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Buffs' Sherman Goes To Patriots In NFL Draft

May 1, 2021

BOULDER — Colorado tackle William Sherman, who declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season with the Buffaloes, was taken in the sixth round Saturday by the New England Patriots.

Sherman, a 6-foot-4, 310-pounder, might make the switch to guard in the NFL. He is the 11th Buff in CU history to declare for the draft early, and all 11 of those players have been drafted.

Taken with the 13th pick in the sixth round (197th overall), Sherman could become the next in a long list of Buffaloes offensive linemen who have found a home with the Patriots. The list includes Mike Montler, Pete Brock, Heath Irwin, Tom Ashworth and Nate Solder.

Overall, 23 Buffs have played for the Patriots over the years, and it is a team Sherman said he hoped would select him.

"I've had a meeting with the assistant o-line coach, I talked to a scout, so I talked to the team a good amount," Sherman said in a conference call. "I was definitely hoping that this was the organization that would pick me, just with the given history and the great coaching that's available. So I'm very excited and thankful."

Sherman appeared in 30 games in his career at CU with 27 straight starts (including last season's Alamo Bowl). He was Colorado's highest-graded offensive lineman in all three seasons and was regularly among the team leaders in total offensive snaps played.

While he played tackle — right and left — his entire career in Boulder, he said he's prepared to make the switch to guard or center if necessary.

"I got some practice as a guard (at CU) and I'm confident that I'll be able to make the switch to guard," he said. "Really throughout this draft process, I've been snapping the football so I've been able to show teams that I can play all five. So at this point, whatever position the coaches feel comfortable with me playing, I'm going to be excited to play there. I really don't limit myself to one position now just because I've been really good at snapping so far and I'm confident in my ability to play guard and tackle. So now it's just where the coaches see me, whatever helps the team."

Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have been a team that has placed a high value on versatility with its offensive linemen.

"The Patriots were a team that I was definitely excited about and a team that I really wanted to go to just with the great coaching staff and the great history of the organization," Sherman said. "So, I'm so excited and blessed to have gotten the call from the Patriots. Really just throughout the draft process, I really wanted to show that I could play all five. I'm glad I was able to show that, I'm really glad the Patriots picked me and realized the significance in that. At this point, it's just figuring out which position the coaches see best for me and see fit best for me. Whichever position that is, I'm going to be very excited and put my head down and work so that I can help the team be successful."

Sherman continued to take classes this spring at CU while preparing for the draft and is on target to graduate next week.

He becomes CU's 276th all-time NFL Draft pick and it marks the fifth straight season the Buffs have had at least one player drafted.

Buffs who have played for the Patriots:
Mike Montler, OL 1969-1972
Bill Harris, TE/DE 1971
John Tarver, RB 1972-1974
Bobby Anderson, RB 1975
Pete Brock, OL/TE 1976-1987
Don Hasselbeck, TE 1977-1983
Walter Stanley, WR 1992
Ted Johnson, ILB 1995-2004
Heath Irwin, OG 1996-1999
Ron Merkerson, ILB 1998-1999
Lamont Warren, RB 1999
Marcus Washington, DB 1999
Tom Ashworth, OT 2001
Charles Johnson, WR 2001
Ben Kelly, CB 2001-2002
Tom Ashworth, OT 2001-2005
Christian Fauria, TE 2002-2005
Daniel Graham, TE 2002-2006
Chad Brown, LB 2005, 2007
Tyson DeVree, TE 2008
Terrence Wheatley, CB 2008-2010
Nate Solder, OT 2011-2017
Devin Ross, WR 2020

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu