APThe most inspirational player in college football last season has found his professional home.
Mark Herzlich, the Boston College linebacker who won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2008, sat out a season while battling cancer in 2009 and returned to start all 13 games in 2010, is a New York Giant.
Herzlich confirmed on Twitter that he agreed to a deal as an undrafted free agent today.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin is the former head coach at Boston College and likely followed Herzlich’s career there closely, so it’s not a surprise that Coughlin would want to give Herzlich a chance.
Although Herzlich was invited to the NFL draft, he was not selected. Now he’ll get a chance to compete for a job in training camp and to become an inspiration to millions in the NFL.
I knew it! Called this months ago! Great signing for the G-Men – excited to see what this kid can do for us!
Like Mariucci said about Tom Brady, they didn’t look at his heart.
Teams are going to wish they drafted him.
Good luck young man!
Coughlin will be on the hot seat by week 6.
Good news for a very good player. If he can regain the size and speed he had before battling cancer, he’ll be a nice player for the Giants.
FARVE says:What about ME-ME-ME talk about ME!!
Let’s hope he makes the roster. Love a good story.
Giants got a good prospect player shame I wanted the Lions to grab him, he could have competed for a starting spot right away.
Welcome to the NFL!
Looks like Osi’s replacement posibly.
Dude’s a beast
Such a great kid! I hope he makes the team. Only wish the Steelers would have taken him! So happy to see someone picked him up!
What a class move by a class organization. Good luck mark. I for one hope you are fully cured & have a fine pro career.
Good luck to this young man. Here’s hoping he’s this year’s undrafted free agent with success equivalent to that of Danny Woodhead last year.
Hit’em hard Mark.. Congratulations
Great story. Good luck. Hope this guy makes an immediate impact.
Good luck to you sir…
Tom is a big BC guy and doesn’t mind taking a flyer on a good BC kid. This guy battled cancer and is back to playing ball, that has to say a lot about his character alone. I’m excited about my G-Men picking up Herz, let’s hope he can show and prove!
Son of a…Eagles should have drafted him and not Lloyd…
Sucks, wish Ravens got him. Great kid, tough and all heart. Good luck kid!!
ejmat2 says:
Jul 26, 2011 10:47 AM
Looks like Osi’s replacement posibly.
Really? You don’t watch much football, do you? Osi is a 6’3, 280 pound D-lineman. This guy is a 6’4, 244 pound linebacker.
Good luck Mark. Seems like a young man who will find success in life whether it’s on the field or off.
Love this! Eagles can have Casey Mathews.
He’ll make their team. They need LBs badly.
I wish him well, I was hoping the Packers landed him, although I admit he fits best in a 4-3.
brettfavrecellphone says:Jul 26, 2011 10:45 AM
Coughlin will be on the hot seat by week 6.
^ nah, coughlin’s giants dominate the first half of the season, it’s the second half when he’ll be on the hot seat.
Congrats to the Giants, if this kid can get anywhere close to where he was in 2008 they just got a great player.
I was hoping the Patriots would sign him, but I wish him the best of luck.
Gotta give it up for our front office and coughlin’s BC influence nabbing the prized UDFA on the market.
Could be a Jessie Armstead in the making.
Good for him. Hope the guy does well. That’s at least one benefit of not getting drafted, is he got to pretty much pick where ever he wanted to go. Just glad it wasn’t a team that a can’t stand.
NOOOO!! I wanted the Bills to grab this guy so badly.
as a cancer survivor and giants fan, this is just a great story all around
It’s a nice story, but let’s be realistic here…there’s a reason he was undrafted.
Herzlich is immortalized in the Gatorade “Everything To Prove” series, though. I don’t think he would complain about being invited to the draft. Those clips will be around long after his career has finished.
God, it’s move like this that make me envy the giants. First they get prince in the draft and get a steal with this man. While my cowboys continue to sign more LB, WR, RB and never address the secondary. It’s going to be a tough season.
str82dvd says: Jul 26, 2011 11:06 AM
NOOOO!! I wanted the Bills to grab this guy so badly.
———-
Giants could disappoint you again if they end up signing Poz too.
First-rate person and they simply don’t come any tougher. He had one of the worst cancers you can get and still managed to get back on the field. Not happy with his team selection but thrilled for him personally.
i really hope this guy takes off and regains his form.
Honestly, I am kinda pissed that the Eagles didn’t get him.
even though he’s a giant, i will support this guy as long as he’s in the league.
that’s saying a lot, cause i F’n HATE THE GIANTS.
best of luck kid.
The instant he signed he became the best LB on our roster.
Great move. Glad he landed w/a big time team so his story can continue to be told. Even gladder he didn’t end up with the Ravens, as was rumored earlier today. Wishing you well Mark!
He should have signed with the Detroit Lions. Because of their linebacker situatuion, he’d play there. Maybe even start.
“freedomispopular says: Jul 26, 2011 11:17 AM
It’s a nice story, but let’s be realistic here…there’s a reason he was undrafted.”
Yeah, its called cancer. Go back and look at what this kid was the year before he was diagnosed. He was a top 3 college LB. He lost some speed and size due to treatment. THAT is why he wasnt drafted, if he recovers completely he will be fine.
According to himself. The Eagles, Ravens and Giants showed the most interest. So maybe Detroit didn’t offer him anything like that. Congrats to him though. How can’t you like this guy.
Good for you Mark. Would have liked to have you in Carolina. You will be one heck of a leader on the team and in the community.
One caveat….screw the damned Giants.
Damn it!… I wanted to see this young man in Silver & Black!!…
Regardless, best of luck to him… Nice acquisition for the Giants!
Is it possible that the reason no team drafted him is because no one wanted to be the team that cut him and ended his redemption story?
he should’ve kept that eagle on his sleeve.
I am so excited by this signing!! Awesome choice!!!
7-2 start, 1-6 finish. 2011 NY Giants. BTW, he’ll amount to nothing.
Great Choice
Patriots fan here wishing Mark the best of luck in his Giants career.
@houseofho
Well then you may experience the pleasure of watching him fall short of his potential year after year.
teams will regret not taking him in the draft. Will be a starter by year 2
Finally some good post lockout news. Although I still fail to see how this stops Eli from losing the game?