Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeHerremans heads to Philadelphia
Senior offensive tackle drafted by Eagles in fourth round
April 25, 2005 —
Todd Herremans came to Saginaw Valley State University with a chip on his shoulder. Now he's in the National Football League.
The senior offensive tackle was selected by the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles with the 25th pick in the fourth round - 126th overall - of this past weekend's NFL Draft. It was the first time an SVSU player was taken in the draft since defensive end Lamar King was drafted 22nd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 1999.
"It really hasn't sunk in yet," Herremans said in a phone interview from his home in Ravenna after being selected. "I mean I got drafted into the NFL. I've had a great experience in Saginaw."
When he came to SVSU, the 6'6", 320-pound Herremans felt he should have been at a Division I university, and used that motivation to get to where he is today.
"(Going to a Division I school) wasn't in the cards, so I just did what I could," he said. "(SVSU) wanted me, and I wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted. I've just played with a chip on my shoulder ever since, trying to prove people wrong that they should have taken me.
"I'm happy it worked out," he continued. "I wouldn't change a thing."
Herremans is excited to be going to the Eagles, who have advanced to the NFC Championship Game four years in a row and recently lost in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots. They feature two longtime tackles in Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas, both of whom have gone to the Pro Bowl at one point in their careers.
Herremans, who said "anything over free agency is a bonus" before the draft, was just happy to be drafted.
"It's not a bad scenario," he said. "I talked to their offensive line coach (Juan Castillo) and he told me I'll be the third tackle, backing up (Runyan and Thomas)."
According to a transcript of a press conference on Sunday, Eagles coach Andy Reid said there would be good competition at the tackle position.
"That's what we're looking for," Reid said about position competition. "You need to keep a nice, young influx of tackles and guards coming in, and centers as well."
The draft process was an interesting one for Herremans.
The Eagles traded three later-round picks to the Green Bay Packers to move up to the fourth round to get him.
Five teams were on the phone with Herremans yesterday, one of which was the Eagles.
"They were all looking to draft me in the fourth round," he explained. "That's why the Eagles traded up. I was on the phone with them and they told me the trade went through and said, 'Congratulations.' I was watching it on the TV and saw the Packers' logo (there to show who was drafting next) change to the Eagles logo and then they called my name. It was crazy."
Reid explained the Eagles' move up the draft board to get Herremans.
"He's a big kid, he's very athletic and he's very smart," Reid said. "He had one of the highest test scores that we gave out. He's a talented kid and I look forward to seeing what he can do at this level. ... You see a number of kids from small schools on the second day (of the draft) that end up making it in this league. (Herremans) falls into that category."
Reid said Castillo, the Eagles' offensive line coach, contributes to that trend.
"I feel comfortable if I bring somebody in that I feel is a good athlete, it will work out because we have one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL (in Castillo)," Reid explained. "He can develop those guys. He's done it over and over. We look for a couple of characteristics that we think are important for that position and then we let Juan take care of the rest."
Eleven teams had Herremans fly in for interviews before the draft. The teams that flew him in were certainly interested in his physical skills, but were also interested in his personality traits.
"Most times teams ask, basically, 'tell us about yourself.' They just try to get to know you more," he said. "Before they want to invest money in you, then they have to get to know you. Kind of have to make sure you don't have any problems or anything."
Herremans was the eleventh tackle selected, but before the draft, he didn't concern himself with trying to prove he was better than his competition.
"Personally, I don't know any of the other tackles in the draft, so I can't say that I'm better than them," he said. "I just told them that I'm a hard worker, and if you guys pick me up I'm going to be a guy who works hard every day in practice."
Being a Division II school that has previously had just two players make NFL rosters, SVSU isn't exactly the place to go for NFL hopefuls. But according to Herremans, it's been a possibility in his mind for several years.
"I never really thought about (becoming a professional) until probably my second year of school," he said. "That's when my offensive line coach mentioned something to me about it. Ever since he said that I've just kind of kept it in the back of my mind and try to work towards that."
Herremans added that witnessing the publicity former teammates Glenn Martinez and Ruvell Martin got last year around this time made the possibility much more real. Unlike Herremans, Martinez and Martin, both wide receivers, went undrafted. They are now playing in NFL Europe.
Current offensive line coach Ben Adams was also able to help Herremans. Adams was an All-American guard for Texas and blocked for former NFL star Ricky Williams. Following his collegiate career, Adams bounced around several NFL teams before finding a home at SVSU.
"Coach Adams had a really big part in (helping me)," Herremans said. "He kind of gave me the mindset to have through all of this and he said there would be a lot of hype as well as friends and family members buddying up all of a sudden. I don't mind it, but you have to keep in mind the people you've been close with all along.
"He really helped me to give me an idea of what it's going to be like when I get there."
Herremans said that while he hasn't yet finished his degree program, he plans to do so in the next year. He took this past semester off to train for the draft.
"I have about 30 credits left," he said. "I talked to each team that I went to and made sure that I would be able to get my degree within the next year or so. The NFL has player development programs so they can help you get your bachelor's and even your master's in the off-season."
SVSU head coach Randy Awrey was simply happy for his former star tackle.
"He's a great athlete and a great human being, and we're happy for him," Awrey said. "He's getting what he deserves. He's worked very hard to get to this point."
Herremans will leave Thursday to go to Philadelphia for a post-draft rookie mini-camp. There is also a mini-camp in June for the entire team.
Training camp for the Eagles begins in late July, and first their regular season game is an NFC Championship Game rematch with Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 12.