Minnesota offensive lineman Blaise Andries runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

MARSHALL — Just after 3 p.m. local time on the afternoon of March 4, Blaise Andries found himself in an atypical position for a man his size: placing his hand in the turf along the goal line at Lucas Oil Stadium to run a 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine.

Days later, he was in a position that could be called atypical for a soon-to-be NFL draft pick: back in the stands cheering on his younger sister Brooke and the rest of the Marshall Tigers girls basketball team in the Section 2AAA Championship against Mankato East along with Marshall football coach Terry Bahlmann.

At the University of Minnesota football pro day on Wednesday, Andries talked about the “immense support” he has received from the Marshall community during the draft process and over the years.

“The first thing I did after the Combine, my sister had a section basketball game,” Andries told reporters on Wednesday. “I went back and caught the second half of that game with (coach Bahlmann). We just talked about the entire experience of the last couple months. After the game I saw my sister, but then I was talking to old teachers, old coaches, community members; really feeling the love and support.”

Andries tested well at the NFL Combine, including a 5.10-second 40-yard dash. His overall athletic testing numbers are among the best numbers seen by an offensive guard since 1987. On a 10-point scale compared to other guards in the draft database, Andries has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.72.

Andries has been training for the draft in Phoenix at the EXOS training facilities. Among the players also training at EXOS are Georgia defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt.

“There were elite athletes everywhere there,” Andries said. “It’s crazy how athletic people can be at that size. We had eight or nine offensive linemen down there at the Phoenix location, pushing each other to be the best we can be every day.”

When Andries hears his name called during the NFL Draft, he will be the second Marshall High School graduate drafted in the past two years. Trey Lance was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Andries sees a growing trend with former Tigers having success at the collegiate level and credits it all to coach Bahlmann.

“He really pushes us and doesn’t let us rest on our laurels,” Andries said of Bahlmann. “He says ‘potential means you haven’t done anything yet,’ so if someone has a lot of potential it means they have big boots to fill. It keeps us humble.”

Andries added that he also recently had a chance to talk to his former teammate Lance. They discussed the draft process and what to expect in team interviews.

“They want to see how you do under pressure and how you hold your composure,” Andries said of Lance’s advice. “They might ask about something that could get you riled up or could strike a nerve with you, but you have to show that you can control your emotions, that you are composed and that you can handle the pressure of the situation.”

Andries added that he enjoyed the interviews he had at the NFL Combine earlier this month.

“At the end of the day, you’re sitting down and you’re having a conversation; you’re showing your personality,” he said. “For me, I had nothing to hide with any personal issues. They might bring up how you took a loss or what happened on this play and what not, and really it’s just being able to respond and take accountability for what you did. You don’t lie because if they’re talking about it, they already know; they just want to see you tell the truth. It’s just really taking accountability for your actions in those moments.”

Still over a month out from the NFL Draft, Andries isn’t concerning himself with where he could end up being selected. He said he doesn’t want to be worrying about that because it can just stress a person out as news changes.

“Control what you can control, that’s exactly what (Minnesota coach PJ) Fleck says,” Andries added. Right now, today, we controlled how we played. From here on out, we control how we work out and train for the private workouts and how we do interviews. At the end of the day, if you work hard, things will work out but you can’t stop right now.”

Andries believes the biggest asset he can bring to an NFL team is his versatility. In his Minnesota career, he started 46 games and played every position along the offensive line except center.

“I think that’s what a lot of the teams like about me,” Andries said. “I tell them this: Wherever they want to put me, they can put me; I’ll play there. Give me a week to practice at it and I’ll be good. If we don’t have a week, we’ll make do.”

Looking back at the draft process so far, Andries noted he feels the pressure to perform well. But at the end of the day, he just wants to enjoy the journey.

“Really you just sit back, take a deep breath and it’s a lot of fun being able to compete out there,” he said.