Spain’s Badalona Dracs Add Gunpowder, Sign Joey Herrick for 2017

Joey Herrick to add more offense to Spanish American football team

American Joey Herrick will be the second foreign import added to head coach Oscar Calatayud’s team for 2017 season. The new receiver for the Badalona Dracs of Spain’s LNFA Serie A American football league comes from the University of Kentucky Wildcats team, a school with a great tradition in the NCAA SEC conference.

Herrick, 22, is from Maynard, Massachusetts, and measures in at 1’85 and weighs 92 kilos. His great size and quickness allows him to be a reliable wide receiver, very effective in the short, quick passing game.

Herrick began his collegiate football career at the junior college of Kilgore (TX) after attending Dripping Spring High School, where he rose to prominence in the receiver position. With one season at Kilgore, Herrick had over 1,200 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, with an average of 27 yards per catch, earned him the opportunity to become part of the Kentucky Wildcats. He played a total of 19 games with Kentucky, against big teams like Georgia, Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi State, LSU, Louisville and Missouri.

Although his natural position on the field is on offense, Herrick may be useful on defense and reinforce the defense led by Xus Fernández.

The arrival of Joey Herrick, as well the other import Hunter Lee, hope to be effective replacements for the 2016 import duo of Drew Clausen and Robbie Jackson.

Badalona are in the midst of finalizing their 2017 team outline with the signings of Herrick and Lee, and the return of Kevin Duley and Marcos Carmona.

Oscar Calatayud’s team will begin their LNFA Serie A title defense on January 15, 2017, when they face the Barberá Rookies.

American Football International had a chance to catch up with Joey Herrick to chat about his signing.

American Football International: How did you come to sign with the Badalona Dracs?

Joey Herrick: I came to sign with them through the website europlayers.com. The coaches saw my profile and offered me to come play for them.

AFI: Did you know about American football in Spain Europe before now?

JH: I did not know much at all about American football in Europe until I saw europlayers.com.

AFI: What are you looking forward to most about playing in Spain? And what do you think you can bring to Badalona in 2017?

JH: The thing I look forward to most about playing in Spain is experiencing a new culture as well as being able to continue playing the game. I think I am bringing a lot of experience and knowledge of the game along with speed and good route running ability to help my team in Badalona.

Sep 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Joey Herrick (87) runs the ball Against Missouri Tigers linebacker Michael Scherer (30) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Missouri Tigers defeated Kentucky 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Joey Herrick (87) runs the ball Against Missouri Tigers linebacker Michael Scherer (30) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Missouri Tigers defeated Kentucky 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Source: https://badalonadracs.es

John McKeon is a former professional and collegiate American Football player and coach now living and working in New York. His goal is to spread news, information, and opinion on the global growth of the sport he loves.