Boston College junior offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus, just under 6-foot-7, 325 pounds, has been the team's starting right tackle since he was a freshman and is beginning to make an impact among area scouts who are watching senior linemates James Marten and Josh Beekman. Cherilus is much stronger at the point of attack than Marten, who plays left tackle but is seen as an NFL interior lineman.
Beekman is a gritty technician who has short arms and lacks quickness, but he will battle his opponent for all four quarters.
A native of Haiti, he played three sports in high school, but what makes his upside so interesting is that besides having an ideal combination of size, athleticism and smarts, he also is at the mid-point of the learning curve.
Cherilus tends to rely on his natural ability rather than ideal technique, but at 22, he has what many offensive line coaches consider a perfect recipe for success: wing span, footwork and work ethic. Cherilus is expected to request his draft grade from the NFL Advisory Committee at season's end. If he does, he'd likely receive a second-round grade.
Gosder Cherilus
Player Profile
Class: Junior
Hometown: Somerville, MA
High School: Somerville
Height / Weight: 6-7 / 318
Position: OT
Notes
Big and talented, Cherilus enters his junior campaign as an all-star candidate at right tackle...started all 24 games in 2004 and 2005.
2005 Season
Started all 12 contests at offensive tackle; has started all 24 games of his collegiate career at offensive tackle...paved the way for four 100-yard rushing performances and a collective 1,515 rushing yards by L.V. Whitworth and Andre Callender...was a member of the ACC's biggest offensive line, weighing a collective 1,586 pounds.
2004 Season
Started all 12 games of his redshirt freshman campaign at offensive tackle; was the only freshman starter on the offensive line...helped pave the way for running backs Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth; also provided protection for quarterback Paul Peterson.
2003 Season
Redshirted.
High School
Earned Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors as a senior at Somerville High School; played tackle on both sides of the ball ... named to Tom Lemming's All-America team in 2002 ... captured 2002 All-State accolades from the Mass. State Coaches Association ... played for head coach Tony Gulla ... also excelled on Somerville's basketball and track teams.
Personal
Gosder Cherilus, born June 28, 1984 in Haiti...enrolled as a communication major in the College of Arts & Sciences...is the 2005-06 recipient of the Reverend Maurice V. Dullea, S.J., Scholarship...Gosder is the younger of Morisena Exilus and Jenel Cherilus' two children.