Hroniss Grasu

Hroniss Grasu
No. --  Chicago Bears
Position: Center
Personal information
Date of birth: August 12, 1991
Place of birth: Northridge, California
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 294 lb (133 kg)
Career information
High school: Encino (CA) Crespi
College: Oregon
NFL draft: 2015 / Round: 3 / Pick: 71
Career history
Roster status: Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards

Hroniss Grasu (pronounced huh-RO-niss; born August 12, 1991) is an American football center for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Oregon.

Early years

A native of Los Angeles, California, Grasu attended Crespi Carmelite High School, where he was an All-State offensive lineman. Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Grasu was ranked as the No. 12 center prospect in his class.[1]

College career

As a freshman, Grasu took over as the starting center for the Ducks and remained the starter through his senior season. He earned All-Freshman Second Team in 2011, as well as All-Pac-12 First Team in 2012, 2013 and 2014. He was named an All-American in 2013 and 2014. He was also a finalist for the Rimington Trophy in 2013 and 2014.[2]

Personal

Grasu is of Romanian descent.[3] His parents, Steve and Mariana Grasu, emigrated from Romania to Los Angeles in 1982, opening "Greco's New York Pizza" on Hollywood Boulevard.[4][5] Grasu's older brother, Nico, was a placekicker for Washington State (2008–10). His mother was a professional handball player and his father a stuntman who worked in films.[4]

Grasu was roommates with Bryan Bennett, Oregon's former backup quarterback and a former teammate of Grasu at Crespi.[6]

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Grasu was considered one of the best center prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft.[7][8] He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-2397
  2. ↑ College Football Awards 2014
  3. ↑ "C Grasu is the anchor of Oregon's offense". USA Today. August 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grasu's kid brother growing up quickly
  5. ↑ "Oregon center Hroniss Grasu’s journey from Crespi to CFP title game". Los Angeles Daily News. January 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Oregon center Hroniss Grasu 'clears out all the chaos' for Marcus Mariota and the Ducks
  7. ↑ "Mel Kiper's Top 10 NFL prospects by position". ESPN. April 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Top NFL Draft Center Prospects 2015". CBS Sports. March 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ 2015 NFL Draft: Bears Draft Possible Center Of The Future, Hroniss Grasu In Third Round
  10. ↑ "NFL Draft picks 2015: Hroniss Grasu taken by Bears in 3rd round". SB Nation. May 1, 2015.

External links