Lance Olberding
{{Short description|American football player (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lance Olberding
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|03|01|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lbs = 298
| college = Iowa
Kirkwood CC
| high_school = Apple Valley (MN)
| draftyear = 1992
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 172
| teams = *Randolph Oilers (1991)
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|1992}})*
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|1992}})*
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|1993}})*
| image =
| caption = Olberding with the Randolph Oilers
}}
Lance Olberding is a former gridiron football offensive lineman who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 1992 NFL draft. He is notable for being drafted despite never playing a snap in a college football game.
Amateur career
Olberding was a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes traveling team as a freshman, but did not see any playing time.{{Cite news |last=Dell'Apa |first=Frank |date=July 12, 1991 |title=Swann clones suit up for the Randolph Oilers: They're big, they're out of school and they have NFL tools |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/26957485-6e62-446b-84bf-42019083574b/downloads/1991__Swann_clones_suit_up_for_the_Randolph_Oilers-__They_re.pdf }} After the season, he transferred to Kirkwood Community College.{{Cite web |title=Lance Olberding NFL Stats and Bio - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playero/olbe00200.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}} In 1992, Olberding joined the Randolph Oilers of the Eastern Football League (EFL), an amateur football team in Randolph, Massachusetts. While with Randolph, he was coached by former National Football League (NFL) offensive lineman Jim Rourke.
Professional career
Despite having very limited college football experience, NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Olberding the eighth best offensive tackle in the 1992 NFL draft.{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Glen |date=February 3, 1992 |title=Oilers' Olberding could make EFL History |work=Brockton Enterprise |url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/26957485-6e62-446b-84bf-42019083574b/downloads/1992.02.03._Oilers__Olberding_could_make_EFL_History.Enterpr.pdf }} At the 1992 NFL scouting combine, Olberding ran a 5.4 second 40-yard dash and bench pressed 22 reps.{{Cite web |title=Lance Olberding {{!}} Combine Results {{!}} OT - Iowa |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=24704 |access-date=2023-06-24 |language=en-US}}
= Cincinnati Bengals =
Olberding was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 172nd overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=The Official Site of the Cincinnati Bengals |url=https://www.bengals.com/history/years/1992 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.bengals.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/130221046/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 28, 1992|page=31|title=Semi-pro tackle big project for McNally|author=Ledbetter, D. Orlando}} {{Open access}} He was the first player ever drafted from the Eastern Football League.{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Glen |date=April 28, 1992 |title=Olberding 7th round pick of the Bengals |work=The Brockton Enterprise |url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/26957485-6e62-446b-84bf-42019083574b/downloads/1992.04.28._Randolph_Oiler_Olberding__7th_round_pick_of_Beng.pdf }} First-year Bengals head coach Dave Shula had high praise for Olberding's work ethic, saying, "Lance [Olberding] has a good mix of athletic ability and size. We don't expect him to in and start right away, but we do expect him to come in and compete for a spot on the roster."{{Cite news |last=Pinsonnault |first=Jay |date=April 29, 1992 |title=Oilers' Olberding 'has shot' at NFL |work=The Patriot Ledger |url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/26957485-6e62-446b-84bf-42019083574b/downloads/1992.04.29.Oilers_Olberding_has_shot_at_NFL.pdf }}
= Minnesota Vikings =
Olberding was a practice squad player for the Minnesota Vikings in 1992.
= New England Patriots =
In 1993, Olberding spent the preseason with the New England Patriots.{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Glen |title=Pats hopeful has powerful inspiration |work=Brockton Enterprise}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bengals1992DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olberding, Lance}}
Category:Sportspeople from Rochester, Minnesota
Category:Players of American football from Minnesota
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players