OWINGS MILLS — Ravens offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees worked hard this past offseason to get ready for the NFL.
He spent most of his rookie year in the weight room recovering from knee surgery. Vorhees attended meetings and talked to veteran players to get more prepared for when he could get back on the field.
Now, Vorhees has put himself in position to win the starting job at left guard. His teammates are not surprised because they have seen the work he has done to become a productive player in the NFL.
“Ever since he got here, he’s been a student of the game and has just been trying to learn,” Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “Even the times he couldn’t really be on the field for practice, he’s been in all the meetings, he’s been here throughout all the offseason, and I come out … I’m very impressed with how fast he’s learning things, how fast he’s getting up to the speed of the game [and] how good of a shape he’s in. Everything is moving really fast for him., but he’s also adjusting really fast, and he’s getting better and better every day.”
The running backs also appreciate the way Vorhees is learning to block and open lanes for them. The Ravens led the NFL in rushing last season and they expect to maintain that ranking, especially with the addition of Derrick Henry.
“I know, definitely with Vorhees, [with] just the injury, just fighting through that and being strong mentally, it’s been awesome to see how he approaches each and every day, and he’s just going to continue to get better,” backup running back Justice Hill said. “We’ve got one of the best D-Lines [defensive lines] in the league, and being able to go up against that in practice is going to make the games so much easier. So, he’s been doing well.”
Vorhees’ teammates on the offensive line have been impressed by how he has learned the offense. They also have developed a bond with him because he has spent so much time with them in the weight room and meetings.
“Andrew was really locked in last year in all [of] the meetings,” offensive lineman Patrick Mekari said. “Even though he was hurt, [and] he knew he wasn’t going to play, he was locked in all the meetings [and] taking notes in every meeting. So, I think picking up the offensive calls has been easier for him because of how locked in he was last year; and now it’s just getting back to him. He’s been out of football for a year, [and] he’s getting better every day. He’s a great football player, and he’s going to get it done.”
Vorhees was selected by the Ravens in the seventh round with the 229th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Vorhees had a redshirt first year to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained while participating in the scouting combine. The Ravens were happy to take a chance on him, even though he couldn’t play in his first year.
“It was an investment for sure,” Vorhees said. “Just not knowing, with my injury, and it being so late in the process – in reference to the whole draft process. So yes, I was beyond grateful when I got the call from [executive vice president and general manager] Mr. [Eric] DeCosta, and the Baltimore Ravens decided to select me as one of their choices. Again, they poured into me all last year, and I gave them everything I had.
“[It] just felt like the foundation that I built for myself and the belief and the work ethic I had with everyone on staff in our weight room, our training room, and even our position coaches and stuff – [it] just felt like it all has paid dividends, and I’m forever indebted and grateful to this organization for believing in me and giving me a shot, given my circumstances.”
