JULIAN VANDERVELDE was a couple of years ahead of fellow offensive lineman Matt Tobin at Iowa. Vandervelde was captain of a "Hawkeye Challenge" team, a summer exercise in which groups of players would compete, not just in athletic feats, but in off-the-field areas such as community service.
"I always chose Tobin first," Vandervelde said yesterday, as the Eagles began preparations for this weekend's visit to Washington, with Tobin expected to step in for Andrew Gardner at right guard. Gardner is on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a Lisfranc tear in his right foot Sunday at the Jets.
"He was a walk-on, kind of had a chip on his shoulder," recalled Vandervelde, who said he always called Tobin "the dark horse.