Ball State University Athletics
Franko House Set for Bears Rookie Minicamp
May 12, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Former hoops star is one of 13 undrafted free agents in Chicago
CHICAGO -- Franko House will suit up in a football uniform this weekend for the first time since his senior year of high school.
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The former Ball State men's basketball player is one of 13 undrafted free agents signed by the Chicago Bears, as officially announced Thursday by the organization.
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House, who helped the Cardinals to back-to-back 20-win seasons on the hardwood, is now looking to make it in the NFL as a tight end. He begins that journey Friday at the Bears' rookie minicamp.
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House was a standout in both football and basketball at Concord High School in Elkhart, Indiana, where he played tight end and defensive end on the gridiron. He had offers to play both sports at the collegiate level.
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"A lot of guys told me I should have played football coming out of high school, but my heart was with basketball," House said recently. "But it wasn't like I didn't like football. I did think about it in the back of my head, but I just focused on basketball."
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A two-time All-MAC selection, House finished his career as Ball State's all-time leader in games played (129). He ranks 11th on the Cardinals' career scoring chart (1,371) and seventh on the program's rebounding list (741). House led the Cardinals to a pair of MAC West Division championships and postseason appearances in the CIT in his final two years.
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When the basketball season came to an end in March and with NFL teams starting to gauge his interest, House began to see professional football as an option. He worked out for the Bears in April and then signed with them after the draft. Now he is chasing NFL dreams just two hours from his northern Indiana hometown.
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The Bears' rookie minicamp runs Friday through Sunday with practices and meetings at Halas Hall. House is among a group of draft picks, signed free agents and unsigned rookies and veterans looking to impress.
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Following this weekend's action, Chicago will hold various OTAs over the next month before its mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
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The former Ball State men's basketball player is one of 13 undrafted free agents signed by the Chicago Bears, as officially announced Thursday by the organization.
Â
House, who helped the Cardinals to back-to-back 20-win seasons on the hardwood, is now looking to make it in the NFL as a tight end. He begins that journey Friday at the Bears' rookie minicamp.
Â
House was a standout in both football and basketball at Concord High School in Elkhart, Indiana, where he played tight end and defensive end on the gridiron. He had offers to play both sports at the collegiate level.
Â
"A lot of guys told me I should have played football coming out of high school, but my heart was with basketball," House said recently. "But it wasn't like I didn't like football. I did think about it in the back of my head, but I just focused on basketball."
Â
A two-time All-MAC selection, House finished his career as Ball State's all-time leader in games played (129). He ranks 11th on the Cardinals' career scoring chart (1,371) and seventh on the program's rebounding list (741). House led the Cardinals to a pair of MAC West Division championships and postseason appearances in the CIT in his final two years.
Â
When the basketball season came to an end in March and with NFL teams starting to gauge his interest, House began to see professional football as an option. He worked out for the Bears in April and then signed with them after the draft. Now he is chasing NFL dreams just two hours from his northern Indiana hometown.
Â
The Bears' rookie minicamp runs Friday through Sunday with practices and meetings at Halas Hall. House is among a group of draft picks, signed free agents and unsigned rookies and veterans looking to impress.
Â
Following this weekend's action, Chicago will hold various OTAs over the next month before its mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
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