Matthew Bergeron particularly stood out for his qualities as a leader and unifier. It was therefore natural for him to want to share a great moment like his selection in the NFL Draft with his loved ones, as well as former teammates and coaches.
Bergeron was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
The many guests at the Victoriaville Golf Club celebrated by chanting “Matthew! Matthew! Matthew!” after former Falcons defensive end John Abraham announced the team’s pick on the stage in Kansas City.
Bergeron had learned his destination a few seconds earlier.
“I am happy and excited. It’s a mix of everything, Bergeron said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. I felt the vibration of my phone in my pocket. I saw Atlanta and I was really happy.
“The important thing for me was to be with family. I am really happy to be able to live this moment with everyone, ”he added.
Originally from Victoriaville and aged 23, Bergeron wore the colors of the Filons du Cégep de Thetford before heading to Syracuse at the American university level.
The Falcons traded with the Indianapolis Colts to move up to 38th and make Bergeron the first Canadian player to be selected in the NFL Draft this year.
Running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka is the only Quebec player to be selected faster in the NFL Draft. Biakabutuka was picked eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers in 1996.
Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste now finds himself third on this list, having been chosen in the third round, 74th overall, by the Washington Commanders in 2021. For his part, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was chosen in the sixth round, 200th overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he won the Super Bowl at the end of the 2019 season.
“I consider myself blessed to simply have been drafted, insisted Bergeron. Regardless of the rank in this list, I am part of an extraordinary group of players and that is the important thing for me.
Bergeron was considered one of the best offensive linemen on running games available this year. He may be tasked with leading the way for running back Bijan Robinson, who was selected eighth overall by the Falcons on Thursday.
“He’s a great ball carrier and I think the mentality of the team will be to run with the ball,” Bergeron said. That’s what we do with Syracuse, we ran the ball a lot. It’s perfect for me.”
Bergeron had 11 starts at Syracuse last season and was the team captain. He allowed just four sacks in 686 games and was punished three times.
The six-foot-five, 318-pound colossus was named to the Atlantic Coast Association (ACC) Second Team All-Star.
He was the centerpiece of an offensive line that helped running back Sean Tucker rush for more than 1,000 yards, becoming the first player in team history to have two seasons. in a row over 1,000 yards on the ground and over 250 yards in the air.
After playing primarily as a blocker with Syracuse, he may be moved inside the offensive line as a guard.
“I see it as a new challenge, mentioned Bergeron. I’m strong and athletic and that doesn’t bother me. What I want is to win games and if that’s what it takes to help the team win, I’m really happy.”
Bergeron will head to Atlanta during the week to participate in a rookie camp.
Another Canadian found a taker on the second day of the draft. The Philadelphia Eagles selected safety Sydney Brown in the third round, 66th overall.
Brown hails from London, Ont., and played at the University of Illinois.
2023-04-29 06:25:38
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