Vandervelde Selected by Eagles in 5th Round

April 30, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde was selected by Philadelphia Eagles with the 30th pick of the fifth round of the NFL Draft today.

Vandervelde is the fifth Hawkeye player selected in the 2011 draft. Iowa had three players drafted in the fifth round Saturday equaling the most Hawkeyes picked in one round since three first round selections in the 1986 draft.

Vandervelde earned second team all-conference honors as a senior while starting all 13 games. Vandervelde is the 11th Hawkeye offensive lineman drafted during the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa.

The Eagles won the NFC East with a 10-6 record last season. They were eliminated from the postseason by the eventual Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia ranked second in total offense (389.4 ypg) and fifth in rushing yards per game in 2010 (145.3 ypg).

Vandervelde started 37 games in his career, including his final 18 contests. Off the field, he was named to the CoSIDA District Seven Academic All-America team each of the last three years and was a four-time member of the academic all-Big Ten team. He sang the national anthem prior to President Barack Obama’s visit to the Iowa campus in April, 2010.

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Vandervelde is a native of Davenport, Iowa, where he attended Central High School. As a youth, he competed in the 2000 World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Vandervelde is the 44th Ferentz-coached Hawkeye and 23rd offensive player to be drafted. Last season a record six Iowa players were drafted, led by first-rounder Bryan Bulaga, who started on the offensive line for the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.