NFL.com: From Hillsdale College to combine star

INDIANAPOLIS — Two years ago, it was Pierre Garcon out of Division III Mount Union College. Last year, it was Johnny Knox out of D-II Abilene Christian. This year, could Jared Veldheer from D-II Hillsdale College be the next small-school standout to turn a sensational NFL Scouting Combine performance into a promising career?

Veldheer was one of the most impressive offensive linemen prospects to work out Saturday. He was a top performer in just about every category, and he measured in at 6-foot-8 and 312 pounds with 33-inch arms.

At the very least, Veldheer has one prominent NFL team executive on his side. Browns general manager Tom Heckert also attended Hillsdale and admitted that he had a soft spot for the mammoth offensive lineman.

“I’ve talked to his parents, actually, about the whole process,” Heckert said. “It’s an exciting time for the school. He’s a big-time player, and it’s exciting.”

Heckert said he believes Veldheer will become the first drafted player from Hillsdale since 1980. What better place for that process to start for Veldheer than the same stadium where Hillsdale’s most famous football alum, recently retired Colts offensive consultant Howard Mudd, plied his trade.

– Jason Feller

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Scout.com: Browns GM Heckert talks about Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer

By Doug Farrar
Special to TheOBR.com
Posted Feb 28, 2010

While it's generally difficult to get a sense of which players a team is looking out for at the Combine, Hillsdale offensive tackle Jared Veldheer should be on every Browns fan's watch list. Why? Heckert also went to Hillsdale, and he's had his eye on the talented and highly regarded player for a while. "I really do," Heckert said, when asked if he had a soft spot for Veldheer. "He’s going to be a drafted player. I don’t know if there has been a drafted player coming out of Hillsdale, I don’t think there has been. That’s obviously exciting. I’ve talked to him. I tried to meet him here last night, but I never got around to it. I talked to his parents about the whole process. This is an exciting time for the school because he’s a big-time player."

As a taller, quicker player, Veldheer fits the prototype of the Brown's line at this time, through Heckert and Holmgren generally prefer more power in their technicians. But who knows? There have been worse tie-breakers in selecting a player, and as Heckert starts to put a stamp on his new team, perhaps that's one way to do it.

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One of the greatest days in Hillsdale Football History...and it's February

It doesn't get any bigger for Charger football alums than today.

Veldheer blows up Day 1 of the Combine

At day 1 of the NFL Combine, Jared Veldheer proved physically that he belongs among the best linemen in the country regardless of alma mater.

Bruce Campbell may have gotten the most hype on the NFL Network's coverage of the offensive linemen at the Combine with his 4.78 40, but only one athlete, had top 10 performances in all 10 tests posted by the NFL Saturday.

Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer won both the 3 cone drill and the short shuttle, while posting the 2nd best vertical, and recording the 4th best 40, 5th best broad jump, and 9th best bench press.

Ross Coaches the Night Train to Gold

Former Hillsdale running back Jason Ross has played an integral role in The United States breaking a 62 year golden drought in the 4 man bobsled. Behind Ross's push coaching, the Night Train driven by Steve Holcomb delivered America its first gold in the 4 man event since 1948. Ross told me on Friday that he would be mighty disappointed if the team didn't end up in the medal mix. They did more than that, setting numerous course records in the process.

Tracking Jared Veldheer at the Combine

Track Hillsdale's Jared Veldheer as he participates in the National Football League's Combine in Indianapolis here. Also keep up with the action and watch live at NFL.com/Combine.

Former Hillsdale RB Jason Ross checks in from the Olympics

Hillsdale College Football Alum turned bobsledder turned US National Team push coach/team chiropractor was kind enough to do an interview this morning. Just before he and the team headed up to the Whistler Sliding Center he checked in to trace his path from Hillsdale to Vancouver and give a preview of tonight's 4 man competition.

Jim Rome likes to hype his Jungle Karma. Well, I am hyping the Charger Blue Karma because Ross's boys went on to set 2 course records tonight and lead the field going into Day 2 of the sport's signature event.

Click to Listen.

NFL Combine Update: Jared Veldheer

In his first test of the NFL Combine, Hillsdale College Offensive Tackle Jared Veldheer cranked out 32 reps on the 225 pound bench press.

The combine for the linemen wraps up tomorrow with a day of the remaining physical tests.

(Reported by Shawn Zobel of DraftHeadquarters.com)

News Herald: OT was a big man on small campus

By Jeff Schudel
JSchudel@News-Herald.com

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Combine isn't just about the big stars such as Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

Sometimes it's about players from colleges many fans could not find on a map.

Jared Veldheer is an offensive tackle from Hillsdale College, a liberal arts school in Hillsdale, Mich., founded in 1844. And while most fans might not know the Hillsdale Chargers were 9-3 in 2009, or even what a Hillsdale Charger looks like, the NFL knows all about the 6-foot-8 Veldheer, rated ninth among draft-eligible tackles this year by NFLDraftScout.

The top three tackles in the draft are Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, Bryan Bulaga from Iowa and Trent Williams from Oklahoma. It is safe to say Hillsdale did not play the same schedule as those schools from the Big 12 and the Big Ten.

"I feel like that doesn't matter at this point because everybody here is through playing college football," Veldheer said, a little testily. "At this point it's a new slate for everybody."

Chances are good the Browns have already completed their homework on Veldheer. Browns general manager Tom Heckert graduated from Hillsdale.

"I knew that," Veldheer said. "He's actually part of the same fraternity I was a member of. He's president of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity."

Okung, Bulaga and Williams all play left tackle. The Browns don't need a left tackle because they have Joe Thomas. But they need a right tackle. John St. Clair, the Browns starter at right tackle in 2009, gave up 15.5 sacks the last two seasons — in 2008 with the Bears and 2009 with the Browns. So whether they draft Veldheer or someone else, they have to find an upgrade to replace St. Clair.

"Regularly outmuscled undersized Division II competition with ease, but still must prove he can handle matching up with the big boys," Pro Football Weekly wrote in its 2010 Draft guide. "An intriguing developmental left tackle prospect with outstanding measureables and upside."

Veldheer was a left tackle at Hillsdale, but he knows his future in the NFL might be on the right side. He is projected as a third-round pick. The Browns have two picks in that round — their own and the one they got when they traded Braylon Edwards to the Jets.

"Through training for the combine, I've been working with Brad Hopkins, who played 13 years for the Titans and was a two-time Pro Bowl player," Veldheer said. "For every rep we do on the left, we do one on the right. If a team already has a left tackle, I'd have no problem going to the right. I've heard both positions from the scouts."

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