HOWLAND - The wait was difficult, but the Herron family had been through it before. This time, their patience was rewarded.
The Cincinnati Bengals called Saturday afternoon to let former Ohio State running back Dan "Boom" Herron know they were selecting him in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
It was a call the former Warren G. Harding standout and his family were hoping would come earlier, but ultimately, the running back and his family were happy when the phone rang.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle / Ed Puskas
Celebrating Dan “Boom”?Herron’s selection by the Cincinnati Bengals are (from left) David Herron Jr., David Herron III, Caress Russell, Brenda Herron, Boom, Rev. David Herron, Judah Herron, Christina Herron and Alfie Burch.
Not long afterward, Brenda Herron - Boom's mother - returned from a store with a Bengals cap for her youngest son, who rushed for 2,946 yards and scored 32 touchdowns in four seasons at Ohio State.
"I knew they were interested because they came to my pro day workout," the 23-year-old Herron said. "I also met with them at the combine and at the Senior Bowl, so I knew they were interested. It was definitely in the back of my head that they might take me."
Even though he experienced the wait of an NFL draft in 2007 when his brother David was coming out of Michigan State, Boom admitted going through a range of emotions during this year's three-day event.
"I was definitely nervous and very anxious," Herron said. "It was a little long wait, but I think God has a plan for me. I'm just very happy to be a Bengal now."
His father is thrilled, too.
"It's a great thing that he's close," Rev. David Herron Sr. said. "Cincinnati was really showing a lot of interest in him during his pro day. ... At this level, you never really know. You hear a lot of interest and a lot of concern from all the teams and they all seem to say the things everyone wants to hear, but you don't really know until they pull the trigger."
Boom should benefit from his brother's NFL experience.
David was not drafted and signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. The New England Patriots signed him off the Vikings' practice squad in '07, then he returned to the Vikings later that season and spent 2008 with them. David's career also has included stints with the Kansas City Chiefs (2009) and San Diego Chargers (2010).
David was a member of the practice squads of the New York Jets and the Vikings. While he is still hoping to sign with an NFL team himself, he's also willing and able to help his younger brother make the transition to professional football.
"Any advice that he needs and any question that he has, I'm always going to be here," David said.
"He knows I'm only a phone call away and we have a great relationship. Any question he has, as far as what to expect and how should he go into it being a rookie, I'll have the answers for him. Hopefully, they'll be the right answers."
