 2009Started all 16 games at center and did not miss an offensive snap… Was one of four rookie offensive linemen to start all 16 games in 2009, a list which also includes Buffalo’s Andy Levitre (LG), Seattle’s Max Unger (13 at RG, 3 at C) and Baltimore’s Michael Oher (12 at RT, 4 at LT)… In addition became just the fifth rookie to start all 16 games at center since 1998, joining Damien Woody (New England, 1999), Alex Stepanovich (Arizona, 2004), Nick Mangold (Jets, 2006) and Samson Satele (Miami, 2007)… Key part of a running game that averaged 4.2 yards per carry, including a 4.4-yard mark by Jerome Harrison… Part of a line that allowed just 30 sacks on the year, including only seven over the final seven contests… Was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America all-rookie team…Also was selected to USA Today’s All-Joe team. Game 1 vs. Minnesota 9/13: Started at center, making his Browns and NFL debut… Game 2 at Denver 9/20: Started at center… Game 3 at Baltimore 9/27: Started at center… Game 4 vs. Cincinnati 10/4: Started at center… Game 5 at Buffalo 10/11: Started at center and part of a line that led a running game which racked up 171 yards rushing (4.2 avg.) and allowed only one sack… Game 6 at Pittsburgh 10/18: Opened at center… Game 7 vs. Green Bay 10/25: Started at center and played the whole game… Game 8 at Chicago 11/1: Opened at center and went the entire way… Game 9 vs. Baltimore 11/16: Started at center and played the whole contest… Game 10 at Detroit 11/22: Opened at center and played the entire game… Game 11 at Cincinnati 11/29: Opened at center and played the entire game… Game 12 vs. San Diego 12/6: Started at center and played the whole contest… Helped to lead a running game that averaged a season-high 5.2 yards per rush attempt… Game 13 vs. Pittsburgh 12/10: Opened at center and played the whole contest… Helped to lead a running game that racked up 171 yards while the unit allowed only one sack… Game 14 at Kansas City 12/20: Started at center as the unit had a banner day in which it led a running game that racked up 351 yards, the second-highest total in franchise annals, as it averaged 7.2 yards per attempt… This included a club-record 286 yards rushing by Jerome Harrison… The unit also did not allow a sack for the first time in 2009… Game 15 vs. Oakland 12/27: Opened at center and led a running game that amassed 164 yards, including 148 by Jerome Harrison… Unit also allowed only two sacks for three yards in losses… Game 16 vs. Jacksonville 1/3: Started at center and was part of a unit that did not yield a sack… The group also led the way for a running game that amassed 214 yards and a 4.4-yard average... Total included 127-yard effort by Jerome Harrison as he became the first Brown to have three straight 100-yard rushing games since Lee Suggs in 2004… In addition, as a team, it was the fourth consecutive contest with more than 160 yards rushing, the first Browns team to do that since 1968. College HighlightsAwarded the Draddy Trophy in 2008, given to college football’s top scholar-athlete…Two-time Rimington Trophy finalist, given to the nation’s top center…Two-time All- American…Named the Pac-10 Conference’s Scholar- Athlete of the Year in 2008…Four-time league academic honor roll honoree…Member of ESPN’s All-Bowl Team in 2006 and 2008…Did not allow any quarterback sacks or pressures on 397 pass plays in 2008…Penalized just twice on a total of 832 snaps as a senior…Finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, given for academic and athletic accomplishment…Was the 2008 winner of the Schlessinger Coaches Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic ability, academic success and community service at Cal…Became the third player in Pac- 10 Conference annals to receive the Morris Trophy in consecutive seasons…Started all 12 games as a senior and paced the Bears’ offense with 92 key blocks and 11 touchdown-resulting blocks…Led the team with 81 key blocks while his 11 touchdown-resulting blocks were the most by any major college center in 2007…Led a front wall that allowed just 11 sacks in 2007, the third-lowest figure in the country…Served as the key reserve behind two-time All-Pac 10 center Marvin Phillips in 2006…Redshirted as a freshman…Earned a degree in legal studies, spent his senior season as a graduate student. PersonalBorn in Fairbanks, Alaska…Attended San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Calif…Played on both the offensive and defensive lines during his time at San Marcos High…Named the Channel League’s co-Most Valuable Player on defense and a first team all-league selection…Two-time All-CIF choice and a three-time all-county and all-league member…Named to Prep Star’s All-West team as a senior, helping his team rush for 2,031 yards in 2003...Added four letters in wrestling, advancing to the state
wrestling tournament as a CIF heavyweight champion and compiled a 26-0 record on the mat as a senior…Father, Steve, played basketball at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio from 1966-69…Lists South Park as favorite television show, The Pillars of the Earth as favorite book, Fight Club as favorite movie and CKY as favorite recording artist. |
