88 games/87 starts
Has started every game but one in his career (87/88)…Agreed to long-term contract extension heading into 2006 season opener at Washington…Since entering the league and taking over starting LT job, the Vikings’ offense has posted 3 top-five offensive rankings (#1-2003, #2-2002, #4-2004)….Teams with perennial Pro Bowl G Steve Hutchinson to form one of the best left sides in the NFL…Drafted #7 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft…Was the team’s highest draft choice since Chris Doleman was selected #4 in 1985...The 2nd highest OL choice in team history behind Ron Yary, the #1 pick in 1968...Joins Yary as the 2nd Outland Trophy winner the Vikings have drafted.
• Has the longest consecutive games played and started streak at 88/87 among active Vikings. • Helped Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor set a new Vikings record for most combined rushing yards in a season by a duo.• Big part of the Vikings ranking #1 in the NFL in rushing offense for only the 2nd time in Vikings history and jumping from #23 in 2006 in NFL offense to #13 in 2007. • Helped set a Vikings record with 2,634 rushing yards and a team-record 5.33 yards per carry in 2007. • Helped pave the way for the Vikings to tie a team record with 8 games with a 100-yard rusher in 2007. • Helped pave the way for rookie Adrian Peterson to set an NFL record with 296 rushing yards vs. San Diego (11/4) and break the 1,000-yard plateau for the season in the 8th game of 2007. The Vikings set a new team record with 378 rushing yards in the game. • Helped open holes for Adrian Peterson to set a then-Vikings record with 224 rushing yards @ Chicago (10/14) and notch 311 rushing yards as a team. • Moved into 4th place for consecutive starts by a Vikings OT, trailing Tim Irwin (181), Ron Yary (150) and Gary Zimmerman (108).
Consensus All-America and Outland Trophy winner as a senior for the 2001 National Champs...Played two seasons at Miami after transferring from Lackawanna Junior College...Named National Player of the Year by CNN/Sports Illustrated as a senior...Finished 8th in 2001Heisman voting, receiving 26 1st-place votes...In 2000, earned All-America honors by The Sports Xchange and Football News...Unanimous All-Big East selection...Redshirted at Miami in 1999 after transferring from Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton, PA...Did not allow a sack during his high school or college career.
2001 Consensus first-team All-America selection...Unanimous first-team All-Big East Conference choice...Named National Player of the Year by CNN/Sports Illustrated...National Offensive Player of the Year finalist by Football News...Named the winner of the Outland Trophy recognizing the finest interior lineman in college football...Finished eighth in voting for the Heisman Trophy (received 26 first-place votes)...Led a Miami offense that was the nation's most balanced, averaging 454.8 yards per game (eighth in the nation) and 43.2 points per game (third nationally)...Keyed an offense that averaged 5.3 yards per rushing attempt and scored 25 rushing touchdowns in the regular season...Earned Offensive MVP honors by the coaching staff three times...Mainstay of an offensive line that allowed just three quarterback sacks in the regular season...Led the team with 134 knockdowns and graded 87.4 percent for blocking consistency.2000 All-America first-team pick by The Sports Xchange and Football News...Unanimous All-Big East Conference first-team choice...Was awarded the Offensive Lineman of the Year Award by the Miami coaching staff...Blossomed into a force for the Hurricanes in his first season of play at UM...Did not allow a quarterback sack during the 2000 season... Recorded 117 knockdown blocks and graded 84.5 percent for blocking consistency as he paced an offense that averaged 460.8 yards per game...Played a major role in Miami's pass protection on a line that allowed only eight sacks in 340 pass plays in the regular season...Also helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard season by tailback James Jackson, just the fifth time a Miami back has surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau.1999 Spent season as a member of the scout team.1998 NJCAA and JC Gridwire first-team All-American at Lackawanna (Scranton, PA) Junior College...Made the move to the offensive line at Lackawanna...Was a 1998 Northeast Football Conference All-Star as Lackawanna claimed its second straight conference championship.1997 Helped Lackawanna to a conference title and a 9-2 record as a freshman in '97.
Supporter of area youth basketball programs…Donated complete weight room to Lackawanna Junior College in Pennsylvania, where he played for 2 seasons prior to transferring to Miami…Has supported Toys For Tots, African American Adoption Agency, and United Way...Majored in sociology...Interested in the music industry... Participated in the NFL Moms fashion shows in recent off seasons.