Mosinee native Kole Heckendorf signs free-agent deal with Packers
By Tim Johnson Wausau Daily Herald April 27, 2009
Kole Heckendorf grew up rooting for the Green Bay Packers, now he has the opportunity to play for them.
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The Mosinee native and former North Dakota State wideout agreed to a free-agent deal Sunday night after not being selected in the NFL Draft.
"It was a long day today, but couldn't have ended any better," Heckendorf said. "I always rooted for the Packers growing up and now I'm going to get a shot with Green Bay and we'll see what happens."
The Packers were one of four teams that made free-agent inquiries to Heckendorf before he made his decision.
"I talked to Houston, San Diego, Washington and more teams were calling and I had to tell them that I already signed. The Packers got on me right away. [img_r]http://www.bisonillustrated.com/articles/2008/11/images/kole2.jpg[/img_r]
"They're pretty deep at wideout, but they like to bring in guys that have a chance to make the team or practice squad," Heckendorf added. "I thought it was a good fit for me compared to a couple of the other teams, and I've always wanted to be a Packer."
Heckendorf and his family sat through a nerve-wracking second day of the draft, in which he received a call from Houston in the seventh round, but little else.
"I wasn't really expecting to get drafted, but thought I'd have a chance (in the late rounds)," Heckendorf said. "It was a long day seeing all the wideouts (getting picked), and you try and measure yourself against them. It was a little frustrating, but I'm just happy to get a chance and move forward."
Bison free safety Nick Schommer, a Prescott native, was selected by Tennessee in the seventh round.
"We're really good friends," Heckendorf said. "He's actually come out to Mosinee a couple of times and went fishing with me and my dad. He's probably one of my better friends on the team.
"He's my golfing partner in the summer and just a great kid. Hopefully he does really well out there."