University of Houston Athletics
Vollmer Goes To Patriots In Second Round
4/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Houston, Texas - With the 58th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected former University of Houston offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, a three-year letterman for the Cougars.
It marks the third straight season and fourth out of the last five drafts that a Cougar has been selected in the second round. In 2007 the Philadelphia Eagles took quarterback Kevin Kolb, and last year wide receiver Donnie Avery was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. Cornerback Stanford Routt was a 2005 second-round pick of the Oakland Raiders.
A First-Team, All-Conference USA performer last year, Vollmer rose up the draft boards over the last few months, using his workouts and performances in the East-West Shrine Game, as well as the UH Pro Day and individual workouts to showcase his skills to the NFL scouts.
Vollmer was one of only nine players to start all 13 games in 2008, helping Houston win the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl and finish the season at 8-5. He allowed only one sack in 610 passing attempts, and had 52 knockdown blocks. Vollmer was a member of an offensive line that piled up almost 41.0 points and 562 yards of total offense per game, while blocking for a 5,000-yard passer (Case Keenum), a 1,000-yard rusher (Bryce Beall) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Tyron Carrier.)
A native of Kaarst, Germany, Vollmer arrived in the United States in 2004 having only played football for a few years. In 2005, he played both tight end and tackle, but missed the entire 2006 with a back injury. Vollmer came into his own in 2007, nailing down a starting spot on the offensive line and proceeded to start 26 consecutive games at left tackle.
Vollmer becomes the first Cougar in 11 years to be drafted by the Patriots, as defensive lineman Leonta Rheams was taken by New England in the fourth round in 1998. He is looking to become the 10th player in UH history to suit up for the Patriots and the first since offensive lineman Wilbert Brown played at New England during the 2004 campaign.
