Mike Hermann, Delta/RPI 2013, has agreed to a free agent contract and signing bonus with the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers. Hermann joined the team’s rookie camp in May, and several other organized team activities this month.
Born in Australia, the son of Roy and Diane (Brooking) Hermann, Mike and his father returned stateside after Mike’s mother was killed in an automobile accident when he was two-years-old. Mike and his father led a nomadic life, traveling from place to place as his father found work, and Mike playing youth football wherever they landed.
At the age of 16, Mike went to live with his aunt and uncle in South Carolina. While living in South Carolina, Hermann developed into an outstanding athlete, excelling in baseball and becoming an even bigger star on the football field.
After high school, Hermann received a full scholarship to Avon Old Farms, a Connecticut prep school where his goal was to boost his academic standing and get an extra year of football in. It was a wise choice: Hermann was named all-New England. Despite this, it wasn’t enough to attract the attention of Division I schools, at least not as a quarterback. The University of New Hampshire did offer a walk-on as a right tackle, but Hermann declined.
A former high school teammate, Matt Lauro, who was enrolling at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, suggested that Hermann check out the school. After visiting, Hermann was impressed with what he saw, He applied and was accepted. Lauro and Hermann continued their journey together by joining Delta Chapter of Theta Chi.
Despite of the instability of the RPI football team (he had four head coaches and four offensive coordinators during his time at RPI), he excelled as a player. Hermann was a three-time All-Liberty League choice, two-time Offensive Player of the Year and two-time All-region choice. He is among the top three in nearly every category for quarterbacks in the history of Rensselaer football.
To train for the draft, Hermann worked with former Giant Scott Brunner at TEST Football Academy in Martinsville, N.J.
Originally Hermann had been invited to rookie camp by the Oakland Raiders, but when the Chargers called and offered the contract and signing bonus – his plans changed. Hermann is the only quarterback prospect to come out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – ever.
We wish Brother Mike Hermann the best of luck at training camp and look forward to hearing more about his story – on and off the field.
You can follow Mike through his Official Facebook Page, Michael Hermann Fans. You’ll see a lot of pictures of Mike from his days at RPI and current posts in San Diego.
To read more about Brother Mike Hermann and his incredible story, click here for the article prepared by the New York Daily News.
RPI Athletics caught up with Mike for an interview after getting the call from the Chargers. You can watch the interview here.
Click here to review his stats from his time at RPI.
Click here to see his profile with the San Diego Chargers.