Mark Herzlich Sandon Mark Herzlich , Jr . ( born September 1 , 1987 ) is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League . He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011 . He played college football at Boston College . Early life . Herzlich was born in Kirkwood , Missouri , the son of Barbara Read ( née Martin ) , a former tennis player , and Sandon Mark Herzlich . His paternal grandfather ' s Ashkenazi Jewish family left Austria after the German annexion . His father was raised Jewish and converted to Protestanism when Herzlich was born . He has one sibling , younger brother Bradley Martin , who is a member of the football team at Brown University . High school career . Herzlich attended Conestoga High School in Tredyffrin Township , Pennsylvania , where he earned Associated Press Class First - team AAAA All - State honors as senior linebacker . Considered a three - star prospect by " Rivals . com " , Herzlich was recruited by Boston College , Duke , North Carolina , Vanderbilt and Virginia . He was committed to Virginia some time before he chose to play for Boston College . He recorded 142 tackles and made four interceptions as a junior and also lined up at fullback in 2003 and 2004 , scoring three offensive touchdowns . As a senior he registered a team - high 153 tackles , including 48 solo stops , in 2005 , and totaled eight tackles for loss , including four sacks ; he also returned a blocked field goal 86 yards for a touchdown . He led the Pioneers to back - to - back Central League titles ( 2004 and 2005 ) and became the first player in school history to win the team MVP award three times . Herzlich was also a lacrosse star at Conestoga , and received a scholarship offer from Johns Hopkins University to play lacrosse . College career . Herzlich went on to attend Boston College and played in all 13 games as a true freshman . He earned " College Football News " Freshman All - American honors with a total of 42 tackles ( 32 solo ) , including 5 . 0 tackles for a loss and 1 . 0 sack , one interception and forced two fumbles . As a sophomore he started all 14 games for the Eagles and finished the season second in total tackles with 97 ( 55 solos , 42 assists ) . He also led the team with 12 tackles - for - loss to go with 1 . 5 quarterback sacks and 4 pass breakups , 2 forced fumbles , 2 fumble recoveries . Herzlich entered his junior season ( 2008 ) as a preseason all - star candidate . He was named to the Lott Trophy and Butkus Award watchlists prior to the season . In 2008 Herzlich was a First - team All - American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year . He was also a finalist for the Butkus Award , and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy . He led the team with 110 tackles and 81 stops , six interceptions , eight pass break - ups , two forced fumbles , and two fumble recoveries and also had 13 tackles for a loss . In November 2008 , Herzlich was a projected top - 15 pick by many scouts for the 2009 NFL Draft but announced his return to Boston College for the 2009 season . Herzlich missed the entire 2009 season due to Ewing ' s Sarcoma , a rare form of bone cancer , which he overcame and earned numerous honors for his courage and outreach , including the Disney Spirit Award , Nils V . " Swede " Nelson Award , an honorary Lott Trophy , and the ACC Commissioner ’ s Cup . In 2010 Herzlich returned to the football field and won the Rudy Award and the ACC ' s Brian Piccolo Award after starting all 13 games and finishing third on the team with 65 tackles and 50 solo stops . He tied for first on the team with two forced fumbles , second on the team with four interceptions and four pass break ups and also had 3 . 5 tackles for a loss . Cancer diagnosis . On May 14 , 2009 , Herzlich announced that he had been diagnosed with Ewing ' s sarcoma , a rare form of bone cancer , stating in a press release : On September 29 , 2009 , Mark Herzlich announced that he was cancer free . This was confirmed by the team doctors . He publicly announced this during the ESPN and Home Depot College Gameday Special at Boston College on October 3 , 2009 . He sat out the remainder of the 2009 season and returned in 2010 , registering five tackles ( three solo ) in the season - opening 38 - 20 win against FCS school Weber State . Despite not playing college football in 2009 , he received the Disney ' s Wide World of Sports Spirit Award for overcoming cancer , as well as the Nils V . " Swede " Nelson Award for sportsmanship . In January 2011 , he received the " Most Courageous Athlete " award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association . Professional career . NFL Draft . Herzlich was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft even though he was invited to attend the event . Omaha Nighthawks . After going undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft , Herzlich was selected with the 51st pick of the 10th round by the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL . Despite this , Herzlich stated that he will wait for an NFL contract rather than join the UFL . New York Giants . On July 26 , 2011 , Herzlich signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants . Herzlich made the New York Giants final 53 man roster . On November 20 , 2011 , Herzlich made his first NFL start against the Philadelphia Eagles .