San Diego Chargers Select David Molk in Final Round of NFL Draft

Michigan center David Molk was selected by the San Diego Chargers during the final round of the NFL draft on Saturday, making him the second Lemont native to be drafted this year.

Molk, who graduated from  in 2007, was the 19th pick of the seventh round and the 226th pick overall.

The 6-foot-1, 298-pound Rimington Trophy winner was initially projected to go earlier in the draft, but some analysts said his size and recent foot injury ultimately led to a lower ranking. 

In an interview with Chargers.com, Molk said he is back to 100 percent and ready to prove his doubters wrong.

“There are always obstacles that I’ve had to face. There’s always limitations that people put on me and there’s always something that people can say that I don’t do well enough and something that I don’t have that sets me back, and it’s just proving them wrong over and over and over again until finally there’s nowhere else to go,” Molk said.

Molk led Michigan to an 11-2 record in the 2011 season, picking up numerous accolades along the way.

In addition to (marking his second year as a finalist), Molk also was named a first team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation, repeated as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree on the coaches' ballot and earned second-team all-conference honors from the media. 

In November, he was  of the inaugural Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award.

Molk finished his career at Michigan with 42 starts in his four seasons at center. He made his 26th consecutive start Jan. 3 in Michigan's 23-20 victory over Virginia Tech in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

During the NFL Combine in February, Molk bench pressed 225 pounds 41 times, the most among offensive linemen and second among all participants.

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