Even if it was just for a few days, Henry Blackburn was living a childhood dream this past weekend.

Just 45 miles from where he grew up in Boulder, the multi-year starter at safety for Colorado State found himself in Dove Valley, wearing a Denver Broncos practice jersey and helmet as he tried to make an impression for the team he grew up loving.

“Growing up in Colorado, you always see the Broncos play and just to be able to put on the helmet, put on the jersey, it’s a blessing,” Blackburn said. “I know there’s so many young kids in Colorado that want to play for the Broncos and want to go play and represent Colorado. It’s just really a blessing to be in this position.”

Blackburn was a rookie tryout participant this past weekend at rookie minicamp, along with 29 other players, six of which were Colorado natives. That list includes former Houston and Colorado offensive lineman Jake Wiley is a Grandview High graduate who grew up 15 minutes from the Broncos facility as well as former Princeton and CU quarterback Blake Strenstrom, a Valor Christian grad.

There were also a pair of CU Buffs in offensive lineman Justin Mayers and defensive lineman Shane Cokes, as well as a former CU player in tight end Michael Harrison and Colorado School of Mines wide receiver Max McLeod.

Also among the local players is someone Blackburn had a lot of experience playing against in fellow safety Wyett Ekeler, a Windsor native who spent the last five years at Wyoming and is the younger brother of current NFL running back Austin Ekeler.

While Ekeler’s Cowboys may have gotten the better of Blackburn’s Rams the majority of the tenures in college, it was Blackburn who got the last laugh a few months ago in Fort Collins.

“I had to remind him of that, but Wyatt’s a good dude,” Blackburn said with a laugh. “He’s a Colorado kid, as well, but that rivalry is always gonna be there.”

None of the local tryouts (either Colorado natives or players who played nearby) ended up signing with the Broncos after minicamp as The Denver Gazette reported former Utah State wide receiver Kyrese White and former Michigan State linebacker Jordan Turner were signed to Denver’s 90-man offseason roster Tuesday, but that won’t stop Blackburn and his other former CSU teammates in a similar spot from trying to make it onto a roster ahead of training camp.

“I think there’s nine of us (from CSU) who got (invited to a) camp or got drafted or some type of NFL opportunity,” Blackburn said. “You train for the pro day, you train for camp and having guys like that that I’m able to lean on and talk to, train with, it’s been really awesome.”

Still, for one weekend, Blackburn and five other Colorado kids got to be Denver Broncos.

“I grew up in Colorado, been playing football here for a long time — since I was about 7 years old. I grew up a Broncos fan, played at Colorado State, had the opportunity to come play for the Broncos,” Blackburn said. “I was just really blessed and it’s a really great opportunity to come out here and compete with the guys.”