The three-time All-North Central Conference first-team selection has exceptional size and strength in his line release that has allowed him to be an inviting target in traffic. Ever since taking over tight end duties as a sophomore, Herold has shown a great work ethic and embraced his leadership role on the squad. He displays excellent hand/eye coordination and has drawn comparisons to Minnesota's Jim Kleinsasser for his ability to compete for the ball in the short areas.

Herold was a first-team all-conference and all-metro selection as a senior at Prairie High School. He also added second-team all-state accolades during his final year. He competed as a tight end and defensive end, setting school records for most tackles for a loss in a game and in a season. Herold also lettered in basketball, earning honorable mention all-conference recognition.

Herold enrolled at UNO in 2002, spending his first season performing on the scout team. He appeared in seven games as a reserve tight end in 2003, coming up with 27 yards on four catches (6.8 average). Herold earned All-North Central Conference first-team honors in 2004. He started 11 times, ranking fourth on the team with 14 receptions for 198 yards (14.1 avg.) and two touchdowns. He also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score.

Herold was again named to the All-NCC first team in 2005. He sat out one game due to a knee sprain but still managed to rank second on the team with a career-high 32 catches for 465 yards (14.5 avg.) and five touchdowns. He was named first-team All-NCC and All-Northwest Region in 2006, as he again finished second on the team with 23 receptions for 358 yards (15.6 avg.), but did not score any touchdowns.

Herold appeared in 39 games during his UNO career, starting 32 times. He was credited with 73 catches for 1,048 yards (14.4 avg.) and seven touchdowns. He added another score on a fumble recovery in the end zone and recorded a pair of tackles.

Positives: Has a tall, thick frame with room to carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk … Shows adequate muscle tone with a developed lower body … Has the long arms and strong, big hands to defeat the press and get into his route … Natural hands catcher with very good ability to turn his body and track the ball in flight … Has very good hand/eye coordination to look the ball in and catch outside his frame … Shows good balance on the move, staying on his feet to squeeze through the crowd … Can create separation after the catch due to his strong leg drive that lets him break the initial tackle … Has the upper body strength and hand placement to lock on and sustain the defender when blocking along the line (needs to do it with better consistency) … Very savvy open-field runner who might lack top speed, but has the loose hips to escape the safeties and take the ball up the seam … Uses his frame well to shield defenders from the ball … Tough underneath catcher who shows true courage going for the ball in a crowd … Has the leaping ability and timing to defeat the smaller defenders in jump ball situations … Not an elusive runner, but shows good power-through in attempts to gain valid yardage after the catch … More of a finesse blocker, but can use his size to occupy the smaller defender … Takes good angles to neutralize second-level defenders as a cut blocker.

Negatives: Seems a bit pigeon-toed in his stance and will gather and take some false steps while trying to come out of his breaks … Lacks suddenness in his initial step and won't generate a second gear to escape … Can dominate as a blocker, but does not do it with consistency … Shows adequate explosion on contact when engaging a defender … Does not have the explosion to create lanes as a lead blocker … One-speed type of runner, but has shown improvement developing moves (wiggle, head fakes) to surprise a lethargic defender … Has natural hands, but his concentration is prone to lapses, especially when he tries to turn and run with the ball without securing it first … Not considered a vertical threat because of his lack of timed speed and is better suited in the short-to-intermediate areas … Has the arm extension to get to the ball at its high point, but looks a bit stiff when having to go low to scoop up the shoe-string throws … Has a strong hand punch to shock and jolt a defender, but his feet tend to go dead on contact and he is slow to adjust to movement in pass protection … Needs to improve his upper body strength.

Compares To: Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Vikings … Like Kleinsasser, Herold doesn't dominate as a blocker on a consistent basis, but he is effective at making plays in traffic and works hard to sustain … He compensates for adequate speed by sticking his routes at the top to create separation by freezing the defender.

2001: Underwent left knee arthroscopic surgery in December.

2004: Had a piece of bone taken out of his broken left foot in early October, but did not miss any games.

2005: Underwent right knee arthroscopic surgery early in August camp … Sat out the Minnesota-Duluth game with a right knee sprain.

Campus: 4.85 in the 40-yard dash … 350-pound bench press … Bench pressed 225 pounds 14 times … 425-pound squat … 341-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-5 broad jump … 4.52 20-yard shuttle … 7.37 three-cone drill … 32 3/8-inch arm length … 10 1/8-inch hands … Right-handed.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Prairie (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) High School, playing football for head coach Craig Jelinik … First-team all-conference and all-metro selection as a senior … Added second-team all-state accolades during his final year … Competed as a tight end and defensive end, setting school records for most tackles for a loss in a game and in a season … Also lettered in basketball, earning honorable mention all-conference recognition.

General studies major … Son of Tim Herold … Born Dec. 19, 1983 … Resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.