Bentley’s Bernadeau Drafted by Carolina Panthers
Information Provided By Bentley Sports Information
WALTHAM, Mass. -- Bentley All-America senior offensive guard
Mackenzy Bernadeau (Waltham/Waltham HS) was drafted by the Carolina
Panthers in the seventh round of Sunday's NFL draft. He was the
250th player taken, and one of three offensive linemen selected by
the Panthers.
Bernadeau, the first Bentley football player ever drafted by an NFL
team, was one of six New England players (the others being from
Boston College and UConn) and one of five Division II athletes
chosen in the 2008 draft.
Twice the Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and
a three-time All-Conference selection, Bernadeau started the first
37 games of his college career, an ironman streak that ended when
he suffered a left knee injury against C.W. Post last October.
Despite missing the final five games of the 2007 season, the 6-4,
298-pounder received numerous accolades, including selection to
both the American Football Coaches Association Division II
All-America team and the Associated Press Little All-American team.
Bernadeau also received Division II All-America recognition from
d2football.com and the Football Gazette.
Bernadeau was a consensus Division II All-Northeast Region
selection for the second straight year, as well as a repeat choice
as a New England Football Writers Division II-III All-Star and ECAC
Division II All-Star.
Following the season, Bernadeau was chosen for both the Valero
Cactus Bowl and the Texas vs. the Nation all-star games, but had to
decline both invitations due to his rehabilitation from knee
surgery.
The Carolina Panthers will have a weekend minicamp, beginning
Friday.