Varga steals the show at Senior Bowl, gets NFL Combine invite (VIDEO)

Kitchener tailback scores two touchdowns in victory while catching the eye of NFL scouts.

This past weekend, Tyler Varga seized his opportunity on one of the biggest stages he’s ever played on during his gridiron career.

With NFL scouts looking on, the 5’11, 224 pound tailback from Kitchener, Ontario tallied two majors to power the North squad to a 34-13 victory over the South squad at the 2015 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Both of Varga’s touchdowns came in the fourth quarter – 13 yard and seven yard scores.  Additionally, the tailback rushed for 31 yards on four carries as well as racked up 39 yards on four receptions in the victory.

Varga also served as the North squad’s Team Captain.  His appearance at the Senior Bowl marked the first time that a player from the NCAA’s Yale Bulldogs has participated in the game in 64 years.

As CFC reported last week,  the tailback garnered attention in the days leading up to the big game as he put together an impressive run as well as pass protection skills at both the halfback and fullback positions.  His impressive impact became news all around NFL websites last week.

The Yale Bulldogs confirmed via twitter that Varga indeed received an invite to next month’s NFL Scouting Combine:

A deserved ending to an incredible week – @TyVarga has been invited to the NFL Combine!!! #YaleFootball #BoolaBoola #feedvarga #whosnext

— Yale Football (@Yale_Football) January 26, 2015

 

The NFL Combine will take place from February 17th to 21st in Indianapolis. At the combine, Varga will undergo testing and interviews.  All 32 NFL teams will be in attendance as well as over 300 prospects who will participate at the event.

For the Ontario native, the performance at the Senior Bowl comes on the heels of what has been a dream season.  Last month, Varga was selected as the recipient of the Bushnell Cup, given the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year.

This past season, Varga been selected as a First –Team All-Ivy League for the third time in his career, Gold Helmet as the Top Senior in New England, Swede Nelson Award (top scholar athlete) and National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar Athlete Award.

In the 2014 season, the tailback rushed for 1,423 yards (an average of 6.1 yards per carry, 142 yards per game) in 10 games.  He also set a team record with 26 touchdowns (22 rushing, four receiving).

During his career with the Bulldogs, Varga has amassed 2,985 rushing yards on 529 carries and 31 rushing touchdowns. The Ontario native has reached the 200 rushing yard plateau on three occasions and the 100 yard mark more than 17 times.

He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as NCAA FBS Offensive Player of the Year as well as the William Campbell Trophy which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies community service, academic and football.

Previous to the Bulldogs, Varga has suited up north of the border for the Western Mustangs where he was CIS Rookie of the Year in 2011.  He played high school football for Cameron Heights Golden Gaels of the Waterloo County Secondary School Athletic Association (WCSSAA).

 

Tyler Varga Senior Bowl Photo credits: Mike Kittrell

(twitter: http://twitter.com/vohra_ameeta)