Mark Herzlich draft buzz

Yesterday, it was Anthony Castonzo’s turn. Today’s it’s Mark Herzlich’s. There isn’t a whole lot of doubt that this Boston College linebacker will be drafted next weekend by one of the NFL’s 32 teams, and his backstory is well-documented. His noble fight against Ewing’s sarcoma and subsequent return to football is known to virtually all college football observers and is a testament to his resolve.

Herzlich was one of the featured prospects on the NFL.com web series Everything to Prove, where he talked about his battle and his preparation for the 2011 NFL Draft. He does not figure to be a high draft pick, but he does stand a good chance of scooping up one of the spots. Herzlich will be one of the higher-profile prospects in the later rounds.

NESN writer Jeff Howe believes Herzlich to be the top sleeper in the draft this season. Perhaps this is a little bit of home cooking, or perhaps it isn’t, but whatever team selects Herzlich is going to get a hard-nosed player. We know, his 2010 football form wasn’t the same as the Herzlich of old, but it was still good enough to warrant him serious looks from NFL teams. The Chicago Tribune is also high on Herzlich, saying that he could be quite the “mid-to-late-round steal” if he is able to improve upon his senior season at BC and turn back the clock.

So, where might this fine young man land? We’ll take a further look at the mock drafts next week, of course, but for those of you in the Patriots fan circle, you may be able to root for Herzlich even longer. WEEI maintains that Mark is high on the list of late-round possibilities. After all, who doesn’t want to root for the hometown hero? SportingNews also suggests that a team like the San Francisco 49ers have a need at linebacker, and Herzlich could fill it in the late rounds. In fact, writers for several other teams have mentioned Herzlich as a potential choice on Day 2 or 3 of the draft, furthering the notion that he is going to draw quite a bit of interest next weekend. Recall that before his cancer diagnosis, he was well on his way to being a first or second-round pick, and though some teams will have some concerns, there are going to be several who would be willing to give him a chance.

As for how late he will stay on the board, that’s a question I can’t presently answer. With his teammate Anthony Castonzo, we know when he’s going: the first round. Herzlich’s window of opportunity seems to stretch from the 3rd round all the way to the 6th, and any number of teams with a need at linebacker could reach up and take him. I don’t suspect there will be too much tension at his draft party, however, because his phone is going to ring next weekend; it’s just a matter of who’s on the other end.