David Molk Explained

David Molk
Number:60, 63
Position:Center
Birth Date:December 15, 1988
Birth Place:Palos Hills, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:298
High School:Lemont
(Lemont, Illinois)
College:Michigan (2007–2011)
Draftyear:2012
Draftround:7
Draftpick:226
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:20
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:4
Pfr:M/MolkDa00

David Michael Molk (born December 15, 1988) is an American former football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Molk played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was a consensus All-American and the Rimington Trophy winner in 2011, as the best center in college football. He was selected by the Chargers in the 2012 NFL draft.

Molk grew up in the Chicago area and played high school football at Lemont Township High School. He was named an All-State player by the Chicago Tribune and was selected to play in the first East-West All-America Football Game in January 2007.

Molk enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2007. In 2010, Molk was the cornerstone in an offensive line that helped Denard Robinson break the Big Ten Conference single-season record with 4,189 yards of total offense. Molk was recognized as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player at the end of the 2010 season. In 2011, Molk anchored a line that led the way for Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint to become Michigan's first duo of 1,000-yard rushers since 1975.

Early life

Molk was once a 5feet 175lbs Lemont Township High School freshman who could only bench press 110lbs and squat 250lbs.[1] By the end of his junior year, he was one of the most highly recruited high school football players in the Chicago metropolitan area.[2] [3] [4] By his senior season, he was a 6feet 270lbs center who could bench press 370lbs, squat 550lbs and power clean 320lbs.[1] His high school gym closed at 5:00 PM and he had to go into town for extra workout time. He chose to be a center because, although he is too short to be a major Division I college football offensive guard or offensive tackle, he had the potential to be a successful center.[1] He was actually discovered when a scout came to his school to watch a teammate.[1] During the summer prior to his senior season, he made a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan, in part due to its business school, the Ross School of Business.[5] At the end of his junior year he had received scholarship offers from ten schools, including six Big Ten Conference football programs.[1]

As a senior, Molk was selected to numerous All-area football teams by various organizations including The Star, Daily Southtown, and Prep Football Report selected by Tom Lemming.[6] [7] [8] In addition, he was selected to the Chicago Tribune All-State team,[9] and he was selected to play in the first East-West All-America Football Game sponsored by ESPN and MLS Sports in Orlando, Florida suburb Lake Buena Vista on January 6, 2007.[10] [11] Molk was also an honors student in his senior year of high school.[12]

College career

Molk attended the University of Michigan, where he played for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 2007 to 2011. Entering the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Molk was a serious contender to start in the season opener due to injuries for the 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team.[13] Upon the arrival of new head coach Rich Rodriguez in the spring prior to the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Molk was expected to be a starter for the 2008 Michigan Wolverines football team after redshirtting the prior year.[14] He spent the summer after his redshirt season perfecting the shotgun formation snap.[15] However, he endured a serious undisclosed illness that caused him to lose 15lbs and found himself in a battle with redshirt junior David Moosman to be the starting center.[16] As his struggles continued, it was revealed that he had mononucleosis.[17] Despite his struggles, he was awarded the Iron Wolverine Award at the spring football awards in recognition of his superior conditioning based on a series of physical tests.[18] [19] As a result of injuries,[20] both Moosman and Molk were in the starting lineup for the 2008 opener.[21] Offensive line injuries continued to affect the lineup through the early part of the season with Molk (center), Moosman (right offensive guard) and Stephen Schilling (right offensive tackle) being the only players to start each of the first four games.[22] Molk injured his toe at the end Little Brown Jug game against Minnesota of the November 8, 2008, but he was fine the following week.[23] As the young offense finished the season with a 3–9 record, it expected its entire starting offensive line to return the following season.[24] In fact, considering injuries, the team returned a total of seven offensive linemen who started games.[25]

In Molk's second year of spring football he earned the sophomore award for toughness and work ethic during the Michigan spring football awards.[26] By the end of the spring he was among the 44 centers on the 2009 Rimington Trophy spring watch list for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season.[27] He was also included on the watch list for the 2009 Lombardi Award.[28] Molk suffered a broken foot in the third game of the season as the 2009 Wolverines pushed their record to 3–0 and had surgery two days later. He was expected to miss 4–6 weeks.[29] After missing four games, he returned to practice.[30] However, during the subsequent game against Penn State on October 24, he tore knee ligaments and was lost for the season as well as spring football.[31]

As a redshirt junior, he was selected to the 2010 preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist for the 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team and later a finalist after the regular season had concluded.[32] [33] That season Denard Robinson established numerous quarterback rushing records lining up behind and often running behind Molk. He broke Drew Brees' Big Ten single-season total offense record of 4,189 yards.[34] Robinson fell 116 yards short of Tim Biakabutuka's Michigan school record of 1,818 rushing yards. However, he led the conference in both total offense and rushing yards per game.[35] Following the Big Ten conference regular season, Molk was a first-team All-conference selection by the coaches and second-team member as selected by the media.[36] [37] [38] He was also recognized by Sports Illustrated as an honorable mention All-American.[39]

As a fifth-year senior, he was selected to three preseason watchlists: the Outland Trophy list, which goes to the nation's top interior lineman;[40] the Lombardi Award watch list, which is awarded to the nation's top lineman;[41] and the Rimington Trophy watch list, which is awarded to the nation's top center.[42] During the season, Michigan had two 1000-yard rushers (Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint) for the first time since the 1975 team. He earned the 2011 Big Ten Conference Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award (the first year it was thus named) and was a repeat first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches and a second-team selection by the media.[43] [44] The following week, he was named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.[45] A few days later, he was declared the Rimington Trophy winner. He was also first-team All-American selection by AP, Football Writers Association of America, Scout.com, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation,[46] [47] [48] [49] [50] which resulted in him becoming a consensus All-American.[51] He was a third-team All-American selection by Yahoo! Sports and an honorable mention All-American selectee by Sports Illustrated and the Pro Football Weekly.[52] [53] [54] Molk was invited to participate in the January 28, 2012 Senior Bowl,[55] and he was an early invite to the February 22–28, 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[56]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Molk was one of 54 offensive linemen, and the fourth-ranked center—behind Peter Konz, Garth Gerhart, and Ben Jones[57] —, that participated in the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.[58] However, he tore the peroneal longus tendon in his foot at the 2012 Sugar Bowl,[59] [60] and he had surgery on January 13.[60] As a result, he was only able to participate in one Combine event.[59] His 41 reps in the bench press ranked first among offensive linemen and second at the entire combine, behind only nose tackle Dontari Poe.[61] [62] Molk's total was most by a center and ranks fourth among offensive lineman since 2000, behind only Russell Bodine, Mitch Petrus and Scott Young, who were centers and offensive guards.[63] [64]

San Diego Chargers

He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft with the 226th selection overall.[65] He was one of three Michigan Wolverines and 41 Big Ten players drafted.[66] On May 8, 2012, he signed a four-year contract.[67] He played 12 games for the 2012 San Diego Chargers, mostly on special teams and as an extra lineman in short yardage situations, before being placed on injured reserve on December 4, 2012.[68] Molk was one of 11 players released by the Chargers on August 31, 2013, during the last round of preseason roster cuts.[69]

Philadelphia Eagles

On January 9, 2014, he signed a futures contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[70] He was placed on injured reserve with a torn bicep after the second game of the 2015 NFL season by the Eagles on September 14, 2015.[71] Molk announced his retirement from the NFL on March 4, 2016.[72]

Personal life

David Molk lives outside Chicago in Lemont, Illinois with his widowed father, his mother having passed away from breast cancer when he was 12.[73] [74] After the controversial semi-autobiographical book NFL Confidential: True Confessions from the Gutter of Football was released in 2016, multiple Redditors guessed the unknown author, nicknamed "Johnny Anonymous" in the book, was actually Molk due to the similarities between the narrator's experiences and the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles season, when Molk had been a backup center with the team.[75] Additionally, other online sleuths noted in media interviews his name had accidentally been given as "David Anonymous".[76] As of 2021, Molk is the co-owner and VP of Thomas Sales and Marketing in Chicago alongside his father, Thomas Molk. Their company website contains a note that he did indeed author NFL Confidential.[77] [78]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Everything's working out for Lemont strongman Molk. October 28, 2009. May 12, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor. 111.
  2. Web site: Area football talent in a down cycle: Hubbard's Hughes, Simeon's Wilson are best of subpar class. October 28, 2009. April 30, 2009. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor. A76.
  3. Web site: Recruits believe in the buddy system: Pals Wilson, Hughes might pick a school as a package deal. October 28, 2009. May 28, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor. A76.
  4. Web site: St. Joseph duo moving up charts: McCamey, Turner considered among top 25 in the nation. October 28, 2009. June 9, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor. 109.
  5. Web site: Commitments starting up again. October 28, 2009. August 3, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. Tucker, Steve and Taylor Bell. 91.
  6. Web site: The Star All-Area Football Team 2006. October 28, 2009. November 23, 2006. The Star. C2.
  7. Web site: Daily Southtown All-Area Football Team 2006 -Capsules. October 28, 2009. November 24, 2006. Daily Southtown. O'Reilly, Tim. B5.
  8. Web site: Prep Football: Prep Report names 22 local players to All-Area team. October 28, 2009. December 14, 2006. The Star. C4.
  9. Web site: Kaneland's tenacious duo - Highlight-reel season of Crosby, Thorgesen elevates small school. October 28, 2009. December 3, 2006. Chicago Tribune. Sakamoto, Bob. 12.
  10. Web site: This & that. October 28, 2009. November 10, 2006. Chicago Sun-Times. 108.
  11. Web site: Sports Roundup: Lemont seniors play in all-star games. October 28, 2009. January 11, 2007. The Star. C4.
  12. Web site: School announces first semester honor roll. October 28, 2009. February 8, 2007. The Star. A19.
  13. Web site: Butler feels like he's 'back in the mix' - Reinstated tight end wants to put past behind and look toward the season . October 31, 2009. August 26, 2007. Ann Arbor News. Heuser, John. B2.
  14. Web site: Wolverine pain! Rich Rodriguez opens practice tough. October 31, 2009. March 16, 2008. Detroit Free Press. Snyder, Mark.
  15. Web site: Offense. October 31, 2009. August 24, 2008. Ann Arbor News. W5.
  16. Web site: U-M lineman Boren leaves team. October 31, 2009. March 26, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Heuser, John. B1.
  17. Web site: Rich Rodriguez interview Part 2: On the running game, receivers. October 31, 2009. April 10, 2008. Detroit Free Press. Snyder, Mark.
  18. Web site: New faces dot offense - Schilling is the only returning regular; some have never started . October 31, 2009. April 13, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Heuser, John. B6.
  19. Web site: Spring football. October 31, 2009. April 16, 2008. The News-Gazette. Asmussen, Bob. B-3.
  20. Web site: Up for the challenge - U-M's green group of offensive linemen ready to go . October 31, 2009. August 25, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Rezler, Rich. B1.
  21. Web site: Wolverines need time, patience. October 31, 2009. September 6, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Carty, Jim. H2.
  22. Web site: Offensive line to change again - More improvement is necessary from the entire unit, Rodriguez says . October 31, 2009. September 30, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Heuser, John. B5.
  23. Web site: Michigan QB Threet's status uncertain for Saturday. October 31, 2009. November 10, 2008. The Michigan Daily. Robinson, Ian.
  24. Web site: Michigan looks to leave '08 behind - Offense returns every starter, but defense loses six . October 31, 2009. November 30, 2008. Ann Arbor News. Heuser, John. B1.
  25. Web site: UM line recruits have tough tasks. October 31, 2009. February 6, 2009. The Blade. Vardon, Joe. C1.
  26. Web site: QB Denard Robinson misses game but is learning plays. October 31, 2009. April 12, 2009. Detroit Free Press. Snyder, Mark.
  27. Web site: MSU center Joel Nitchman on Rimington watch list. October 31, 2009. May 21, 2009. Detroit Free Press. Shelton, Shannon.
  28. Web site: Big Ten Football Weekly Release September 7, 2009. October 1, 2009. September 7, 2009. Big Ten Conference. 6. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220805/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/football-20090907.pdf. dead.
  29. Web site: No word on Clausen's MRI, but Weis remains optimistic. October 31, 2009. September 22, 2009. Chicago Sun-Times. 53.
  30. Web site: U-M center David Molk likely to start vs. Penn State . October 31, 2009. October 22, 2009. The Detroit News. Chengelis, Angelique S..
  31. Web site: Michigan loses C Molk for season with injured knee. October 31, 2009. October 26, 2009. Associated Press.
  32. Web site: Molk Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List. September 11, 2010. August 26, 2010. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com.
  33. Web site: December 7, 2010. College Football Awards Watch. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121014214254/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14396206/college-football-awards-watch. October 14, 2012.
  34. Web site: Big Ten Conference Football Full Media Guide. November 11, 2010. January 5, 2010. CBS Interactive/Big Ten Conference. 37. https://web.archive.org/web/20100703191457/http://www.bigten.org/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FullFBMG. July 3, 2010. dead.
  35. Web site: The Automated ScoreBook: 2010 Big Ten Conference Team Statistics Through games of Jan 07, 2011. January 7, 2010. January 7, 2010. CBS Interactive. https://web.archive.org/web/20100911225034/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/confldrs.html. September 11, 2010. dead.
  36. Web site: Michigan's Denard Robinson named Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, other Wolverines honored. AnnArbor.com. November 30, 2010. November 29, 2010. Bigelow, Pete.
  37. Web site: Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors. CBS Interactive. November 30, 2010. November 29, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222184331/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112910aae.html. December 22, 2010. dead.
  38. Web site: Robinson Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. CBS Interactive. November 30, 2010. November 29, 2010.
  39. Web site: SI.com's 2010 All-Americas. December 14, 2010. December 14, 2010. Sports Illustrated.
  40. Web site: Michigan seniors David Molk, Mike Martin on Outland Trophy watch list. July 9, 2011. July 8, 2011. AnnArbor.com.
  41. Web site: Martin, Molk Named to Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. July 12, 2011. July 13, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com.
  42. Web site: Michigan center David Molk named to Rimington Trophy Watch List. July 18, 2011. May 19, 2011. AnnArbor.com.
  43. Web site: Molk Named Top Offensive Lineman to Headline Big Ten Awards. November 29, 2011. November 28, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. December 1, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111201032534/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aam.html. dead.
  44. Web site: Big Ten Announces 2011 All-Big Ten Teams and Select Individual Award Winners. November 29, 2011. November 28, 2011. CBS Interactive. BigTen.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129235824/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112811aad.html. November 29, 2011. dead.
  45. Web site: Molk Named One of Six Rimington Trophy Finalists. December 7, 2011. December 5, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com.
  46. Web site: Molk Wins Rimington Trophy, Walter Camp First Team All-America Honors. December 9, 2011. December 8, 2011. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com.
  47. Web site: AP All-America Team, List. December 14, 2011. December 14, 2011. CNN Sports Illustrated.
  48. Web site: FWAA Names 2011 All-America Team. December 10, 2011. December 10, 2011. Football Writers Association of America.
  49. Web site: FoxSportsNext.com 2011 All-America Team. December 9, 2011. December 9, 2011. Scout.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120107212345/http://collegefootball.scout.com/2/1136379.html. January 7, 2012. dead.
  50. Web site: Sporting News' All-American team. December 15, 2011. December 15, 2011. Sporting News. January 8, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120108064812/http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-12-14/sporting-news-all-american-team. dead.
  51. Web site: Five Big Ten Standouts Named Consensus All-Americans. December 24, 2011. December 20, 2011. BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. https://web.archive.org/web/20120104222446/http://www.bigten.org/blog/2011/12/five-big-ten-standouts-named-consensus-all-americans.html. January 4, 2012. dead.
  52. Web site: SEC dominates 2011 All-America Team. December 28, 2011. December 8, 2011. Yahoo! Sports.
  53. Web site: PFW 2011 All-America team . December 13, 2011 . December 12, 2011 . . Nawrocki, Nolan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204005447/http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/12/12/pfw-2011-all-america-team . February 4, 2012 .
  54. Web site: SI.com's 2011 All-Americas. December 14, 2011. December 13, 2011. Sports Illustrated.
  55. Web site: Big Ten all-star roster updates. January 11, 2012. January 11, 2012. ESPN. Rittenberg, Adam.
  56. Web site: Koger eager for all-star showcase: Tight end joins Hemingway at East-West Shrine Game, hope to earn combine invite. January 21, 2012. January 20, 2012. ESPN. Rothstein, Michael.
  57. Web site: Combine Participants (By position - OL). March 1, 2012. NFL.com.
  58. Web site: Participants. February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  59. Web site: Michigan's David Molk talks about overcoming injury to post strong combine, create buzz. February 29, 2012. February 25, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  60. Web site: David Molk opens up about playing through a torn tendon, rehab and proving his doubters wrong. February 29, 2012. February 26, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  61. Web site: Top Performers (Bench Press). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  62. Web site: Top Performers (Bench Press - OL). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  63. Web site: Arkansas' Petrus ties combine record in bench press. March 1, 2012. February 26, 2010. NFL.com. Tadych . Frank.
  64. Web site: Top Performers (Bench Press - OL). February 29, 2012. NFL.com.
  65. Web site: 2012 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-05-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  66. Web site: 2012 NFL Draft Central. April 28, 2012. April 28, 2012. CBS Interactive. BigTen.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20120524062345/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042612aac.html. May 24, 2012. dead.
  67. Web site: Michigan's David Molk not changing lifestyle after signing 4-year deal with San Diego Chargers. May 14, 2012. May 8, 2012. AnnArbor.com. Meinke, Kyle.
  68. Web site: Chargers Sign Baxter, Schilling; Ajirotutu, Molk Placed on IR. December 7, 2012. December 4, 2012. Chargers.com. Henne, Ricky. December 6, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121206065611/http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Chargers-Sign-Baxter-Schilling-Ajirotutu-Molk-Placed-on-IR/f7fb221b-de6e-4ebe-8a55-3ca7f052f0d8. dead.
  69. Web site: Chargers Release 11 from Roster, Get Down to 53. August 31, 2013. August 31, 2013. Chargers.com. Henne, Ricky. September 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130903052416/http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Chargers-Release-11-from-Roster-Get-Down-to-53/b007779b-458d-423b-b6b0-67303c5c41c5. dead.
  70. Web site: Eagles sign center David Molk to futures deal. February 11, 2014. January 9, 2014. Comcast SportsNet. Mosher, Geoff.
  71. Web site: Eagles put backup center David Molk on IR with biceps tear. September 16, 2015. September 16, 2015. NBC Sports. Gantt, Darin.
  72. Web site: Eagles offensive lineman David Molk retires. March 10, 2016. March 4, 2016. NBC Sports. Florio, Mike.
  73. Web site: The Strongest Muscle: The backstory that built Dave Molk into Michigan's mainstay. 2021-08-08. www.michigandaily.com. en-US.
  74. Web site: Football, Breast Cancer and the Status Quo. 2021-08-08. breastcancerasiseeit.wordpress.com. en-US.
  75. Web site: I think I've figure out the identity of Johnny Anonymous, alias of "NFL Confidential" author. 2021-08-08. www.reddit.com. en-US.
  76. Web site: David Molk is Johnny Anonymous. 2021-08-08. www.reddit.com. en-US.
  77. Web site: David Molk. 2021-08-08. www.linkedin.com. en-US.
  78. Web site: Thomas Sales and Marketing, INC. 2021-08-08. www.thomassalesinc.com. en-US.

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