An American football offensive lineman who played in the NFL for several teams, tragically dying at age 23 due to a heart condition.
Thomas Herrion, an American football offensive guard, made a name for himself in the National Football League (NFL) playing for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, as well as in NFL Europe for the Hamburg Sea Devils. He was a talented player with a promising career, cut short by his untimely demise in 2005.
Herrion's football journey began at Polytechnic High School, where he was a four-year starter at left tackle. Apart from football, he was also a talented athlete, competing in the discus throw and shot put, as well as playing center on the basketball team.
After high school, Herrion enrolled at Kilgore College, where he played under head coach Jimmy Rieves at the junior college level. As a freshman, he contributed to the Red River Bowl victory and the 2000 conference championship. In his sophomore year, he was part of a team that finished undefeated with a 12-0 record and a No. 4 national JUCO ranking, earning him first-team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference and honorable-mention JUCO All-America honors.
As a junior, Herrion transferred to the University of Utah, where he played under new head coach Urban Meyer. He appeared in 10 games at right tackle, starting the final three contests. In his senior year, he started all 12 games at left guard and received honorable-mention All-Mountain West Conference honors, while blocking for future San Francisco 49ers teammate and number one overall draft pick quarterback Alex Smith.
Herrion's professional career began when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2004 NFL Draft on May 20, 2004. Although he was waived on September 5, 2004, and later signed to the practice squad on September 14, he was released from the practice squad on September 30, 2004.
On December 9, 2004, Herrion was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to the practice squad, and on January 5, 2005, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the team.
Thomas Herrion's life was tragically cut short on August 20, 2005, when he collapsed and died at the age of 23 during a preseason game between the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
Despite his short career, Herrion left a lasting impact on the football world. His dedication, perseverance, and talent on the field inspired many, and his memory continues to be cherished by his friends, family, and fans.
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