Vince Kowalski participates in a blocking drill at the Packers mini-camp. Photo by Matt Becker/Green Bay Packers.

It’s every college football players dream to be drafted by an NFL team; in the most recent draft 256 players had that dream fulfilled.

For the rest, if they still have the desire, they can go the free- agent route and sign with a team where their particular skills might match well. That is the case with former Villanova offensive tackle Vince Kowalski.

The 6-feet-4, 305-pound Kowalski signed with the Green Bay Packers on June 9. Now the hard part starts: Kowalski is one of 15 offensive linemen on the roster and having signed late he was behind during the spring’s Organized Team Activities and mini-camp.

“The other rookies had been there five or six weeks,” Kowalski said. “I was trying to pick up the playbook as quick as I could. The first couple of practices, I wasn’t getting any team reps but as I stated picking up plays I was getting more and more reps. I still have a lot to learn from the playbook but in the 12 days I was there I think I picked up a decent amount so I can get some reps.”

When he goes back for training camp later this summer, Kowalski might be playing some guard as well and he credits his former coaches at both Williamstown High School and Villanova with helping prepare him for this level.

“The coaches were great,” he said, referring to Williamstown. “Guys go to different colleges from Williamstown every year. The coaches have been real helpful throughout this whole process.”

In fact Mark Suk, the associate head coach and offensive line coach for Williamstown, helped out this off season.
“I thought I had to learn center,” Kowalski said. “He was helping learn how to snap, get my steps down and block.”

“Coach (Mark) Ferrante gave me a hard four years in a good way,” said Kowalski about the Villanova assistant head coach/offensive line coach. “He really pushed me to be the best player I could be. I think he saw the potential in me and he never let me take any days off or plays off. He’s a really big factor in getting me to this point as well.”

Ferrante talked about the traits Kowalski brings to the NFL table.

“The positive characteristics that make Vince an NFL prospect are his toughness, his intelligence for the game, and his work ethic,” Ferrante told Footballstories in an email. “He is very determined and an excellent student of the game.”

Kowalski, like most Villanova players, didn’t go to the Main Line campus planning on an NFL career. Head coach Andy Talley, though, has a bit of a pipeline working from Villanova to the NFL.

In addition to Kowalski, tight end Earnest Pettway signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this year. Ross Ventrone is with the Pittsburgh Steelers while his brother Ray just ended a 10-year career and joined the New England Patriots coaching staff.

Darrel Young is a fullback for the Washington Redskins after playing on the defensive side of the ball for the Wildcats.

All three entered the league as Kowalski is trying to do via free agency. The Wildcats have an offensive linemen playing in the NFL as well, Ben Ijalana was drafted in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2011 and is now with the New York Jets. Of course, Brian Westbrook and Brian Finneran each had long NFL careers after playing for Talley.

“Seeing other guys from Villanova do it,” Kowalski said, “that was a big inspiration to me. If
they can do it, I can do it.”

Email Rock Hoffman at Rock@footballstories.com