Bo Belquist is gearing up for the 49ers’ rookie minicamp

For the vast majority of his football career, New Rockford-Sheyenne’s Bo Belquist has stayed close to home, but that will no longer be the case if he makes the San Francisco 49ers roster.

“(It was) pretty much everything I was looking for through pro day and whatnot after the season,” Belquist said. “Just hoping for an opportunity and to finally get one it feels pretty good, just gotta go make the most out of it now.”

The former University of North Dakota wide receiver has been invited to the San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp on May 8-9.

“I haven’t gotten much on what it’s gonna be like,” Belquist said. “But I can imagine it’s gonna be back into the competitive football stuff and getting back on the field, getting back to just playing football. I imagine it’s probably some playbook stuff, getting back into the competitive atmosphere, competing with other guys.”

Belquist said he was informed on Monday, April 28, by the team’s player personnel coordinator, Jessi Seumalo. Belquist said the phone call was just to tell him the information and he was not told what he needs to do to make the team. Belquist is expected to be one of four wide receivers at the 49ers rookie minicamp.

Belquist played five years of college football at the University of North Dakota where he set a program record for career receptions with 271. He finished his career playing in 52 games with 271 receptions for 3,305 yards and 30 touchdowns. He set career highs in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, yards per catch and yards per game during the 2024 season with 65 receptions for 932 yards, 10 touchdowns, 14.3 yards per catch and 77.7 yards per game.

After the NFL draft ended on Saturday, April 29, Belquist said his agent told him he didn’t hear from any team but he would probably hear from one in the days immediately following the conclusion of the event.

“I try not to put pressure on myself, not a lot of people get this opportunity so I’m gonna go out there, give it my all, show them what I got and if it’s enough, it’s enough,” Belquist said. “If it’s not hope I get another opportunity to prove myself again somewhere else.”

Over the two days at the minicamp, Belquist knows what he has to do to be invited to the team’s training camp in early August.

“I think I’m gonna have to stand out, do things differently than other people; find a way to catch one person’s eyes that will allow me to continue to play and continue to get other opportunities after that,” Belquist said.

Belquist expanded on exactly what he is hoping will help him get noticed. He said it will be a mix of the way he carries himself on the field and off of it.

“I think just the route running and (being) able to catch balls wherever they are,” Belquist said. “I think just being a guy that you can trust and learn the playbook, be kind of the guy that you don’t have to worry about, be able to do my job when they don’t have to worry about me messing up, sticking to be that consistent guy I think is my main highlights in my game.”

If Belquist makes the 49ers’ final roster, he will be the first player from North Dakota to ever play for the 5-time Super Bowl champions.

“Obviously it would mean everything,” Belquist said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to happen. It’s been a dream and a goal of mine to play at the next level. I’d be honored to get that opportunity and hold onto it as long as I can.”

Before he goes to the 49ers facility, Belquist said he will be preparing both on the field and off of it.

“Just continue to train and continue to prep for this, study more football just in case they have questions in the classroom of football, just keep trying to get physically ready for whatever they may have entailed for me when I get there,” Belquist said.