Michael Herzog ’23. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

A former star running back for the Chargers is now playing professional football in Canada.

Michael Herzog ’23 joined the practice squad of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League in early September. The CFL is a professional football league with nine teams that compete for the Grey Cup. Its 21-week season runs from June to November.

“Michael is a guy who just loves the game,” said Chargers football head coach Nate Schreffler. “The guys loved him and he loved them which meant he was a great leader by example.”

Sophomore wide receiver Shea Ruddy played with Herzog during the 2023 season.

“He was a hard runner and always brought a good amount of comedic relief to the locker room,” Ruddy said.

At Hillsdale, Herzog rushed for 1,333 yards and earned all-region and all-American honors in 2023. He also earned all-conference honors in 2022.

“We usually try to balance the game plan on the offensive side of the ball between the run and pass game. That’s easy to do with someone like Mike in the backfield,” said Shreffler, who was offensive coordinator during Herzog’s career at Hillsdale.

Herzog began to think about his next step in football after the 2022 season.

“I started to eye the draft,” Herzog said. “I knew if I could show out for my final year I would have the opportunity to work toward a dream.”

At the end of the 2023 season, Herzog played in the College Gridiron Showcase, which attracted scouts from the NFL and CFL.

“That game was like a combine,” Herzog said. “They ran us through the 40, tested our shuttle, broad, and vertical. Then we would play a game so they could see what they were in for.”

When bowl season finished, Herzog trained in Novi, Michigan, as the CFL draft drew near.

“Those days were mostly about trying to peak at the right time,” Herzog said. “It was about three hours per day of strength and conditioning trying to be in the best shape of my life.”

In April 2024, the Montreal Alouettes called Herzog’s name with the 56th overall pick in the CFL draft.

“That was a good day,” Herzog said. ”We threw a draft party with some family and we were able to celebrate that a little bit.”

He reported in Montreal for training camp but was cut during the preseason. Herzog returned to his home in Windsor, Canada, where he continued training and kept a phone nearby, he said.

“Sometimes that’s how it goes in the early stages of a career, but I knew if I kept doing what I was doing, I would be ready when another opportunity arose,” Herzog said. “Sure enough a few weeks ago, Montreal called again.”

Herzog said he looks forward to the opportunity to work his way into the roster and hopes to make the team before training camp next season.

“If they need me this season it will probably be on special teams, but I am ready to stay on my training and looking forward to making an impact soon.”