Hjalte Froholdt

NoteCARDS:

• Name pronounced "YELL-duh / FRO-holt."
• Signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/15/23 after spending his first four seasons with the Patriots (2019-20) and Browns (2021-22). 
• A native of Svendborg, Denmark, Froholdt began playing football in the United States during his sophomore year of high school as a foreign exchange student in Warren, OH. In 2019, he became the first Danish player ever invited to the NFL Combine.

NoteCARDS:

• Name pronounced "YELL-duh / FRO-holt."
• Signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/15/23 after spending his first four seasons with the Patriots (2019-20) and Browns (2021-22). 
• A native of Svendborg, Denmark, Froholdt began playing football in the United States during his sophomore year of high school as a foreign exchange student in Warren, OH. In 2019, he became the first Danish player ever invited to the NFL Combine.

Pro Career:

Drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Arkansas. Released by the Patriots on 11/21/20 and acquired off waivers by the Texans on 11/23/20. Released by the Texans on 8/31/21 and added to Houston's practice squad on 9/1/21. Signed from the Texans practice squad to the Browns active roster on 10/5/21. Released by the Browns on 11/27/21 and re-signed to the team's practice squad on 11/30/21. Signed a one-year contract with Cleveland on 1/10/22. Signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/15/23.

2022: Appeared in a career-high 17 games and made his first six career starts (four at center and two at right guard) in his second season with Cleveland … helped the Browns offense rank 6th in the NFL in both rushing yards per game (146.5) and rushing TDs (19) … part of an O-Line that led the way as the Browns rushed for 2,490 yards on the year, the 3rd-best single-season total in franchise history and the highest total since 1963 (2,639 yards) … helped Cleveland run for more than 150 yards in the first five games of the season for just the third time in club history (1947, 2021), as well as three more contests (Week 10 at Miami; Week 11 at Buffalo; and Week 13 at Houston) … Browns eclipsed 170 rushing yards in all eight of those games, tied with Chicago for the most such performances in the NFL in 2022 … contributed as an extra OL and at FB in jumbo sets vs. Pit (9/22), serving as a lead blocker at FB on Nick Chubb's one-yard TD in 4th quarter … made his first career start @ Bal (10/23), playing every offensive snap at RG … started at RG vs. Cin (10/31); part of a unit that recorded 172 rushing yards with three TDs … started first career game at C vs. TB (11/27); helped Cleveland to 189 rushing yards on 34 carries (5.6 avg.) with two TDs, including Chubb's three-yard game-winner in the final minute of OT … started at C @ Hou (12/4), helping propel Cleveland to 174 rushing yards while the O-Line allowed just one sack … started at C vs. Bal (12/17), helping Browns run for 143 yards on 33 carries.

2021: After being signed from Houston's practice squad in October, appeared in six games with the Browns on special teams.

2020: Played in his first eight career games with the Patriots, seeing action on the offensive line and on special teams … made his NFL debut in the season-opener vs. Mia (9/13), appearing on the field goal unit … saw first career action on the O-Line vs. Den (10/18) and played 45 snaps at LG … again saw action at LG (16 snaps) vs. SF (10/25).

2019: In his rookie season, suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth preseason game and was placed on injured reserve on 8/31.

College:

Appeared in 47 career games (37 starts) over four seasons (2015-18) at Arkansas … began collegiate career as a defensive lineman before making the switch to the offensive line prior to his sophomore season … named to the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll in each of his four seasons at Arkansas … capped his collegiate career with 2,446 snaps on the offensive line with 1,291 in pass protection, allowing just three sacks (all coming in 2016) … as a senior in 2018, started all 12 games at either LG or C and earned second-team All-SEC honors … totaled 815 snaps (440 in pass protection) and did not allow a sack, marking back-to-back years to accomplish that feat … finished the season with an 88.5 grade from PFF in pass block protection, which ranked fifth in the SEC among … as a junior in 2017, started all 12 games at LG and saw action in 747 snaps … did not allow a sack all season across 389 snaps in pass protection … allowed just two QB hits and only nine hurries … finished the year as the #9 overall graded offensive lineman in the SEC and the #2 graded guard, according to Pro Football Focus (85.6) … after switching from the defensive line to the offensive line prior to the season, started all 13 games at LG and finished the year with an 83.6 overall grade by PFF … produced an 88.8 run-blocking grade by PFF, which ranked #9 among all FBS guards … paved the way for Rawleigh Williams III to capture the SEC regular season rushing title with 1,326 yards on the ground, while Austin Allen threw for an SEC-best 3,430 yards … appeared in 10 games at defensive tackle as a freshman in 2015, finishing the year with three tackles.

Personal:

A native of Svendborg, Denmark, traveled to the United States during his youth to attend football camps before first playing organized football with the Svendborg Admirals … attended Warren G. Harding (Warren, OH) High School as an exchange student … returned to Denmark and played for the Under-19 youth team the Sollerod Gold Diggers before returning to the U.S. to attend IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) … developed into a five-star prospect as a defensive lineman at IMG according to PrepStar and was ranked the #122 player in the country at any position … a four-star prospect by Rivals, ESPN, Scout and 247Sports … listed as the #90 overall player in the Top247, #13 defensive tackle in the nation and #5 player in Florida by 247Sports … had 55 tackles, including 12 for loss, and 10.0 sacks during his senior season as he helped IMG Academy finish 10-1 in just its second season of varsity football … coached by former NFL QB Chris Weinke at IMG … also participated in track & field … earned a bachelor's degree in Applied Exercise Science.