Quebec native Matthew Bergeron's NFL journey begins this weekend

Article content material

Matthew Bergeron isn’t positive the place he’d be at the moment had he remained at dwelling and attended a Quebec college.

Article content material

As a substitute, the offensive lineman from Victoriaville went to Syracuse College — the one full NCAA scholarship supply he acquired — and is getting ready for the Atlanta Falcons’ rookie mini-camp this weekend after being chosen within the second-round (thirty eighth total) of this 12 months’s NFL draft.

Article content material

Bergeron was the primary of a document 5 Canadians taken within the draft.

“I’m prepared for something and I’m moving into with the mentality of giving it my greatest and we’ll see what’s going to occur,” the 23-year-old mentioned Wednesday afternoon on a videoconference name organized by NFL Canada. “I really feel like I by no means gave up. We had some years and difficult moments at Syracuse previously, however I saved working. I used to be drafted thirty eighth, however in 2020, was a part of one of many worst offensive traces in faculty soccer. Our names had been dragged by social media. I saved working and I’m the place I’m at proper now.”

Article content material

Article content material

The Falcons thought so extremely of Bergeron, they moved up within the draft to safe the companies of the 6-foot-5, 318-pound behemoth, buying and selling the forty fourth and a hundred and tenth total picks to Indianapolis.

Bergeron was a four-year starter with the Orange, together with a second-team all-ACC choice final season. He’s extremely considered a run blocker, whereas working to enhance his cross blocking abilities. Bergeron additionally was a workforce captain at Syracuse whereas making the athletic director’s honour roll six occasions.

Atlanta had a poor 7-10 document final season and the workforce is dedicated to operating the ball underneath head coach Arthur Smith. The Falcons averaged 160 yards dashing per sport final season and with their first-round choice this 12 months took Bijan Robinson, thought of the highest draft-eligible tailback.

Article content material

Bergeron performed offensive deal with at Syracuse, beginning on the fitting aspect earlier than making 32 consecutive begins on the all-important left-tackle place, defending the quarterback’s blind aspect. The Falcons are set at deal with, with Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary each underneath contract for 3 seasons.

However Atlanta has a gap at left guard after Elijah Wilkinson signed with Arizona as a free agent. Smith has acknowledged the intention is to attempt to transfer Bergeron there, though he’ll obtain competitors from former beginning centre Matt Hennessy together with 2021 third-round draft alternative Jalen Mayfield.

Bergeron, who was raised by a single mom after his dad and mom divorced at a younger age, mentioned he’s ready for the problem.

Article content material

“It’s vital to be versatile if you wish to play for a very long time within the NFL,” he mentioned. “You’ve gotten to have the ability to play a number of positions, particularly alongside the offensive line. Through the draft course of I used to be working at totally different positions — deal with, guard and even some centre reps. I’m prepared for something and I’m moving into with the mentality of giving it my greatest and we’ll see what’s going to occur.

“I ready for guard, however I haven’t had reside reps,” Bergeron added. “That would be the greatest change. I’m probably not nervous about it as a result of I really feel like my athletic means, mindset and the way in which I strategy the sport. I see it as a problem. Hopefully the whole lot’s going to go properly.”

The Falcons met with Bergeron thrice — on the Senior Bowl, NFL Mix and Syracuse’s professional day — previous to the draft. Smith informed Atlanta media members the group has a transparent imaginative and prescient for the prospect and is “excited” having him a part of the rebuilding course of. Smith added he was impressed by the facility in Bergeron’s sport and believes he’s “wired” the fitting means.

Article content material

Bergeron wasn’t chosen in final week’s CFL draft, the 9 franchises clearly believing he’s destined for a protracted and affluent profession within the U.S. And, whereas Bergeron mentioned it was as soon as his dream to play in Canada, that choice seems distant in the interim.

“I’m grateful to be Canadian and know, if issues don’t go my means within the NFL, I can come again and play within the CFL someday,” he mentioned. “However now I’ve the prospect to play within the NFL.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1