Former Eastern Michigan quarterback Alex Gillett, left, is trying out for the Green Bay Packers at wide receiver.
Associated Press
Gillett, who started at quarterback for the Eagles for most of the first three years of his college career, was benched after an 0-3 start in 2012 in favor of sophomore Tyler Benz. Gillett couldn’t stand the thought of spending his senior season watching from the sidelines, so he made the switch to wide receiver. He made three starts at wide receiver in 2012, catching 14 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. All of his receptions came in the final four games of the season.
“I got benched at quarterback and I didn’t want to sit out my senior year, so I thought where else could I help at? Receiver was kind of where it was,” Gillett told the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Gillette is now at Green Bay Packers training camp fighting for a wide receiver position. He was signed during offseason team activities (OTAs) in May more or less as a warm body for drills. But after injuries to rookies Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey and free-agent Sederrik Cunningham, Gillett is suddenly in the middle of a wide-open wide receiver competition at Packer minicamp.
“This is a the place that gave me an opportunity,” Gillett told the Press Gazette. “I’m just happy to have it.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.