Nathan Baird

Journal & Courier

You could make a case that, in terms of big-time football, former Central Catholic quarterback Chris Mills slipped through the cracks.

He won't make that argument, though. Mills starred at the University of Indianapolis, shook off the disappointment when no pro teams called and began establishing a life and career after sports.

When he agreed to throw for former teammate Danny Anthrop and others at Purdue's Pro Day in March, Mills' own football aspirations were behind him.

“At this point in my career I don’t see anyone looking at me,” Mills said. “I’m a has-been quarterback who shows up and throws. I didn’t want to put pressure on myself thinking this is my shot. I had my chance. I had my pro day. This is their shot, their day.”

Among the 25 teams inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center that day were two from the Canadian Football League. For those unfamiliar, the northern version of the sport features a longer, wider field, fewer downs and a whole lot of passing.

One, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, followed up and invited Mills to its Indianapolis tryout. As with many of Mills' post-college football opportunities, this one came with enticing promise, long odds and no guarantees.

Actually, you can go back farther than that.

Mills took over as Central Catholic's quarterback as a freshman and flourished as the Knights grew into a small-school powerhouse. He led CC to an undefeated Class A state championship in 2009, played in the North/South All-Star game and graduated as the fifth-most prolific passer in IHSAA history.

However, doing so at one of the smallest schools in the state didn’t attract college recruiters. At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds as a senior, Mills didn’t impress with his size either. Central Catholic coach Kevin O’Shea said he tried to help college recruiters project what the then 17-year-old Mills could grow into, to no avail.

So Mills went to Division II University of Indianapolis, grew into a 6-4, 213-pound frame and kept piling up big numbers. According to O’Shea, those same college coaches spoke with regret on later trips through Central Catholic.

“I had an offensive coordinator at a D-I school here in Indiana, and a couple of the head coaches, say ‘We whiffed on him,’ ” O’Shea said. “At the time, Purdue didn’t need one and IU didn’t, and with Ball State and some of these guys, they look at a 1A kid, and they’re thinking to themselves, ‘Is he that good or not?’ ”

Indianapolis was glad they did. Mills earned All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors while re-writing the Greyhound record books. A broken collarbone ended his senior season, but he threw for 8,729 yards with 72 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 37 career games and helped UIndy to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths.

Even Division II stars get their shot at pro football. Mills spent his final semester at Indianapolis training for Indiana’s Pro Day. The Hoosiers had a handful of prospects — including receivers Cody Latimer and Kofi Hughes and running back Stephen Houston — but needed someone to throw to them.

Based on his Pro Day performance, Mills said a handful of scouts told him “You earned some money today.” He signed with an agent and went to the Indianapolis Colts’ local pro day and another individual workout for Latimer. Multiple teams checked in and said they were interested.

Yet the NFL call never came. A few indoor football teams called, but Mills wasn’t interested. He took a job with Capital One in Virginia and started his post-football life.

“I was out,” Mills said. “I came to terms with it. I talked to my family about it. I told my agent, ‘Hey, unless it’s something really cool like the Colts or someone calls, I’m moving on.’ ”

In the winter of 2014, Mills did attend a tryout with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That experience, on a dirt high school field in 30-degree weather, didn't leave a positive impression. Mills returned to his flag football career and his bank job.

Mills moved back to central Indiana last October to work for Main Source Bank in Greenwood. Last fall he accepted an even more elusive position. O’Shea, a quarterback at McCutcheon and Franklin College before his 28-year coaching career, let Mills coach his quarterbacks.

“He’s the only person I’ve ever let work with my quarterbacks — ever,” O’Shea said. “I let him do it because I know he knows what he’s doing.

“He brought something different to the table as far as some footwork drills he did, as far as a route adjustment here or there — some stuff he really liked to throw in college. I like to pick the brain of a smart person, and Chris is that.”

Mills played flag football in Greenwood last winter, so he was somewhat loose when Anthrop called and asked him to throw at his Pro Day. Mills said he recognized most of the scouts there from when he'd thrown in Bloomington two years earlier.

He'd been embarrassed at his Pro Day when scouts intervened during passing drills to explain what they wanted to see. So Mills and Anthrop developed a script of routes that Anthrop took to Purdue offensive coordinator Terry Malone, himself a former NFL assistant with the New Orleans Saints.

O’Shea, watching from the sideline, said other than one underthrown ball, Mills looked as good as ever.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day as far as throwing and catching," Mills said.

Mills also threw at Ball State’s Pro Day the next day, then went back to underwriting loans for Main Source’s business credit department. About a week later, he received an e-mail. The Blue Bombers invited him to their Indianapolis tryout camp, waiving the fee most of the other 100 or so athletes in attendance had to pay.

That day at Riverside Park, Mills threw to receivers and went through a full combine workout, including 40-yard dash and pro agility drills.

“It was a good day,” Mills said. “I threw just as good as I did at Danny’s workout.”

Afterward came another e-mail with some positive feedback from the Blue Bombers and some advice: Be ready. If an injury or attrition hits the Blue Bombers’ quarterback depth chart in preseason camp, the team said Mills is on their short list of people to call.

It was another 'maybe,' and even if the call comes, Mills might never do more than hold a clipboard during games. However, maybe is more than most people ever hear. So Mills applied for his first passport and went back to work.

Football doesn’t figure into Mills’ long-term career plans. He could go join his father Tom's business, Tree Pro, or possibly run one of his own. He's taken an interest in real estate.

But until football completely lets go of him, he can't completely let go of football.

"It's cool to get to sit there and throw with these guys, even though I'm a banker here in Indianapolis," Mills said. "It keeps you young and keeps you in shape, and I enjoy doing that."