Cam Heyward son of “Ironhead”

Cam Heyward (Ohio State) 6’5” 294 lbs DE

Cam Heyward Highlight Video

The son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward who terrorized linebackers for years by brutally using his head as a battering ram.  While Cam plays on the other side of the ball, they have a similar mentality says Cam “We were both guys who just loved to pound”.

Cam Heyward hallmark is his performances in big games and is projected to go late in round 1 of the NFL draft.  Some scouts have him going in the top 20.  Could be great value pick if he slides after undergoing an ulnar collateral ligament surgery – commonly known as Tommy John surgery – on Jan. 12.

If Heyward is chosen, he’ll finish off a first round that should cause Big Ten offensive linemen to pat themselves on the back for surviving last year.

In the last decade, the Big Ten has seen a defensive lineman chosen in the first round each year, but never have more than two been picked. Now 16 percent of the first round could be from the four-man fronts of this 11-team conference.

Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt, Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan, Illinois’ Corey Liuget and Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn are all expected to be picked ahead of Heyward. Liuget, the Illini’s stud tackle, didn’t even make first-team All-Big Ten last season because he was edged out by the other four, and now he could go in the top 15 picks in the draft.

Heyward has the size to play DT in 4-3 alignment and would be good fit for NY Jets and Green Bay Packers.  He was a leader on a great Ohio State defense that helped the Buckeyes win four straight Big Ten titles.

In Cam own words:

ON HOW HE WOULD HAVE TACKLED HIS DAD: “I’d take him on, full head. He would do, he would lower his head too. I’m going to go right at him. I’m not going for the ankles, I’m going to take him down right away.”