Gene Mruczkowski

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Gene Mruczkowski (born June 6, 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American football offensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

[edit] High School Career

Mruczkowski was named second team Academic All-American as a senior and sophomore in high school, as well as second team all-state, first team all-district and team co-captain as a senior at Benedictine High School. He also played defensive tackle as his team finished with a 10-1 record and advanced to the state semifinal.

[edit] College career

Mruczkowski started attending Purdue University in 1998. That year, he was redshirted and did not play, but received the team’s Offensive Newcomer Award for the spring season. As a freshman, he started all 12 games at left guard and was selected second team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. He was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media as a sophomore after starting all 12 games at left guard, which was part of an offensive line that allowed Purdue quarterbacks to be sacked just 10 times in 528 pass attempts (one every 52.8 attempts). In 2001, started all 12 games at center after moving from left guard during spring practice. He received the team’s Pit Bull award for exemplifying tenacity and intense play during the 2002 spring season. As a senior in 2002, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media after starting all 13 games at center and helped open holes for a Boilermaker rushing attack that amassed 2,861 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. He started all 49 games in his four-year stay at Purdue.

[edit] NFL career

Mruczkowski was picked up as a free agent by the New England Patriots in 2003. He was placed on the Patriots reserve/non-football injury list with a leg injury before the beginning of the season. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve and did not play in his rookie season. He then played 17 games total for the 2004 and 2005 season.