Second in my player profile series of this year’s draft picks is David Molk.
David Molk was a 7th round draft pick (226th overall) by the Chargers in the 2012 NFL draft.
Out of the University of Michigan, Molk played for the Wolverines from 2007 to 2011.
He had quite a college career, having been on several watch lists as one of the top centers in the nation.
After “red shirting” in 2007, Molk was expected to start in 2008 but developed mononucleosis and had to compete with David Moorsman for the starting job. Despite his illness, Molk was awarded the Iron Wolverine Award for his superior conditioning.
In Molk’s second year playing spring football, he earned the sophomore award for toughness and work ethic during the Michigan spring football awards. He ended up on the Rimington Trophy watch list and the Lombardi Award watch list prior to the 2009 season. Molk only played 3 games that season and never came back due to a broken foot and torn knee ligaments.
Prior to the 2010 season, Molk found himself on the Rimington Trophy watch list again and ended up a finalist after the season concluded. Following the Big Ten conference regular season, Molk was a first team All-conference selection by the coaches and second team member as selected by the media. He was also recognized by Sports Illustrated as an honorable mention All-American.
As a fifth-year senior in 2011, he was selected to three preseason watch lists: the Outland Trophy list, which goes to the nation’s top interior lineman, the Lombardi Award watch list, which is awarded to the nation’s top lineman; and the Rimington Trophy watch list, which is awarded to the nation’s top center.
He earned the 2011 Big Ten Conference Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award and was a repeat first team All-Big-Ten Conference selection by the coaches and a second team selection by the media. The following week, he was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. A few days later, he was declared the Rimington Trophy winner. He was also first team All-American selection by AP Football Writers Association of America, Scout.com, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, which resulted in him becoming a consensus All-American. He was a third team All-American selection by Yahoo Sports and an honorable mention All-American selectee by Sports Illustrated and the Pro Football Weekly.
Molk was invited to participate in the January 28, 2012 Senior Bowl, and he was an early invite to the February 22–28, 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.
I think if Molk puts on some more muscle and get stronger, he will be a force in the NFL. He is a smart player, has good leverage but he does lack the strength to dominate some the the more talented defenders in the league. He’s undersized but is fairly mobile and has good range. He may never be a pro-bowl quality center, but he’s smart, tough and can get the job done.
I have found that when a person comes from diversity or when something tragic happens in their life, whether they play professional sports or otherwise, they tend to excel. David Molk is no different. When he was in the 8th grade, he lost his Mother to cancer. Watch this video.
Next week: Johnnie Troutman