Goltz Graduates from Tigers to NFL Lions
DETROIT, Mich. (April 29, 2009) – As a little boy Justin Goltz dreamed of playing professional football. At 17 he left Walled Lake, Mich. to join the Occidental College family. Today, two weeks prior to his graduation, the senior is boarding a plane back to Michigan where he has been invited to a two-day rookie mini-camp with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.
Roughly a month ago Goltz participated in a one-day “Pro-day” workout at the Home Depot Center. Last weekend he got a call from the quarterbacks coach of the Lions extending an invitation to attend their camp May 1-3.
Goltz, who was named the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year, finished with a 155.29 passer efficiency rating on 165-for-247 passing, which ranked him 14th in the nation. He threw for 2,149 yards and 15 touchdowns (with his longest at 69 yards). He was a dual threat, rushing 89 times for 692 total yards (7.2 yards/carry) and 63.9 yards per game with seven touchdowns. His longest run came against Redlands when he broke off a 65-yard score.
The No. 1 overall NFL Draft Pick, Matt Stafford, who played his collegiate ball at Georgia, and Goltz will be the only two quarterbacks attending the weekend sessions. Joining the two QBs will be all the Lions’ ’09 draft picks and rookie free-agents.
“We are very excited about this
opportunity for Justin,” said Head Coach Dale Widolff.
“He has worked extremely hard during his time at Occidental
to put himself in this situation and we wish him the best of
luck.”
