Dalton Crossan has heard all the comparisons. But he’s not really into them.

Sure, he understands why people want to make him out to be the next Chris Hogan — lacrosse star turned football player hoping to make it big in the NFL — though the former University of New Hampshire standout quickly points out there’s major holes in the story.

“Chris played four years of college lacrosse before he played football at Monmouth,’’ Crossan said last week after finishing up a full day’s training with EXOS in San Diego. “I was always a football guy who just happened to play lacrosse growing up.’’

“Happened to play’’ is a bit of an understatement.

Crossan was one of the top high school players on the lacrosse hotbed of Long Island, where he was the second-leading scorer as a junior, and was heavily recruited by all the heavyweights.

Though he had stopped playing summer lacrosse after his sophomore year so that he could focus on football, the big lacrosse schools were undeterred.

Johns Hopkins, Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Maryland, and Michigan were just a few bidding for a commitment from the Sachem North High star attacker and midfielder.

Crossan was flattered by the caliber of the programs showing interest and enjoyed the recruiting process, so he continued to let it play out.

“I actually narrowed my choices to Notre Dame and Michigan,’’ he said.

Then reality sunk in for the 5-foot-11-inch, 206-pounder. He really was a football guy.

“I liked playing lacrosse but I wasn’t passionate about it,’’ he said. “Football I was passionate about. In my heart, it was always football. I knew deep down I was going to play football in college.’’

Crossan’s football chops were as impressive as his lacrosse exploits.

He was named co-winner of the Hansen Award as the top player on Long Island after rushing for 2,016 yards and 38 touchdowns as a senior. He finished his high school career with 72 TDs.

Though he wasn’t as heavily recruited for football, Crossan wasn’t about to let that stop him from pursuing his dream.

He received interest from coach Sean McDonnell at UNH and decided to take a visit. He was sold as soon as he stepped on campus.

“They always say you know right away when you visit a school, but I never really believed that,’’ Crossan said. “But then it happened when I got to UNH.’’

After redshirting his freshman season, Crossan found himself stuck behind some veteran running backs on the Wildcats’ depth chart. He showed enough during the summer that the coaches knew he needed to be on the field.

“We had some pretty established guys [at running back],’’ said Crossan. “But then they came up with some packages for me so I could get my touches.’’

Crossan found himself working out of the backfield, in the slot, and as the primary kickoff returner. He wound up with 930 all-purpose yards.

After four seasons in Durham, Crossan had piled up 5,189 all-purpose yards and 38 TDs.

Crossan said his lacrosse skills have definitely helped him on the gridiron.

“The one-on-one aspect of lacrosse is relatable,’’ he said. “I compare it to running a route against a linebacker out of the backfield or running a route against a safety out of the slot. That quickness and short-space movement is pretty similar. As well as open-field moves — you’ve got to make defenders miss in both sports.’’

Though Crossan wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, which begins Tuesday in Indianapolis, he has been in Combine mode as he prepares to extend his football career.

Crossan’s days now are spent at EXOS, jampacked with workouts (including speed, strength, and positional drill sessions) designed to maximize his performance for UNH’s Pro Day on March 15.

Crossan already has had plenty of interaction with pro scouts, with a lot of that coming during the College Gridiron Showcase last month in Texas. The symposium is run by scouts, who coach and mentor participants about how to prepare for life as a professional.

Included in the showcase are classes, practices, and one-on-one drills and instructions.

Crossan said he met with officials from about 12-15 teams at the event, including a 45-minute chat with the Patriots. He said New England officials also have seen him at practice.

“Teams, [including the Patriots], really like me as that satellite-type player,’’ said Crossan. “That third-down-back type that can play running back, line up in the slot, line up in the backfield, and motion out and create mismatches with linebackers and safeties covering me.’’

Crossan is hoping to catch enough attention that teams will take a chance on him, but getting drafted isn’t his main focus.

“I think I did really well at my showcase and I’m hoping to do the same at Pro Day, put up some really good numbers,’’ he said. “Whether I get drafted or sign as a free agent is really out of my control. I’m going to do my best at Pro Day and after that it’s up to the teams.

“I don’t think getting drafted is necessarily a goal. My main goal is to make a 53-man roster and be able to contribute, whether it’s special teams or getting on the field on offense, whatever team I go to, whatever they want me to do is what I’ll do.’’

OPEN BOOKS

Mitchell’s friends don’t hide feelings

When the members of the Silverleaf Book Club gathered for their most recent meeting, “A Matter of Destiny,’’ their latest read, was on the docket.

It was a brief discussion.

That was no slight on ex-fighter pilot Gene Baldwin’s book, a compelling story of love and war that Kathy Rackley called “very, very interesting,’’ but the ladies were eager to tackle another topic. Also a matter of destiny.

The club’s most famous member, Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell, was getting ready to help author a victory in Super Bowl LI in Houston and the group was pretty excited.

There were, however, some split allegiances. The Silverleafers are from greater Athens, Ga., and there are some Falcons fans in the ranks.

“The general consensus was, we’d love to see our home state win, but if Malcolm gets to play and he’s doing well, that’s what we want more,’’ said Rackley.

On the night of the big game, Rackley watched with fellow book clubber Wanda Hayes and there were several subsets of members around the area.

“We were texting back and forth throughout the game,’’ reported Rackley. “We’d say, ‘Did you see that?’ or ‘Go Malcolm!’ ’’

Like most of the rest of the world, Rackley thought the game was over by halftime.

“When we were sitting there watching the game, it was like, ‘Oh gosh, the Falcons got this,’ ’’ she said. “But then, those last five minutes of the game, I thought I was going to have a heart attack.’’

On the game’s final play, there was Mitchell blocking voraciously as James White crossed the goal line.

“I started crying, it was so amazing,’’ said Rackley, getting emotional again as she recalled the story. “For days and days afterward we were walking around sheepishly because of all the Falcons fans. We would just kind of quietly hum a happy hum to ourselves.’’

Since the win, Rackley, who said a book about Bill Belichick is on the Silverleaf list, has been in touch with Mitchell regularly and has promised that he’ll be “coming to a meeting as soon as I can.’’

Mitchell, who already has the “The Magician’s Hat’’ on his résumé, is actively seeking a publisher for his second children’s book.

Like many Patriots fans in and out of New England — Rackley is still basking in the glow of the team’s success — and that of Mitchell.

“There’s no better feeling than watching one of your friends see their dream come true,’’ she said. “It just makes your heart so happy.’’

ETC.

Event a win-win for league, players

The Sports Innovation Lab and the Harvard Innovation Labs, in partnership with the NFLPA’s OneTeam Collective, recently held a symposium entitled “The Rise of the Quantified Athlete.’’ The daylong program of panel discussions and company showcases brought together athletes and experts who develop products, including “wearables’’ (i.e. fitbits and the like), to help how data is being collected and used to enhance performance.

The event is the brainchild of Isaiah Kacyvenski, a former Harvard linebacker with eight years of NFL experience. It was the kickoff event for the Sports Innovation Lab, which Kacyvenski cofounded. He now serves as the lab’s managing director.

The NFLPA’s involvement in the event is really twofold, as not only can players help develop, test, and provide feedback on products, they can also get involved with the companies as pitchmen and maybe post-football employment.

“We want to be on the cutting edge and work with companies that are really trying to solve problems and create opportunities,’’ said Ahmad Nassar, the president of NFL Players Inc. and chairman of the NFLPA’s OneTeam Collective.

One of the big problems on Nassar’s plate is how to help players transition out of the NFL when their playing days come to an end. Exposing them to other arenas is the key.

“Right now, there’s 40 players doing internships everywhere from Capitol Hill offices to sheriff departments in local cities to licensees of ours, like Fanatics, Panini trading cards, and Nike and Under Armour, and those types of companies,’’ said Nassar.

Like they would be for a college student, these internships can prove invaluable.

“The idea being, by doing real-world work with these companies that by the time they’re ready to retire, they’ve gotten their feet wet, gotten some experience, and maybe go back to the company they interned with in a full-time capacity,’’ said Nassar.

The ability to make these connections — introducing players to companies and vice versa — is a major component of the job of Nassar and his team.

Nassar said having a resource such as Kacyvenski has been crucial.

“He’s kind of the glue for us and really exhibit A in terms of what we’re trying to do. Here’s a guy that went to Harvard and then came back to Harvard,’’ said Nassar. “The vantage that he has in the tech world, in the start-up world, and as a former athlete. He’s got a foot firmly planted in both worlds.’’

Among the other NFLers who participated in the event were former Harvard quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (most recently of the Jets), Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie, ex-Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck, and former Seahawks cornerback Shawn Springs.

Extra points

With the uncertainty surrounding the Patriots’ tight end situation (Rob Gronkowski coming off back surgery and Martellus Bennett not under contract), the team will surely be looking to the draft and free agency to replenish the position. The top rookies include Alabama’s O.J. Howard (6-5, 249 pounds) and Miami’s David Njoku (6-4, 245), and both would fit nicely in New England. Keep an eye on Washington’s Darrell Daniels, a 6-4, 246-pound athletic playmaker who said last week he spent time with Patriots scouts at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. “They’ve also been to a couple of our practices,’’ said Daniels. “We have a good relationship and I really enjoyed their company.’’ Top free agent targets could include Jared Cook and Ryan Griffin . . . Speaking of Gronk, he was at his humorous best in a recent ESPN interview when asked about whether Roger Goodell will receive a warm Foxborough welcome if he chooses to attend the 2017 opener. “To tell you the truth, I really don’t think so,’’ he said. “The fans are nuts. They’re wild and they have the Patriots’ back no matter what. They have Tom [Brady’s] back. [Goodell] wouldn’t get through the highway if our fans saw him. So I don’t think he can even land in the airport in Boston because Patriots fans are the best fans.’’ . . . There will be 330 participants at the NFL Scouting Combine this coming week. Michigan will have 14 players getting tested, poked, and prodded, tied for most all time with Ohio State (2004 and ’16) and Southern Cal (2006). Boston College (safety John Johnson and linebacker Matt Milano) and UConn (safety Obi Melifonwu and receiver Noel Thomas) have two each . . . Bennett and LeGarrette Blount both expressed a desire to stay in New England during the season, but only Blount has reaffirmed that stance in the offseason. “I just want to make sure that I go into this free agency with an open mind knowing that I definitely want to go back to New England,’’ the 30-year-old running back told NFL Network. Blount rushed for a career-high 1,161 yards and a league-high 18 rushing TDs in 2016 . . . Alan Branch, who is coming off arguably the best season of his career, leading New England’s defensive tackles in tackles and locker room laughs, also has talked about how he loves playing for the Patriots. He told SiriusXM Friday that his career was “revamped’’ when he arrived in Foxborough. He also said he “just got finished changing a diaper, a No. 2.’’ . . . Jimmy Garoppolo worth a first-round draft pick? Of course it’s a matter of opinion, but consider this: If you’re a general manager in need of a franchise QB (hello, Browns, Bears, and 49ers just to name a few) is there a draftable prospect with a higher upside than New England’s No. 2 guy? Mitch Trubisky, DeShone Kizer, Pat Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson are the consensus top four. It says here Garoppolo is better than all of them . . . With the Patriots set to face the Raiders in Mexico City this coming season, the NFL announced last week that the 2016 Mexico City game (Texans vs. Raiders) pumped $45 million into the local economy. The league said 9,500 international visitors came to town and stayed an average of five days . . . Dan Marino signed a one-day contract Wednesday and immediately retired as a Dolphin. This was done despite the fact that the Hall of Fame quarterback played his entire 17-year career in Miami. That’s a head-scratcher. Was there anyone out there confused about Marino’s status? Wonder if the Dolphins brought back Don Strock for the day so he could stand next to Marino holding a clipboard?

Revelations by the New York Daily News that the Jets’ tampering with regard to Darrelle Revis while he was still under contract with the Patriots in 2015 was more extensive (including secret cellphone calls and clandestine meetings) than owner Woody Johnson saying he’d “love’’ to have him back were probably met with little more than a shrug at One Patriot Place. The Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX with Revis’s help but were never going to keep him around for a second season. The Jets got their man back for five years and $70 million (including $39 million guaranteed) and Johnson was hit with a $100,000 fine but no loss of draft picks. Revis has been a shell of himself for two seasons and now has off-field problems, while the Patriots just celebrated another Super Bowl title and have upward of $65 million in cap space.

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride. Material from interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.