Published Apr 28, 2012
David Molk, Junior Hemingway taken in seventh round
Chris Balas
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor
Former Michigan center David Molk is now a San Diego Charger, while former receiver Junior Hemingway is a Kansas City Chief. Both were selected in the NFL Draft's seventh round Saturday night. Defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen, meanwhile, tweeted he'd sign with the Carolina Panthers as a rookie free agent.
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The Chargers selected Molk with the 19th pick of the seventh round, the 226th overall pick. He was projected to go in the fourth or fifth round, but an injured foot suffered in the Sugar Bowl - and which he played through - might have dropped his stock.
Molk joins former U-M linebacker Jonas Mouton and guard Steve Schilling in San Diego.
"He's a battler," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "You talk about a kid who loves to slug it out in the trenches. He battled Mike Martin everyday in practice and did a good job against Big Ten defensive tackles, as well.
"At 6-1, 298 pounds, he has short arms but he's got great football IQ. He has unbelievable upper body strength, 41 reps at the combine. David Molk could be like Jeff Saturday ... I think will make a football team and could be a starting center in the NFL."
"He's going to show up every day and in the seventh round, you like to take a pick and use it on a guy like Molk," analyst Todd McShay added.
The Chiefs selected Hemingway with the 31st pick in the seventh round. He was the Sugar Bowl MVP after catching two touchdown passes in a win over Virginia Tech. Van Bergen's stock rose after an outstanding Pro Day, but he slipped out of the draft.