Michal Menet hoping to make the grade with Arizona Cardinals

Michal Menet graduated from Penn State in December, but he’s still learning every day.

The former Exeter standout is taking graduate-level courses with the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s learning from the best.

“I’m trying to be a sponge, trying to focus on getting better every single day, and just keep learning from these vets,” said Menet between sessions at the Cardinals’ training camp in Glendale, Ariz., where he’s a wide-eyed rookie.

Menet was a seventh-round draft pick of the Cardinals last spring and knows he has a lot to learn about the pro game. The intricacies of line play in the NFL are far greater than Menet experienced during five seasons with the Nittany Lions.

He has good teachers in Rodney Hudson, considered by many the top center in the NFL, and Max Garcia, a veteran who has started at both center and guard during his career.

“I’m getting a ton of learning done,” said the 24-year-old Menet, a 2016 Exeter grad. “Obviously there’s a bunch of incredible vets on this team that I’m able to learn from.

“I’ve really been able to learn a ton from them, especially with Max, because he’s played guard and center throughout his career. There’s a ton of guys to learn from, a ton of great examples of how to practice.”

The 6-4, 306-pound Menet knows he can hold his own against the strongest linemen in the league. To make the roster, and get on the field, he needs to learn how to play the game at the highest level. The mental challenge is steep.

“Centers (in pro ball) have to do more, as far as looking at the whole defense to make their calls,” Menet said. “There’s definitely a bigger need for understanding the offense better, being able to understand defenses. (There are) more plays (than in college), and the plays are more complicated.”

Hudson and Garcia are helping Menet ease the learning curve, but they also stand in his way of playing time, or even making the roster. Menet is listed third at center on the team’s depth chart.

The 32-year-old Hudson is in his 11th season and has been ranked the league’s top center for the past five seasons. He started all 16 games for Las Vegas Raiders last season before being traded to the Cardinals in March, just a month before Menet was taken in the NFL Draft.

Garcia, 29, is in his seventh season. He made 41 starts for the Denver Broncos before signing with Arizona before the 2019 season.

“If I’m struggling with a center technique, a center block, identifying a certain look, Rodney makes plenty of time to explain it to me and walk me through it,” Menet said. “In my opinion he’s the best center in the league, so it’s awesome to be able to learn from him, to be able to take all his experience that he’s so willing to share.”

Menet gained his first NFL experience Friday, playing in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ 19-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He was on the field for two series, a total of about 20 plays.

“Just coming out to the crowd, running into an NFL stadium, it was a cool experience,” he said.

Arizona plays its second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs Friday at State Farm Stadium. Wilson grad Chad Henne is a quarterback with the Chiefs.

“We’ve got a ton of great defensive linemen on this team, so it’s definitely been an adjustment getting used to the size and strength of everybody,” Menet said. “In college, you have one or two guys that are typically big, strong fast, kind of the whole package. Here, everybody is.”

Menet was a three-year starter at center for Penn State, starting 34 straight games. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. He was also a two-time team captain.

The Nittany Lions struggled at the outset of last season, losing their first five games. They rebounded to win their final four and ended up ranked second in the Big Ten in total offense.

Menet arrived at Penn State as one of the top-rated high school linemen in the nation. He was a rare three-time first-team All-State lineman at Exeter, where he led the Eagles to the Berks Football League Section 1 title as a senior in 2015.

Menet is taking the same approach with the Cardinals that he did at Exeter and at Penn State. He remains focused on the here and now and doesn’t spend time looking at the big picture.

“I have no idea (if I’ll make the opening roster),” he said. “My focus has always been just trying to get better every day. That’s how it was in high school, that’s how it was in college, that’s how it is now.

“I just try to worry about myself and focus on getting better, and the rest will take care of itself. At the end of the day, I don’t make the (roster) decision, so there’s no reason to be worrying about it. I just worry about what I can do each and every day.”