Hormann ’08 Signs With Cleveland Browns

SEAS senior Craig Hormann, the second-leading passer in completions and yards in Columbia’s history, has signed with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and will be the first SEAS grad to play pro football with that league. The quarterback, a civil engineering major from Indianapolis, IN, was an honorable mention All-Ivy League honoree in 2007 and second team selection in 2006. This past season, Hormann started all 10 games for the Lions and threw for 2,505 yards, fourth highest in Columbia history. His 12 touchdown passes gave him 27 for his career, fifth-most on the Lions’ all-time list.

“Craig is an outstanding example of the kind of student that Columbia SEAS is attracting,” said Gerald A. Navratil, Interim Dean. “We are very proud of his accomplishments, both on the football field and in the classroom.”

In an interview for Engineering News, Craig talked about his reasons for choosing Columbia SEAS. “In high school, I sensed I wanted to go into civil engineering and Columbia provided more opportunities than you could ask for,” he said. “It is tough taking so many credits but I’m motivated to succeed in class and on the football field. You learn how to manage your time.” At the time of the interview, Craig was already thinking about the possibility of being selected by an NFL team after graduation. But, he said, if the pro-football career does not work out, his education at SEAS and experience working with a civil engineering firm and on an HVAC team for a mechanical engineering firm will hold him in good stead.

While Craig has not made the team’s final roster, he will train with the Browns and compete for a spot on their roster or practice squad. This weekend, he joins all drafted and undrafted rookies for a mini-camp.

He is the 24th individual from Columbia all-time, and the seventh this decade to be signed by a pro football team. He joins College alums Marcellus Wiley ’97CC, Johnathan Reese ’02CC, Steve Cargile ’04CC, Wade Fletcher ’05CC, Jeff Otis ’05CC, and Michael Quarshie ’05CC as Columbia’s 21st century contributions to professional football.

—Columbia Athletics contributed to this story.