INDIANAPOLIS –When the ball goes up in the air in the red zone, Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd reverts back to the hardwood.
Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Floyd was a finalist for the 2008 Minnesota Mr. Basketball award along with being a high school All-America football player.
Floyd hung up the sneakers for cleats in college and the University of Notre Dame product used those rebounding skills on the football field as he set a school record with 37 touchdown receptions over his four-year career.
Following his junior season at Notre Dame, Floyd faced the dilemma of whether or not to make himself eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft.
He elected to return to South Bend, and he exited campus as one of the top receivers in Irish history. His 271 career receptions and 3,686 yards join his scoring receptions as school records, as are his 17 100 games.
All are outstanding accomplishments, and Floyd feels like he has improved one area that does not involve his receiving skills.
"A lot of people say receivers don't like to block and I wanted to put that into my whole arsenal," Floyd said. "You never know when a running back can bust out of a hole and make big plays so you have to make sure you're covered up."
Another area where Floyd benefited from was being exposed to two different offenses during his career at Notre Dame.
In his first two seasons in South Bend, Floyd played under the pro style offense of Charlie Weis, before playing in Brian Kelly's spread attack in his final two years.
"A pro style offense, it's a lot different from Coach Kelly being in the spread," Floyd said. "Being in this position now and going into the NFL, I think Coach Weis' (system) is more into the NFL schemes and stuff like that. It's good that I learned both of them and have a little bit of experience in both of them."
While Floyd played mostly on the outside of the formation during his first couple of years in an Irish uniform, he moved around in Kelly's system in hoping to get more touches.
"I'm comfortable in all different positions, slot and outside, it's just making sure that I understand the whole offensive scheme and route concepts," Floyd said.
Wherever he is slotted at the next level is to be determined, but Floyd has always been a part of 'football' schools.
Ever since high school, Floyd has been in the spotlight while playing in tradition-rich programs.
He attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, which has produced former Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke and current MLB All-Star Joe Mauer.
It remains to be seen what he will do on the professional stage but after pursuing a career on the gridiron, and not the basketball court, Floyd is ready to become a complete player.
"I think it's being the all-around wide receiver," Floyd said of what type of wide receiver he would call himself. "I think I have other capabilities, not saying there isn't stuff that I'm not the best at which I need to improve on, just making sure that I have all of it in my arsenal and I'm ready to learn."
