RE: Heflin to Packers
The Athletic wrote an article about the Packers' free agent signings and here is the analysis of Heflin:
Jack Heflin, DT, Iowa
Basics: From Prophetstown, Ill., played at Erie-Prophetstown High School. Walked on at Northern Illinois in 2016 and spent four years in DeKalb. The only surgery of his career occurred in late August 2016 when he needed repair of the labrum in his left shoulder. Started all 13 games in 2017, five of 14 games in ’18 and 11 games in ’19. His primary position for the Huskies was 3-technique. After securing his degree, he entered the transfer portal in May 2020 and 10 days later accepted an offer from Iowa among many others. Started all eight games for the Hawkeyes as a 1- and 3-technique. Finished with 93 tackles (21 for loss), 10 sacks (six in 2018) and three forced fumbles. Jerry Montgomery, the Packers’ defensive line coach, once played on the same defensive line at Iowa with Kelvin Bell, the Hawkeyes’ defensive line coach. His signing bonus from the Packers was $7,000. Age: 23.
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 305, 40 time of 5.32. He weighed 317 for scouts in March 2020. Vertical jump of 29, broad jump of 8-8, 25 reps on the bench. Arms were 32¾, hands were 9¼.
Heflin: “I was excited to go play there (Green Bay), especially with an organization that has so much tradition. Coach Montgomery is close with my D-line coach. Coach Bell told me he talked to Coach Montgomery. He said he thinks it will be a great fit for me. A lot of the same terminology and how we played. They take care of their guys (rookie free agents). That goes a long way. You’ve got to find people that take care of you, and you take care of them.” … “At Northern (Illinois), I had a lot more success stat-wise. Just shooting gaps and making plays. At Iowa, I did a really good job holding up blocking. I don’t really care for it. Selfishly, I’d like to make plays. At the end of the day, if it’s going to help us win more games holding people up and taking on doubles, I’ll do whatever it takes.” … “I’m a tough football player. I don’t complain. I show up and go to work every day, and I bring people along with me. I don’t do things the pretty way or the flashy way. I just get the job done.” … “It was the COVID year. There’s still a lot of good football players in the MAC (Mid-American Conference), but the Big Ten is just a different breed, a different beast. That was a big part of me transferring. I just wanted to put myself in the best opportunity.” … “I know I was deserving of being drafted because of the player I am. I’m frustrated I wasn’t drafted.” … “I know the path I’ve taken to get here. I’ve walked on. I’ve been cut in college. I’ve had an uphill battle my whole entire career getting to where I’m at. Keep throwing on the adversity. It almost feels weird when I don’t have it. That’s how I know I’m going to make it.”
NFC scout: “He’s a lunch-pail, straight Green Bay guy. I loved his motor and his temperament. Was a 3-tech at Northern Illinois. What he is, is a trash can full of dirt. Very detailed, very hard-playin’ dude.”
AFC scout: “Big-body defensive tackle with a high motor. He lacks length and lower-body strength.”
NFC scout: “He was a two-time captain and defensive team MVP in 2019 at Northern Illinois. Always plays through the whistle. Relies on his motor and effort to disrupt. He has adequate strength overall, but has marginal strike and use of hands to stack and shed at the point of attack.”
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