TRAVERSE CITY -- When the NFL Draft began on April 28, former McBain standout Dan Bazuin had two wishes.
First was to go in the first three rounds of the draft, making him a Day One selection. The second was to stay in the Midwest.
He got them both when Bazuin was a second-round selection, the 62nd overall, of the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears.
"It was a great feeling," said Bazuin, who was coming off a stellar career at Central Michigan University. "I was hoping that I would stay in the Midwest, stay close to home.
"When I got the call and found out it was the Chicago Bears, I couldn't have been more happy with the team that drafted me."
Bazuin, who tore some meniscus in his left knee at a minicamp, played the final three preseason games for the Bears at defensive end. But late in the preseason he tore some cartilage in the same knee and had his second arthroscopic surgery.
It was then that Bazuin learned his first NFL season was over before it even started.
"It was tough," he said. "I wasn't 100 percent for the whole preseason so I knew there would be some decisions made after the preseason whether I could play or not.
"We got the MRI results back the last week of the preseason on my knee. They decided that I had to go on (injured reserve) which meant I wouldn't play all year.
"That was tough because I had every intention of helping the team and being able to play. But the MRI results came back and there was no way I could play."
As it turned out, the Bears could have used Bazuin. Injuries hit Chicago on the defensive line, a trend that would continue to other parts of the team and result in the Bears missing the playoffs.
"It was even tougher because that's when we were hit with some injuries, meaning that I would have definitely got some playing time in," Bazuin said. "It's tougher having to watch the games and not play."
Even though Bazuin couldn't get on the field with the Bears, he still was part of the team as he worked rehabbing his knee. He attended games, participated in meetings and attended practices.
"I learned a lot throughout the season, even just watching the other guys compete, being there and being in the mix," he said. "I've learned so much and I'll be able to put that to good use when I do get to play."
Bazuin said he'll be back on the practice field for the Bears when offseason workouts begin in March.
After what Bazuin did for the Chippewas, Chicago is anxious to get the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder on the gridiron.
A four-year letter winner for CMU, Bazuin holds the school's career record for sacks (351/2) and tackles for loss (631/2). He was a three-time first team all-Mid American Conference selection.
After helping lead CMU to the MAC title and a Motor City Bowl victory, Bazuin played in the East-West Shrine Game and was the defensive MVP.
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