Matt Tennant, C

Comparing Tennant to active NFL centers, professional scouts can see parts of many players -- the intelligence of Matt Birk (Baltimore), the tenaciousness of Olin Kreutz (Chicago), the trap-blocking ability of Brad Meester (Jacksonville) and the consistent effort of Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis).

Older scouts also see the aggressive and combative nature of Tim Grunhard (ex-Kansas City), the explosiveness off the snap of Dwight Stephenson (ex-Miami), the field vision of Jim Langer (ex-Miami) and the hand placement ability of Jay Hilgenberg (ex-Chicago). With all of those skills combined into one player, it is no small wonder than many talent evaluators regard the Boston College blocker as one of the elite prospects at his position heading into the 2010 NFL Draft.

Since taking over the center position as a sophomore, what once was a revolving door for defensive linemen to get to BC quarterbacks (from 2002-06, Eagles centers had allowed a total of 34 sacks) has all but shut down, as Tennant has had just 1.5 quarterback sacks and two pressures registered against him in his last two seasons. To further impress upon his importance to the Eagles' offensive success, during those last 27 contests, his fellow line-mates have given up 41 sacks along with 36 pressures.

Tennant was a highly regarded prospect during his playing days at powerhouse Arch-bishop Moeller High School. The Super Prep All-American added All-State honors from the Associated Press as a senior in 2004. He was also named to the All-Southwest Ohio, All-District and All-City first-team squads.

Rated one of the nation's top 55 offensive guard prospects by Rivals.com (also received a three-star rating from that recruiting service), the 250-pounder was also selected the 2004 Greater Catholic South League's Lineman of the Year. The senior team captain started in each of his final three seasons and was chosen to play in the 48th annual Big 33 Football Classic. Tennant also displayed his athletic skills for the school's wrestling and track teams while excelling in the classroom, attaining a 2.7 grade point average.

Tennant decided to enroll at Boston College in 2004, turning down scholarship offers from Purdue and Penn State. He spent his first season on campus performing on the scout team, retaining freshman eligibility. In 2005, Tennant had bulked up from 250 pounds to 278. He appeared briefly as a reserve offensive guard in the Brigham Young, North Carolina State, Maine, Buffalo and Duke contests.

Continued hard work in the training room saw Tennant increase his bulk to 285 pounds during the 2007 preseason. That added power and stellar play in August camp saw the sophomore beat out senior Kevin Sheridan for the starting job at center. A guard through-out his prep career, Tennant was asked by the Eagles' staff to switch to center during fall drills.

That process for change actually began earlier that summer during practices, which are organized by the players. Tennant was approached by quarterback Matt Ryan. "He came up to me and said, 'All right, let's get this over with,'" he recalled. "I was like 'oh no, I'm going to snap and break his fingers.'"

Ryan took his position in the shotgun formation some five yards behind Tennant. The snap was clean and a center was created. In fact, Tennant proved to be so good that he won the job in preseason camp and went on to start 41 consecutive games.

In his first season playing in the pivot, Tennant registered 92 knockdowns/key blocks and had touchdown-resulting blocks on twelve of the team's 48 offensive touchdowns. He finished second on the team with a blocking consistency grade of 82.64%, as just two of the 22 quarterback sacks allowed by the front wall came over the middle of the line.

Tennant was chosen All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team by The NFL Draft Report and received honorable mention from the league's coaches and media in 2008. Starting all 14 games, he had the second-highest blocking consistency grade (86.38) of any major college center, delivering eleven touchdown-resulting blocks.

The center allowed just two quarterback pressures and an assisted sack, as he paced the Eagles' down linemen with 98 key blocks/knockdowns, despite missing three quarters of the Music City Bowl with a left elbow injury that would require ulnar collateral ligament reconstructive (Tommy John) surgery in January.

The Rimington Trophy Watch List member (given to the nation's best center) showed no ill effects from his elbow surgery during the 2009 campaign. He would become just the second player in school history to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given annually to college football's top center. He also added All-American third-team and All-Atlantic Coast first-team honors, as he collected 80 knockdowns with 13 touchdown-resulting blocks.

Pass blocking: Good hand punch to get the defender off-balance and shows some nastiness in attempting to de-cleat the defender when the opportunity arises. Good lateral agility to mirror the defender. Keeps his shoulders square and plays with leverage and balance due to proper knee bend. Plays high and can get in trouble anchoring against shorter, powerful defensive tackles.

Run blocking: Moderate and improving strength to wall-off and sustain. Can turn and control his assignment to keep him from making the play. Flashes some explosiveness in his initial pop, but needs to add more strength in his upper body to sustain blocks longer.

Pulling/trapping: Efficient combo blocker. Provides a pop at the first level, but is agile enough to get to the second level and deliver an effective block there as well. Good lateral agility and initial quickness to pull. Athletic enough in this area to consider moving to guard at the next level.

Initial Quickness: Good initial quickness to gain an advantage on the defender. Good burst off the snap for the cut-block on quick throws.

Downfield: High-effort player who looks to block downfield and isn't afraid to block to or through the whistle. Very good foot quickness and balance to get to the second level and adjust to the moving target.

Intangibles: Tall, almost lanky athlete for the center position. Room for additional muscle mass. Legitimate NFL athleticism. Reliable shotgun and traditional snapper. Durable player entering his senior campaign with 41 consecutive starts. Has the athleticism and body style to consider moving to guard. A bit too lanky for some teams at center.

Tennant has started the last 41 games at center for Boston College and has yielded just an assisted quarterback sack in his last 27 appearances … During his time as a starter, he posted a blocking consistency grade of 82.75 percent, fourth among college football's active centers … Over 2,787 offensive snaps, Tennant registered 270 knockdowns/key blocks that featured 35 touchdown-resulting blocks and 13 blocks down field … Charged with just 3.5 quarterback sacks and two pressures, he also recorded a pair of solo tackles (one each vs. Georgia Tech and Clemson in 2008) and recovered one fumble (vs. Georgia Tech in 2007) … In 2009, Tennant joined Dan Koppen (2002) as the only Boston College players to be named as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center.

All-American third-team selection by The NFL Draft Report … All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team choice … Became just the second Boston College Player to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy … Also a member of the Lombardi Award Watch List … Started all 13 games at center … Was named one of the team's captains prior to the season opener … Tennant posted a blocking consistency grade of 83.15%, as he registered 80 key blocks/knockdowns that included 13 touchdown-resulting blocks and three blocks down field, as he spent the campaign mentoring an inexperienced offensive unit that averaged just 323.92 yards per game in total offense … Allowed just one quarterback sack, as he produced two performances with grades of 90% or better.

Honorable mention All-ACC. Started all 14 games at center and has started the last 28 games there … BC ranked 25th in the country in tackles for a loss allowed (4.77) and 49th in sacks allowed (1.69) … the line only allowed 21 sacks with a pair of first-year starting quarterbacks behind them … paved the way for true freshman TB Montel Harris to break BC freshman records with 900 rushing yards and five 100-yard performances … Harris and classmate Josh Haden were the second-most prolific true freshman backfield in the country, averaging 109 yards a game.

Tennant did not switch to center until summer camp, but still beat out senior Kevin Sheridan for the starting job … Behind the first-year starter's stellar pass protection, All-American quarterback Matt Ryan set the school season-record with 4,507 aerial yards and the offense generated 5,924 yards in total offense … Behind Tennant's dominance in the trenches, the team produced 50 offensive touchdowns, as the center was credited with 92 key blocks/knockdowns, 12 touchdown-resulting blocks and four downfield blocks to finish with an 82.64% blocking consistency grade … Recorded three games with blocking grades of 90% or higher and also recovered a fumble in the Virginia Tech clash.

Tennant was utilized as an offensive guard during his first varsity season … Saw action in each of the Brigham Young, North Carolina State, Maine, Buffalo and Duke contests.

Redshirted as a freshman.

2004: Suffered a right elbow ligament strain late in his high school senior year and underwent surgery to repair.

2008: Left early in the second quarter of the Music City Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (12/31) with a right elbow injury that would force the center to undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow … "I went back to see my doctor and he's like, 'What are you doing here?' " Tennant said. "I said it was my elbow. He was saying, 'Is there something wrong with it?' And I said it was the other one."

Campus: 5.06 in the 40-yard dash … 1.75 10-yard dash … 2.93 20-yard dash … 4.57 20-yard shuttle … 7.62 three-cone drill … 28.5-inch vertical jump … 8'4" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times … 32 1/4-inch arm length … 9 3/8-inch hands.

Attended Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Oh.), starting at offensive guard during his final three seasons for head coach Bob Crable … Super Prep All-American and Associated Press All-State selection as a senior in 2004 … Named to the All-Southwest Ohio, All-District and All-City first-team squads … Rated one of the nation's top 55 offensive guard prospects by Rivals.com, as he also received a three-star rating from that recruiting service … Selected the 2004 Greater Catholic South League's Lineman of the Year … Chosen to play in the 48th annual Big 33 Football Classic … Also lettered in wrestling and track … Graduated with a 2.7 grade point average.

Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences … One of two children (sister, Abigail) of Pam and Kurt Tennant … Born Matthew H. Tennant on 3/19/87 … Resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.