Former MSU star Fowler enjoying Super Bowl as Bronco

San Jose, Calif. — During his first two days in the Bay Area, Broncos wide receiver Bennie Fowler said he took about 200 photos.

The former Michigan State and Detroit Country Day wide receiver that went undrafted in 2014 is trying to capture this experience as much as he can.

“It’s a dream come true,” Fowler said during Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday. “This is what you play the game for.”

After being on Denver’s practice squad as a rookie, Fowler worked his way onto the 53-man roster in 2015. Playing behind Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, Fowler didn’t have many opportunities, but he took advantage of a key chance during this year’s playoff run.

The second-longest catch of Fowler’s young career came in the Broncos’ divisional-round win over the Steelers this year. The 31-yard catch converted a third down midway through the fourth quarter, and the Broncos proceeded to score the go-ahead touchdown, which gave them a chance to beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship the following week.

“He’s big,” Thomas said of Fowler. “He worked hard since last year coming off the practice squad. He came and stepped up this year with some critical plays to get us where we’re at right now.”

Since advancing to the Super Bowl, Fowler said he’s heard from several former Spartans standouts, including Blair White, Greg Jones, Mark Dell and B.J. Cunningham.

Fowler was one of three Michigan State receivers in the postseason this year, along with New England’s Keshawn Martin and Houston’s Keith Mumphery. Out of the three, Fowler was the only one who wasn’t drafted, but he said that just provided him more motivation. And after learning how to earn opportunities under coach Mark Dantonio, Fowler took the same approach to the NFL.

“It’s just the way Coach D is,” he said. “You earn the jersey. It’s never given.”

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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