Mr. Scherff goes to Washington

CHICAGO - Brandon Scherff's last trip to the nation's capital was as a boy scout in Denison, Iowa. He'll return there now as a professional and expected to act nothing like a boy scout.

Scherff, an Iowa offensive tackle, was selected fifth overall by the Washington Redskins in last night's NFL draft. Scherff became the seventh first-round draft pick under Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz and fourth offensive lineman tabbed in the first round. He was Iowa's highest selection since Robert Gallery was taken No. 2 overall in the 2004 draft.

'They just said, ‘I want you to be a Redskin,' and I was like, ‘Absolutely, I would love that,'” Scherff said. 'I talked to (offensive line) (Bill) Callahan, and he said he loves the way I play, and they can't wait to get me out there.

'I just had my phone on the table, I saw it ringing, and I was like, ‘Oh, boy, here we go.'”

In the seconds that followed his phone call, Scherff embraced his girlfriend, mother, sister and father, then made his way to the stage where he shook hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He then turned his focus from anticipation to reality. He'll fly to Washington either today or Saturday.

'I'm glad it's over, glad we finally found out where it's going to happen and just ready to move on,” Scherff said.

Scherff lands in a good location. He's considered the draft's most physical lineman but potentially limited on the left side. Washington left tackle Trent Williams has played in three straight Pro Bowls, but the Redskins' offensive line needed help. That's where Scherff comes in.

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said Callahan pushed for Scherff and was 'fired up” Washington selected him.

'He had a real high grade on Brandon,” Gruden told his team's website. 'We all did.

'Redskins football was built by the Hogs back in the day. We're trying to be that nasty. We want to be a punishing offensive line.”

Scherff learned about the Redskins' history of powerful football about the time he was selected. The reigning Outland Trophy winner should step in immediately as a starter at guard or tackle. He played just five days after knee surgery last fall and was named a consensus All-American. Scherff defines himself as a tough football player, which is what he told representatives of other teams at the NFL Scouting Combine, Iowa's pro day and team visits.

'I like to consider myself to be a nasty football player,” Scherff said. 'I want to jump in and earn the respect from all the teammates first and then learn the plays and just go out and improve with all the guys.”

Washington likely will play Scherff at right tackle or guard, Gruden said.

'He's the type of guy we were looking for in the offensive line,” Gruden said. 'He's tough, nasty, big, physical and will help our running game.”

Scherff (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) brought his parents, siblings, his girlfriend and her family plus four of his high school football coaches to the draft.

Scherff started 36 career games at Iowa, including the last 26. Ferentz attended the draft but was not available for comment.

Speculation swirled for months about where Scherff would go. He was slated by most mock drafts to land with the Redskins' rival, the New York Giants at pick No. 9. He was the first Big Ten and offensive lineman selected in the draft.

'It means the world to me,” Scherff said. 'You always want to be the top of the top. It's cool for myself to do that.”

The last Iowa player selected by the Redskins was safety Jordan Bernstine in the seventh round of the 2012 draft. Scherff is Iowa's most recent first-round pick before Scherff was tackle Riley Reiff, who was selected by Detroit in 2012.

Scherff considers Reiff, which plays left tackle for the Lions, and Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda as his mentors. Yanda even dispensed some advice for Scherff before the draft.

'He just relax, have fun and try to improve each and every day like he does,” Scherff said.

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