38 games/33 starts
Made the transition from center in college to RT in the NFL...Helped the 2007 Vikings rank #1 in the NFL in rushing and set a team record with 2,634 yards, only the 2nd time in team history leading the NFL in rushing…Was the 2nd C drafted in 2006 after Nick Mangold (#29 by N.Y. Jets) when he was selected in the 2nd round (#51 overall)...The last C drafted as high by the Vikings was Dave Huffman, the #43 choice from Notre Dame in 1979.
2008 Regular starter at RT opened 14 regular season games and 1st career playoff game in Wild Card contest vs. Philadelphia (1/4/09)...Paved the way for Adrian Peterson to become the 1st Vikings RB to lead the NFL in rushing and set new team record with 1,760 yards...Helped Peterson set Vikings record by breaking the 100-yard mark 10 times...Helped Vikings win NFC North title and ranked 5th in the NFL in rushing offense.
2007 Started all 16 games for the #1-ranked rushing offense in the NFL...Helped Vikings establish team record with 2,634 rushing yards as a team and rank #1 in the NFL for only the 2nd time in team history...Cleared the way for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor to set team record for rushing yards by a tandem with 2,185 yards...Helped Peterson rank 2nd in the NFL with 1,341 rushing yards and set a Vikings rookie record...Blocked for Peterson’s NFL-record 296 rushing yards vs. San Diego (11/4) and his 224-yard day at Chicago (10/14), the only rookie in NFL history with 2 games of 200+ rushing yards in a season... Paved the way for Peterson (6) and Taylor (2) to tie a team record with 8 games rushing for 100+ yards...Vikings set a team record with 378 rushing yards vs. San Diego (11/4)...Helped the Vikings offense jump 10 spots from #23 in 2006 to #13 in 2007...Joined Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie as linemen who started all 16 games.2006 Played in 6 games on the season and started the final 3 games at RT…Played in his 1st NFL game when he rotated at RT with Mike Rosenthal vs. Arizona (11/26) as the Vikings snapped a 4-game losing streak…Shared time at RT with Rosenthal at Chicago (12/3)…Took the majority of the snaps at Detroit (12/10) after rotating into the game…Started his 1st career game when he opened at RT vs. NY Jets (12/17)…Started at RT at Green Bay (12/21) and in season finale vs. St. Louis (12/31)…Inactive for 10 games.
Younger brother, Erik, is an offensive lineman at University of New Mexico…Majored in business management...Took part in Shop With a Viking during holiday season…Career aspirations are to be an entrepreneur following football.