CAREER: Can stake a legitimate claim to being college football’s finest offensive guard…was excellent at guard and center in 2003…stepped in as the starting center late in 2003 when Joel Rodriguez went down with an injury late in the year…was the team’s steadiest performer up front in 2003, despite rotating between guard and center…has positioned himself for consideration as a top honors candidate in 2004…political science major.
2003 (JUNIOR): A second-team All-Big East Conference selection by the league’s head coaches…started all 13 games in 2003…started at center against Pittsburgh and in the FedEx Orange Bowl Classic against FSU after regular starter Joel Rodriguez suffered a leg injury…also started at center against Syracuse…allowed fewer sacks (1) than any other regular starter on the offensive line in 2003…finished the regular season with 21 pancakes and 23 metrorails…recorded at least one pancake in 11 games…was named the Hurricanes’ offensive MVP for the East Carolina game after leading UM to 449 total yards, adding two metrorails and three pancakes…had two metrorails and one pancake to lead the Hurricanes’ offense to 601 total yards and five rushing touchdowns against Temple…credited with two metrorails and two pancakes to lead UM to a come from behind win over in-state rival Florida…turned in a season-best five metrorails and two pancakes to lead the Hurricanes to a win over Boston College.
2002 (SOPHOMORE): Had a breakout year in his first season as a starter…key member of an offensive line that paved the way for record breaking seasons by tailback Willis McGahee and quarterback Ken Dorsey…led a unit that averaged 183.0 yards rushing per game and 467.2 yards total per contest…an outstanding run blocker whose development in pass protection enable the line to allow only 11 sacks during the regular season…personally allowed just one quarterback sack…named one of the team’s offensive most valuable players by the coaching staff in two games (Florida and Boston College)…one of the team’s most impressive young players…led the team in metrorails with a whopping 63…had 40 pancake blocks, ranking second on the team behind Vernon Carey…credited with four metrorails in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State…closed the regular season with a colossal game against Virginia Tech, racking up 15 metrorails and seven pancake blocks, as the Miami offense rushed for 256 yards and gained 556 total yards…graded out at 96 percent for the performance against the Hokies…had three metrorails and four pancakes at Syracuse while helping the Hurricanes rush for 173 yards and gain 565 yards total offense…had five metrorails and five pancakes against Pittsburgh, as Miami produced 152 rushing yards and 315 yards total offense…had six metrorails and three pancakes at Tennessee, leading the way for a 177-yard rushing effort as Miami gained 422 total yards…made a team-best seven metrorails and five pancakes at Rutgers, as Miami rushed for 195 yards and gained 436 yards overall…had a team-high seven metrorails and two pancake blocks at West Virginia, helping Miami gain 102 yards rushing and 524 yards overall, including a 422-yard passing effort…made three metrorails and four pancakes against Florida State, as Miami rushed for 115 yards and gained 477 yards total offense…had a big game in the 38-6 win over Boston College with seven metrorails and one pancake, as the Hurricanes rushed for 182 yards and passed for 211…had two metrorails and six pancakes in the win at Florida…was a major factor in an attack that amassed 508 total yards against the Gators, including 306 yards rushing.
2001 (FRESHMAN): Played in seven games as a reserve offensive lineman…was credited with 10 metrorails and seven pancake blocks…was one of the team’s most impressive young linemen…earned more playing time as the season progressed…impressive worker in the weight room, adding muscle and bulk to his frame.
2000 (REDSHIRT): One of 17 members of the 2000 recruiting class to sit out the season with a redshirt year.
HIGH SCHOOL: Palmetto…rated the No. 47 overall prospect in Florida by SuperPrep…a Miami Herald Class 6A-5A All-Dade first-team selection…All-State selection…listed as one of Florida’s top players by recruiting analyst Bill Buchalter of the Orlando Sentinel… named the No. 6 offensive lineman in Florida on the Florida Times-Union Super 75 list…listed among the top offensive linemen nationally by recruiting analyst Max Emfinger…finished first in the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick Competition…played in the Florida vs. California All-Star game…timed at 5.0 in the 40…coached by Bob Bowling.
