Packers: Jack Heflin’s ‘trashcan full of dirt’ moniker living up to the hype

Unknown to many Green Bay Packers fans this offseason was DL Jack Heflin.

Heflin, who was an UDFA out of Iowa, had spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Northern Illinois, where he tallied eight tackles (one for loss), during his redshirt freshman year. As a sophomore, he earned third-team all MAC honors while tallying 33 total tackles, eight TFLs, and six sacks in 14 games with five starts.

His junior year saw him earn second-team all-conference honors along with DPOY for his efforts (8.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 31 total defensive stops). His senior year saw him transfer to Iowa, where he played in eight games, tallying 13 solo tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and one sack. His efforts earned him the moniker “trashcan full of dirt” as it related to his playing style and it certainly translated well into the pre-season.

Going undrafted was something Heflin didn’t see coming but had embraced. The Packers would end up calling and as fate would have it, Heflin’s efforts both in training camp and in the pre-season would end up paying off tenfold as he eventually earned a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster.

Heflin spoke with reporters on what it means to be on an NFL team. He called it “the greatest day of my life”.

Heflin is definitely grateful for the opportunity of playing for an NFL team. With the way his effort and playmaking abilities showed in camp and in the pre-season, it’s safe to say he’s earned his spot on the roster.

In the pre-season, he tallied six total tackles, three quarterback hits, and one TFL. Along with impressing the fans, he has now impressed the coaching staff, so much so that he’s earned himself a well deserved spot on the Packers’ 53-man roster.

Heflin’s efforts made an impact in the pre-season, now we’ll get to see it translated to the regular season when it counts, and so far, Heflin has made it such.