KANSAS CITY, Mo. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University offensive lineman Sidy Sow (Bromont, Quebec-J-H Leclerc-Champlain Lennoxville) was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft Saturday, April 29, outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. The Bromont, Quebec native is the seventh-highest draft pick in Eastern Michigan history and the first draftee since Maxx Crosby went in the fourth round in 2019.
 
Sow, the 117th overall pick of the draft, is the fourth Eagle to be drafted in the last eight years joining Darius Jackson (2016), Pat O'Connor (2017), and Crosby. Overall, he is the 30th EMU player to be picked in the draft since 1955. Furthermore, Sow is the sixth Eastern Michigan offensive lineman to be drafted, joining Bob Lints (1970), Bill DuLac (1972), Jim Pietrzak (1973), L. J. Shelton (1999), and T. J. Lang (2009).

Sow grew up in Quebec, Canada, where he was a two-time member of Team Canada's football squad. He was rated the third-best prospect for the Canadian Football League draft going into the 2021 season but deferred his draft status to the 2023 class. He started 11 of 13 games played at left tackle as a "true" freshman in 2018 at Eastern Michigan, then moved to left guard for 12 starts in 2019. Mid-American Conference coaches voted him third-team all-conference in 2020 for his work in six starts at left guard and he was a first-team pick in 2021 and 2022 as he started all 13 contests at that spot both seasons for the Eagles.

The all-time leader in Eastern Michigan history in games played (56) and games started (54), Sow will go down as one of the best offensive linemen to don the green and white.

On the field for 949 snaps in 2022, Sow helped the Eagles lead the MAC in red zone offense (93.9 percent) and third down percentage (44.9), while finishing second in team passing efficiency (137.86). All told, the Bromont, Quebec, native allowed just two sacks during the 2023 season and only six in his distinguished career.

Sow ended his time at EMU with a 98.1 pass blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus. After more than 3,600 snaps in college, he allowed just 66 pressures as an Eagle. PFF graded Sow in the top 35 guards in the country and 29th for run blocking last season. Sow displayed next-level lateral quickness at EMU and was also explosive during drills at the NFL Combine.

Sow joins former kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) with the Patriots. Ryland was selected five picks ahead of Sow by New England with the 112th overall pick.Ryland finished his EMU career as the program's all-time leader in PATs  made (141) and PATs attempted (145) at EMU. The Lebanon, Pa., native connected on 56 field goals, which ranks second in program history. He also holds the EMU career points scored with 309 as well as the EMU's single-game record with five FGs made in 2021 versus Western Michigan.

After graduating from EMU, Ryland transferred to the University of Maryland for the 2022 season. In College Park, Ryland was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection. He made 19-of-23 field goals, an 82.6-percentage, including a perfect 9-for-9 from under 40 yards. He had the eighth-most points scored in a season all-time by a Terp with 96 and the fifth-most field goals made in a single season with 19. All told, Ryland ended his Maryland career with the highest field goal percentage (.826) ever by a Terp kicker with over 20 attempts.