Proehl was a member of the East Carolina Pirates for four seasons. He used a medical redshirt as a true freshman after suffering a season-ending injury at the beginning of preseason training camp.[2] As a junior, Proehl caught 47 passes for 577 yards and four touchdowns.[3] After his junior season, Proehl announced that he would forgo his final year at East Carolina to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.[4]
On August 23, 2022, Proehl was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the season.[7] He was activated on October 17, then waived and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2023.[8] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[9]
While rehabilitating his knee injury in 2021, Proehl rediscovered his love for music and posted a video of himself singing for his Grandma which went viral.[10] In March 2022, he announced his first ever single release titled "Falling Into You," released on March 25, 2022, which was written with a small circle of rising songwriters including Rachel Grae, Spencer Hendricks, Kaitlin Stark, and Austin Zudeck and Justin Thunstrom of Parkwild, who also produced the track.[11]
Proehl appeared on the 22nd seasonofAmerican Idol, and his audition was aired on February 18, 2024, successfully advancing to the Hollywood rounds. He later advanced to the Top 24 on April 1, 2024, performing the song "Anyone" by Justin Bieber. He did not advance to the Top 20.
Proehl's father, Ricky Proehl, played wide receiver in the NFL for 17 seasons.[12] His brother, Austin, played for the New York Giants but was released on August 16, 2022.[13]
