for Singing While Rehabbing ACL". Big News Network. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  12. ^ Gates, Christopher (February 19, 2024). "Former Vikings WR punches ticket to Hollywood on American Idol". Daily Norseman. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  13. ^ "Charlotte native, former NFL player eliminated from American Idol". WSOC TV. April 15, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Chandler, Joey (March 30, 2021). "Ricky Proehl throws passes to son Blake at East Carolina Pro Day". Star-News. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Musso, Zak (August 17, 2022). "Updated NY Giants depth chart after trimming roster to 85". GMEN HQ. Retrieved April 29, 2023.