Published: June 17, 2009 10:13 pm      

BILLS: Falls native Betterson invited to tryout

Niagara Falls native Greg Betterson is one of several players invited to try out for the Buffalo Bills today at Ralph Wilson Stadium Fieldhouse.

“I’m feeling good about it,” Betterson said Monday after being measured and weighed at the Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga. “I don’t think they’d bring you in if they didn’t have any expectations for you.”

Betterson, 23, played at both Niagara Falls High School and Niagara Catholic. After two years at a junior college in Minnesota, Betterson was recruited to play for Division I-AA Central Connecticut State, but wound up at Delta State University, a Division II program in Mississippi.

Last season, Betterson caught 45 passes for 639 yards and nine touchdowns to help Delta State finish the season ranked among the top 25 nationally.

Listed at 6-foot and 185 pounds, Betterson “has the DNA of an explosive punt returner,” according to his former agent, Chester Harvey.

Betterson said he is now represented by JR Rickert and Ray Brownell of National Sports Management.

The Bills aren’t lacking for receivers with Terrell Owens joining last year’s crop of wideouts. But they may need extra bodies at the position for training camp, since James Hardy and CJ Hawthorne are still recovering from surgeries.

Betterson said he is looking forward to performing in position drills today, which he did not get much of a chance to do when he was trying to market himself prior to the NFL draft in April.

“I’m confident,” he said. “I’ve practiced in front of pro scouts before, and I’m in shape.”

Betterson has been working out at the Thurman Thomas Sports Training center in Elma, and also spent two weeks at Kevin Kasper’s Xtreme Speed facility in Plainfield, Ill.

“I’m not from Buffalo but I still consider the Bills the hometown team,” Betterson said. “Being a local, it would be pretty special to make the team.”

If he can’t catch on with an NFL team, Betterson is confident he will still play professionally next season, citing the upstart United Football League as an option.

E-mail reporter Jonah Bronstein at jonah.bronstein@niagara-gazette.com