Ben Skowronek: 7th-round pick to LA Rams captain

The LA Rams change lives during the annual NFL Draft.

Seven rounds, As many as 256 picks, Thosse picks become 256 chances for college football players to fulfill their lifelong dream of making it to the NFL. For former Notre Dame wide receiver Ben Skowronek, it seemed he wouldn't be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Notre Dame wide receiver who transferred from Northwestern wasn't high on many teams' draft boards pre-draft. 248 players were selected, and time passed slowly for the young Irishman. When the LA Rams were finally on the clock to make the 249th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Ben Skowronek got the call.

From that moment on, Skowronek has been a member of the LA Rams.

Grit

Skowronek isn't a traditional receiver. He doesn't run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. But he does provide consistency as a wide receiver. Receiving, blocking, and intelligence are traits that Ben brings to the field. In his career at Northwestern, Ben totaled 1,417 receiving yards on 110 receptions with eight touchdowns,

According to sports-reference.com. Skowronek was a leader at NU, as he was named a captain in 2019. His senior year was cut short due to injuries, leading to his transfer to Notre Dame for his final college season. Skowronek was a vital red zone target for the Fighting Irish in the 2020 season, catching 29 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns.

Skowronek brings size and physicality to the football field. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Sko is a big body who packs a punch. In his first season with the Rams, he often was the "gunner" on special teams and laid some big hits. For an offensive player, he totaled an impressive six solo tackles and two assists. Skowronek also returned four kickoffs for 70 yards, averaging 17.5 yards per return.

Skowronek appeared in 14 games in his rookie season with one game started, recording 11 receptions for 133 yards. His primary role on the team in his rookie season was special teams. He excelled in that role and earned more playing time as the season progressed.