GoHeels Exclusive: Heck Already An NFL Draft Veteran

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

Charlie Heck knows as well as any 2020 NFL Draft prospect what the next few days will be like, even if he hasn't been in this position before.

The son of Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck, the former North Carolina offensive tackle can recall many of the drafts his father has been a part of across his 14 seasons as an NFL coach. He especially remembers how nerve-racking they were.

"There were a lot of stressful draft days, mainly just for me because I was a diehard fan of whatever team (Andy was with)," said Charlie Heck during a videoconference with media on Monday. "I had some strong opinions about whoever they drafted, but obviously I had no say in the matter. It was always fun hearing my dad's opinion after those three days."

And it'll carry even more weight this year.

Considered the No. 16 offensive tackle in this year's draft according to NFL.com's prospect rating, Heck isn't expecting to be selected during Thursday's first round. But by the time the second and third rounds roll around Friday, he said he'll "start getting perked up a little bit," knowing his lifelong dream of hearing his name called could soon come true.

As surreal as that moment will be, whenever it is, the lead-up to the draft hasn't exactly been what he'd always envisioned.

Shortly after UNC's season-ending win over Temple in the Military Bowl in December, Heck moved to Carlsbad, California, where he trained until the NFL combine in late February. Following it, he planned to return to Chapel Hill and work out until the draft. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, he went home to Kansas City, Mo., where he still remains.

With on-campus pro days as well as interviews and workouts for NFL teams at their facilities canceled, many prospects didn't have the chance to get in front of scouts and coaches. Heck, however, did, not only at the combine but at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl.

"I was grateful that I was able to go to the combine," said Heck, who posted a 5.16-second 40-yard dash time, a 28-inch vertical jump and 112-inch board jump in a rather successful showing in Indianapolis. "I was really looking forward to UNC pro day, just to kind of help out some of those numbers. But luckily I was able to get a lot of exposure there (at the combine) and at some of the bowl games I went to. So, I was really grateful for that."

But that's certainly not all he's thankful for.

With the evaluation process now being conducted predominantly via the Zoom app, Heck said he's been bouncing questions off Andy, a former first-round pick and 12-year NFL veteran, about how to best present himself to teams. He's also been staying in shape with the help of his brother, Jon, the Tar Heels' starting right tackle from 2013-16 and now a part of Carolina's strength staff.

Heck said the conversations he's had with teams since the combine have varied. Some have tried just to get to know him and see how he'd fit in with their group. Others, though, have gone "a little more in depth."

"Some will be showing your own film, UNC film, and just having me talk through it, seeing my thought process during our game," said Heck, a second-team All-ACC selection last fall. "And others will be taking me through their own install and seeing how I can pick up their stuff and just seeing how much info I can retain and spit back at them."

Although he always seemed destined to be an offensive lineman, given his family's background, Heck didn't have a true position when he committed to the Tar Heels.

Employed primarily as a tight end in high school, he went from 195 pounds to roughly 235 over his final two seasons. Still, college coaches were unsure if he'd be a tight end, defensive lineman or offensive lineman. So much uncertainty surrounded the decision that Heck didn't know where he'd end up until he was handed a No. 67 jersey and knee braces upon arriving in Chapel Hill.

Over the next four and a half years, Heck, now 311 pounds, gradually grew into his 6-foot-8 frame. He also became one of the best offensive tackles in the ACC – and now a likely draft pick.

"I really could'nt have done it without UNC and the support staff, all the coaches early on and then the coaching staff now," Heck said. "Just people believing in me, my roommates and my teammates. It all just came down to work ethic. It's something that I'm proud of when I look back on my journey. It's really exciting that hopefully I'll be able to have an opportunity to go out there and make a team and continue playing football."

Heck was adamant that he'll be happy no matter which team drafts him. But if it's the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, he said he and Andy "would handle it totally well," before adding, "I think it would cause a lot of stress for my mom."

Only 2 years old when Andy retired from the NFL following the 2000 season, Heck said he's gained a better appreciation for his father's professional playing career over the years. That's only continued as he's gone through the draft process.

"When I was really young, I was like, 'Yeah, my dad played in the NFL,'" Heck said. "But then as I got older and realized he was a first-round pick and played for 12 years in the NFL, that's almost unheard of for an offensive lineman to be able to land 12 years in the NFL.

"It's really cool to see that and hear that from him, and I'm hoping that I can follow in his footsteps. Big shoes to fill, but it's been a dream of mine to hopefully one day be able to do that."

And now that day is almost here.

Players Mentioned

Charlie Heck

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