Michael Herzog spent his entire football career at Hillsdale College etching his name into the Chargers' history books with accomplishments and accolades few can match.
And even though the tailback from Windsor, Ontario's career is done, he continues to accomplish feats that match him up with past Chargers legends.
On Tuesday night, Michael Herzog joined his brother, Zach, in becoming just the second Hillsdale College player selected in the CFL Draft. Herzog was selected with the 56th pick in the sixth round of the draft by the Montreal Alouettes, the third running back taken in the eight-round draft and the second player from a NCAA DII school to be selected.
A two-year starter at running back for the Chargers, Herzog had a brilliant final season in 2023, earning All-American honors from four of the five major awards bodies at the NCAA DII level as well as being named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA DII equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The running back also was named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference co-MVP and earned first-team All G-MAC honors for the second-straight season.
In his final season with the Chargers, Herzog broke or tied five G-MAC records while also ranking among the top running backs in the country at the NCAA DII level throughout. He led the G-MAC in carries (230), rushing yards (1,333), rushing touchdowns (21), yards per game average (121.2), scoring (11.5 points per game), All-Purpose yards (172.2 per game), single game rushing attempts (28 against Michigan Tech) and single-game rushing touchdowns (five against Ohio Dominican), while ranking in the top 10 in the nation at the NCAA DII level in all of those categories, and in the top five in many of them.
In the process of his historic season, Herzog broke G-MAC records for single season rushing touchdowns, finishing with 21 to surpass Daouda Sylla of Findlay's old record of 19, and, with 126 total points scored, also broke the record for points in a single season of 114 held by Sylla and former Hillsdale great David Graham. All told, his 2023 season ranks in the top four in G-MAC history in rushing yards, touchdowns, attempts, rushing yards per game and all-purpose yards.
His epic game in Hillsdale's 35-17 win over Ohio Dominican to finish the 2023 season and cap Herzog's career will live in legends for years to come. Against a defense that was surrendering 88 yards on the ground on average entering the contest, Herzog rushed for 175 yards on 20 carries and five touchdowns, breaking the G-MAC record for rushing touchdowns in a single contest and tying the Hillsdale record for single game rushing touchdowns, held jointly by Gordon Piatt (1939), Nate Clark (1955) and Willis Miles (1982).
While he did most of his damage as a rusher, Herzog also was one of the top return specialists in the G-MAC as well for the Chargers, with 511 kickoff return yards and an average of 18.9 yards per return.
In the CFL Draft, Herzog was selected by a championship-caliber football team, as the Alouettes are the defending Grey Cup champions after a 28-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the title game in 2023. That victory gave the Alouettes their eighth CFL title and first since 2010.
If Herzog makes Montreal's roster and appears in a CFL game this summer, he'll be the seventh Charger, and the first since 1984, to play in the CFL. The most recent was wide receiver standout and NFL Draft pick Nate Johnson, who played for three CFL teams from 1982-84, including a one-year stint in Saskatchewan.
Other notable former Chargers in the CFL include two-time All-American Joe Vijuk, who played defensive end for the Toronto Argos for three years from 1970-72 and helped his team make the Grey Cup, Jim Reynolds, who had a seven-year stint as a receiver from 1960-67, and Chuck Liebrouck, who played guard from 1968-1977 for a variety of CFL teams. Herzog's older brother, Zach, also was drafted by the CFL as a seventh-round selection of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022.
However, the CFL might not be Herzog's only professional football option. On Monday, Herzog also was among the players selected to join the Detroit Lions' rookie minicamp this month. Rookie minicamps are slated to take place either May 3-6 or May 10-13. Herzog joins a long line of Hillsdale players to earn NFL rookie minicamp invites, including running back legend and Hillsdale College Hall of Famer Joe Glendening, but will be Hillsdale's first NFL camp invite since Trey Brock in 2019. The Lions could be an exciting landing spot for Herzog if he can stick with the roster, as both a hometown team for the Windsor native who grew up just across the Ambassador Bridge, and as one of the top teams in the NFL, coming off a run to the NFC Championship game and with a bright future ahead.
Photo by Reva Ludwig