Eugene Monroe

From a family of 16 children that included 10 brothers, Monroe and his siblings could have fielded a team of their own.

Monroe overcame knee problems that slowed him during the 2006 and '07 seasons, and was one of the most dominating linemen in the college game during his final campaign. The Cavaliers struggled, but their offensive line leader excelled, producing 16 touchdown-resulting blocks for an offense that scored only 23 times in 2008.

Many scouting departments labeled Monroe as a certain early first-round draft selection, especially based on his 2008 performance and ability to remain healthy throughout his senior year. Many of those experts feel that his strength, technique and hand placement is superior to former Virginia first-round offensive linemen, D'Brickashaw Ferguson (New York Jets) and Branden Albert (Kansas City).

At Plainfield High School, Monroe was rated the best offensive lineman in the country by numerous recruiting services. The U.S. Army, USA Today, Parade, EA Sports and Super Prep All-American choice received a five-star prospect rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com. He was the third-rated overall prospect, according to Rivals.com and Scout.com, and ranked second overall among high school football players, by College Football News.

The top-rated player of Super Prep's Elite 50 list, Monroe added Scout.com East Hot 100 list honors. He was named Super Prep's Northeast Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, adding top player in New Jersey recognition by Super Prep, Scout.com and Rivals.com. He was a first-team All-State pick by the Newark Star-Ledger as a senior and a first-team All-State selection as a junior. The offensive lineman did not allow any quarterback sacks during his final three seasons as a starter.

As a true freshman, Monroe appeared in 12 games for Virginia in 2005. He lined up mostly behind All-American D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left offensive tackle, but also saw action at right guard and on the placement-kick unit. He played briefly in two games as a defensive tackle in short-yardage situations, but did not record a tackle.

Primed to replace Ferguson at left tackle in 2006, Monroe suffered a dislocated kneecap in April camp and underwent surgery. He was slow to recover, but showed his "true warrior" attitude by playing in all 12 games, including six starts (seven total) at left tackle. He posted 39 knockdowns with eight touchdown-resulting blocks and graded 84.43% for blocking consistency (81.2% overall) in the contests he started while allowing just four quarterback pressures and no sacks on 345 pass plays.

Monroe missed two games in 2007 after injuring his knee late in the Georgia Tech clash, but still earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition. He led the team with an 87.09% grade for blocking consistency, playing on a line that featured All-American offensive guard Branden Albert (Albert graded 83.5% in 2007). The left tackle registered 55 knockdowns and led ACC linemen with 15 touchdown-resulting blocks, as he did not allow any sacks and gave up just one pressure on 428 pass plays.

A consensus All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason selection entering his senior season, Monroe was one of the few bright spots, as the Cavaliers struggled on offense throughout the 2008 campaign. He was the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, the highest honor to be bestowed on an Atlantic Coast Conference lineman. He set school single-season records with 16 touchdown-resulting blocks and was the first Cavalier to register over 100 knockdowns/key blocks (105) in a season.

Positives: Prototypical left tackle build -- good height, long arms and a thick lower body. Good feet, and keeps them moving in pass protection to mirror his man. Rarely gets beat, handling bull rushes as well as most inside and outside moves with ease. Keeps his balance. Blocks down inside often to take defensive tackles out of the play. Able to neutralize linebackers at the second level. Shifts to tight end on some strong-side run plays in order to use his strength and athleticism. Blocks through the whistle, often blocking two or three jerseys on one play when on the move.

Negatives: A bit bigger in the middle than you'd like. Tends to catch ends instead of using his punch to keep them off balance. Must improve his awareness of inside blitzers or late rushers when plays break down. Could get to second level or moving targets a little more quickly and sustain blocks better in the open field.

Compares To: WALTER JONES, Seattle -- Both players are blessed with excellent athleticism and agility, along with the quick feet to mirror speedy edge rushers. Monroe is a solid run blocker, plays on his feet with very good balance and has excellent body control. He has the strength to gain position when working in-line and creates and widens rush lanes. He is capable of staying on his feet and sustaining blocks, using his hand strength well to lock on and control his man. He competes until the whistle and plays with good aggression. His field vision and awareness are evident by his ability to pick up line games and blitzes. His body control lets him readjust and deliver crunching blocks in the second level. With his fluid body flexibility, he has no problem sinking his hips and anchoring to protect the pocket. By remaining healthy as a senior, he has the athletic ability and pedigree to be the first offensive lineman taken in the 2009 NFL Draft.

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 7.04

Body Structure: Monroe has a well-developed frame with room for additional growth. He can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk without having the additional weight impact his foot speed. He has the long arms, wide wingspan and broad shoulders you look for in a left tackle. He possesses a wide waist and hips, solid thickness in his thighs and calves and firm midsection. With his toned frame he looks more like a defensive lineman, especially with his sudden explosion off the snap.

Athletic Ability: Monroe has natural strength and quickness, as his 40-yard dash clocking of 5.09 is one of the best among 2009 NFL Draft eligible offensive tackles. He shows excellent balance and change of direction flexibility, along with outstanding acceleration when working into the second level. He plays on his feet, thanks to superb balance and shows the body control to play and adjust in space and pick up blocks on the move downfield. He can slide and readjust to mirror edge rushers in pass protection. He also displays the lower-body flexibility to drop his pads and anchor firmly vs. stunts and the bull rush. He shows ease of movement accelerating into the second level and excellent change-of-direction agility to make plays working down the line. He plays with a strong base, keeping his feet wide and pad level low to generate enough explosion coming off the snap. He has the lateral range to make adjustments in his pass set. Monroe bends his knees with good flexibility and shows that he has the quickness to get out on the edge and seal off the rush. He has the agility to pull and trap with effectiveness from the outside position and displays good hand usage and the redirection skills to mirror on stunts and blitzes. GRADE: 7.4

Football Sense: Monroe plays with very good awareness in pass protection. Is quick to locate and pick up games and stunts instantly. He does a nice job chipping to the second level and is very alert on the edge to neutralize pass rushers in space. He has no problem digesting the playbook. He is very quick to pick up defensive schemes and has good work ethic, easily taking the plays from the board to the field with only minimal reps. Shows enough savvy to make blocking calls. GRADE: 7.2

Character: Good maturity and is responsible off the field. Football is important to him and he puts forth the extra effort and hours to improve. Good teammate and mentor for the squad's younger players. Is very respectful and trusted during crunch-time. He is the type that you know will take care of business when the coaches put a daunting task in front of him. GRADE: 7.3

Competitiveness: Competitive enough that coaches have extolled his high threshold for pain and willingness to play through injuries. He plays with great effort and toughness until the whistle and will not hesitate to go downfield and block, playing as if he has a "chip on his shoulder" and that defensive linemen are his mortal enemies. He competes hard in both games and practice and the coaching staff cites his work ethic. He will not hesitate to intimidate an opponent. In 2007, he did tend to get a little overaggressive, but is quick to recover. He is the type that plays until the whistle and keeps his head on a swivel looking for defenders to attack. He consistently finishes and likes to mix it up in the trenches. He has a mauler's personality and always finishes off his blocks. He works hard to redirect and sustain and will play through pain. In 2008, Monroe displayed more aggression in his game. Despite the team's poor play, he never throttled down on the field, playing each down with the same vigor. His epic battle with Georgia Tech's Michael Johnson proved that he has the heart and desire to play up to the NFL level. GRADE: 7.3

Work Habits: Monroe is a hard worker in the weight room and on the practice field. Even when slowed by injuries, the coaches were hesitate about moving All-American Branden Albert to left tackle, feeling that Monroe was the far superior player. He did have to alter his training some due to knee problems during the 2007 off-season, but he is a self-starter type who performs with a good attitude and is developing fine leadership qualities. He is sometimes too critical of his performances, but it is his strong work ethic that drives him to be the best that he can. He could use better midsection muscle tone (bit of a gut), but does have the athletic ability to play low in his pads. He has no problems doing what the coaches ask, making him the "good soldier" that an NFL coach will find is an eager student with a thirst for football knowledge. GRADE: 7.0

ATHLETIC REPORT

GRADE: 7.52

Initial Quickness: Monroe has exceptional initial quickness. He's very light on his feet for a player his size and shows the ability to immediately react to movement. He is sudden working to gain position working in-line or when reaching the second level. He generates explosive pop on contact, especially in pass protection. Using his long wingspan effectively to engulf edge rushers. He gets to top speed quickly and does a very good job of getting upfield to neutralize the linebackers. He has nimble feet and excellent redirection agility to make proper body adjustments on the move. Very quick to gain hand placement, using his long reach to keep defenders at a distance. He shows ease of movement in his kick slide and can really gain a head of steam when he gets moving. When he gains advantage on a defender with his foot speed, he works hard to keep it. He has the short-area speed to get upfield and shows the strong base to maintain his position when working in-line. In 2008, Monroe showed very good explosion rising out of his stance with a sudden first step needed to leverage the defender for the angle and power drives. He was quick to accelerate up field coming off the snap and made solid strides to improve his consistency getting into position as a run blocker who can easily reach the second level. GRADE: 8.0

Lateral Movement: Monroe has fluid lateral agility and movement, keeping his feet on pulls and when moving upfield. He maintains balance and body control when changing direction and is sudden when redirecting. Shows explosive feet and his lateral flexibility getting through holes when asked to pull. As a senior, you could see that he improved his balance and change-of-direction agility. Appears very light on his feet, especially when sliding in pass protection and with his wide frame and excellent arm length, he had no problems locking on and riding away edge rushers from the pocket. GRADE: 7.7

Balance/Stays On Feet: Monroe plays at a low pad level, quickly generating the explosive burst to gain advantage. He is able to cover defenders up, thanks to his long reach and large hands. Even at his size, he shows no problem getting low in his stance to attain proper leverage, displaying excellent knee bend. Quick on his feet and uses his hands to sustain. He plays with steady effort and is a strong, physical finisher. Once he locks on to a defender, he will generally win the battle. Even vs. the bull rush, defenders have a very difficult time attempting to knock him off his base. He always plays with his feet and base wide, which allows him to battle throughout the play. He uses his hands with force to gain position and is a nasty finisher whose hand quickness and placement lets him mirror his man and sustain blocks. Even when he overextends, he is quick to recover. His body control lets him excel on the pull. It is very rare to see him lunge or fall to the ground, using his long arms to generate solid reach blocks. What impressed scouts most about Monroe in 2008 was his ability to get out in front on traps and the quickness he showed working to the second level. He showed the ability to locate targets and drop his weight when executing longer pulls and his body control allows him to adjust to counter moves and make contact on the move. GRADE: 7.9

Explosion/Pop: Monroe combines size, strength, body mass and long wingspan to generate very good explosion behind his blocks. He is also an explosive hip roller, playing with properly bent knees that he uses well, along with his strength to push and wall off his man. When he extends his arms and executes his hand punch, his upper-body power will see him jolt and control the defender. He will sometimes overextend and try to maul the opponent, but shows good pop driving into the defender on running plays. He demonstrates good hand usage and above-average strength to shock and jolt, but will have to add more bulk to maintain that consistency at the next level. He accelerates quickly coming off the ball and his low pad level lets him get underneath the defender to sustain. He is a very good positional mover who can maul. He uses his hands with force, delivering a solid punch to stymie the bull rush and knocks people off balance with his explosion off the snap. He is not the type who will lean and shove, preferring to attack and grind it out until the whistle. His lower-body flexibility is superb and he drives off the ball with good urgency. When he makes contact, he hits with thud and good pop. His 2008 offseason work in the weight room was evident by the power and violence behind his punch. He has that upper-body power to jolt defenders and with his strong hands, he did a really nice job of locking on and controlling his opponent until the whistle. GRADE: 7.4

Run Blocking: Monroe comes off the snap with a hard surge and good leg drive, possessing the feet to stay on his blocks and sustain. Is a good upper-body blocker who shuffles his feet. As a zone blocker, he has more than enough strength to move out level one defenders. Once he gains position off the snap, he has the strength to wall off. He has a good concept for taking proper angles to cut off second-level opponents and shows outstanding ability leading on long pulls. He is still more comfortable working in space, as he shows better explosion getting out to search and neutralize linebackers, but has the leg drive and lateral movement to be quite effective maintaining rush lane integrity. In 2008, he showed very good improvement in attempts to scope, sustain and make reach blocks than in the past (struggled in 2006 while slowly recovering from a dislocated left kneecap). He plays on his feet and battles throughout the play. He gets very good hip roll, which lets him be more physical and aggressive coming off the snap. He sets his base a little high at times when blocking in-line, but generally does a solid job of using his size to maul and take over on blocks. If he locks on to a defender, he will generally win the battle. He can drive with good initial force, but is best when accelerating to get to the second level. In 2008, Monroe was very good at using his quickness to explode off the snap. He has the power to deliver pop on contact and the leg drive to generate movement. He adjusts well on the move and has the speed to pull and reach the second level. He also showed better ability to take angles when blocking down field. GRADE: 7.9

Pass Blocking: Monroe uses his foot quickness well to shuffle his feet and slide back with ease when taking on edge rushers. He stays square and balanced, keeping his pad level low. Even when he gets overextended, he is quick to recover. He generates a strong anchor and good field vision to recover vs. double moves. He is quick to pivot in attempts to counter the speed rush, as he shows good urgency getting to his reach point. He uses his long arms effectively in attempts to extend and lock on to the defender's jersey. He has the speed to mirror and square up with an opponent, as his strong anchor lets him maintain position when trying to neutralize the pass-rush charge. He seems to be getting comfortable with edge blocking, showing the foot quickness in his kick-slide to mirror, but will drop his head. With his lateral quickness, he can slide and readjust. Monroe plays with good awareness and has the flexibility along with functional lower-body strength to anchor. Few offensive tackles demonstrate his hand quickness. He comes out of his stance with good urgency and a solid base, opening his hips quickly to pivot and adjust to the speed rush. In 2008, Monroe showed that he has the active feet and balance in his kick slide, along with the long arms to simply engulf edge rushers. He has the ability to use his speed and wingspan to handle movement on the edge and even improved his footwork working in-line. He still has some lapses when he sets up too wide, but with his balance, he is quick to recover. GRADE: 8.5

Pulling/Trapping: Monroe's quickness suggests that the coaching staff should find more ways to using him on pulls. He is an athletic blocker who is smooth in his movement getting into the second level. He has the body control to execute blocks in space and plays with a strong base that makes it very difficult for the defender to get him off his feet. His quickness coming out of his stance and outstanding body control allows him to make fluid adjustments working in space, making him an ideal lead blocker on long pulls and playing downfield. Great ease of movement in his hips when changing direction and he has more than enough balance to stay on his feet on the move. He adjusts well to pick up stunts when working in-line and shows very good explosiveness to get out and make plays in space. His change-of-direction agility lets him make good contact on the move, especially when he attempts to neutralize linebackers. In 2008, the staff used him more on pulls and traps. He has that rare speed to get out front and the body control to adjust and make contact when on the move. GRADE: 7.5

Adjust on Linebacker Downfield: Monroe is capable of getting on top of the linebackers, as he will use his long arms to engulf and his strength to pancake them in the open. He has good hip swerve that he uses to adjust and make contact when delivering open field blocks. He has the balance and foot speed to get in front of the charge on pulls and roll-outs, taking proper angles to get into the second level. He is always looking for linebackers to attack. He shows great ease of movement in space and has the body control and base to get position and keep it. He takes proper angles to cut off and when he wheels on the linebacker, he will quickly neutralize the opponent. He is very alert when working in space and likes to use his hands with force to shock and jolt. In 2008, Monroe did a nice job of adjusting his feet on the move and it was rare to see him fall off his blocks or be on the ground. He demonstrates proper knee bend and balance to bump off the defensive end when used on the stretch play and also is effective climbing the wall to attack the linebackers when working in-line. GRADE: 7.7

Use of Hands/Punch: Monroe has the hand strength to stun and control defenders with his hand punch. Before the 2008 season, he needed to develop better technique in getting underneath defenders. He made strides using his hands to lock on and grab. As a junior, he displayed much better ability of throwing his hands, thanks to good timing. He has the long arms to pressure, using his strength and pop on contact to jolt and control the opponent. When he attacks a defender with his hand punch, he will generally neutralize him. He will get reckless at times and take long arm swipes, causing the defender to slip off his blocks, but shows enough redirection agility to recover. He has made very good improvement in resetting his hands, getting proper separation when doing so. He is more of a punch-and-shock type, but is also learning how to use his hands better to control. In 2008, Monroe was more aggressive with his hands. He has that natural upper body strength and violent hand punch to jolt the defender and is very active using his hands to control his man when setting up in pass protection. GRADE: 6.8

Reactions/Awareness: Monroe is a quick-footed athlete whose ability to shuffle and slide makes him an ideal fit at left tackle. He is quick to recover when caught out of position and shows good urgency and vision to handle twists and games. He is very natural reacting and executing blocks on the move. His foot speed lets him get to his reach point and cut off edge rushers and he displays good body control when readjusting to movement. He does a good job of shuffling his feet. When he gets too tall in his stance, he can get caught out of position (will lunge and fail to recover), but when he stays square, he maintains good balance. He does a nice job of picking up stunts and blitzes with his balance and foot speed. He also demonstrates above average ability to slide and readjust when working off the edge. In 2008, Monroe still stands upright at times, but with his balance and foot quickness, he's quick to recover. He needs some refinement shuffling his feet to react quicker to the blitz, but even when he overextends, he showed the balance to move his feet to get into position to protect the pocket in pass protection. He still needs to see the big picture quicker, but he does a good job of recovering and holding his ground. GRADE: 6.5

Compares To: WALTER JONES, Seattle -- Both players are blessed with excellent athleticism and agility, along with the quick feet to mirror speedy edge rushers. Monroe is a solid run blocker, plays on his feet with very good balance and has excellent body control. He has the strength to gain position when working in-line and creates and widens rush lanes. He is capable of staying on his feet and sustaining blocks, using his hand strength well to lock on and control his man. He competes until the whistle and plays with good aggression. His field vision and awareness are evident by his ability to pick up line games and blitzes. His body control lets him readjust and deliver crunching blocks in the second level. With his fluid body flexibility, he has no problem sinking his hips and anchoring to protect the pocket. By remaining healthy as a senior, he has the athletic ability and pedigree to be the first offensive lineman taken in the 2009 NFL Draft.

OVERALL GRADE: 7.53

Since moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore, Monroe allowed two quarterback sacks, spanning 1,212 pass plays in 30 starting assignments. During his time as a starter, Monroe has graded 87.571% for blocking consistency, the top grade among the NCAA's returning offensive tackles. In that span, he produced 199 knockdowns/key blocks, including 39 touchdown-resulting blocks and 27 more blocks downfield. The 2008 Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient, given to the best blocker in the Atlantic Coast Conference, became the school's eighth player to receive that award since its inception in 1953. In his final season, Monroe was the first ever Virginia offensive lineman to record more than 100 knockdowns in a season (105), shattering the old mark of 76 by offensive tackle Jim Dombrowski in 1985. His 2008 blocking consistency grade of 88.42% is the best of any ACC offensive lineman since center Jim Ritcher of North Carolina graded 87.72% in 1979. In 2008, his 16 touchdown-resulting blocks broke the old school record of 14 by Ray Roberts in 1991 and the conference annual mark of 15 by Chris Port of Duke in 1989. The team scored just 23 total touchdowns and Monroe had 16 touchdown-resulting blocks and also provided protection blocks on five others. By being involved in 91.3% of his team's scores, it's the highest season percentage of any offensive lineman in college since Tony Mandarich of Michigan State had an 89.22% percentage in 1988. Graded at least 90% six times in 2008, the most ever by an ACC lineman in a season.

All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report … Unanimous All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-State first-team choice … Recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given annually since 1953 to the player voted the most outstanding blocker in the ACC by a poll of the league's head coaches and defensive coordinators. The trophy is given in memory of William P. Jacobs, who served as president of Presbyterian College from 1935 to 1945. "The honor of being the Jacob's recipient means a lot to me," Monroe said. "It is one of the goals I set out to reach two years ago. It is a reflection of not only my work, but my coaches who helped guide me, teammates who push me everyday, and family back home who has been a supporting cast through my journey. My career has come a long way, from being a backup my first year, overcoming set backs, and being able to achieve this award." … Rated the best senior offensive line prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft by The NFL Draft Report, Monroe started all twelve games at left offensive tackle, as he was one of the few bright spots for a unit that not only struggled to score (ranked 115th in the nation with an average of 16.08 points per game), but also to gain yardage (106th in total offense with an average of 299.75 yards per game and 109th in rushing, averaging 96.58 yards per contest) … Registered a school season-record 105 knockdowns/key blocks, as he set another school and ACC season-record with sixteen touchdown-resulting blocks, posting a blocking consistency grade of 88.42%, the best of any senior offensive tackle in the collegiate ranks … What makes his sixteen touchdown-resulting blocks (also provided key pass protection blocks on five touchdown throws) even more impressive is the fact that all of the team's touchdown runs were because of those blocks and the Cavaliers would produce just 23 total touchdowns for the season (made touchdown-resulting blocks on 69.56% of the team's touchdowns and was involved with key blocks on 91.3% of those scores) … The offense generated 3,597 yards in total offense for the season, with 2,762 of those yards (76.79%) coming from over Monroe's side of the field.

Southern California … The Cavaliers went down to a 52-7 season-opening loss, but their left tackle not only delivered eight knockdowns with a touchdown-resulting block, but held the Trojan's best pass rusher, defensive end Everson Griffin, to only two tackles … USC head coach Pete Carroll praised the performance by Monroe in his post-game press conference, stating, "He's awesome. We recruited him in high school. He was the most perfect looking guy we saw coming out of high school. He's an awesome looking kid, a great athlete, a good student, and he was full grown about a long time ago. He might have been 300 pounds when he was in sixth grade, I don't know. Beautiful athlete, a number one draft pick all the way, exactly what guys are looking for as a pass protector at left tackle. He's just a great player." … Five minutes into the game, Monroe was penalized for a false start on a third-&-15 snap, leading to a Virginia punt … He alertly picked up the blitz, working in-line to level middle linebacker Rey Maualuga on QB Peter Lalich's 12-yard screen pass to tight end John Phillips and on second-&-goal, he flipped Griffin to the ground, clearing a rush lane used by tailback Mikell Simpson for a 7-yard touchdown run that capped a 62-yard, 6-play series … Early in the third quarter, Monroe was out in front on a sweep, upending line-backer Brian Cushing to spring tailback Cedric Peerman for a 20-yard gain to the Virginia 43 … Head to Head Competition-DE#93-Everson Griffin (6:03-267)-Two solo tackles … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight knockdowns/key blocks, with one down field block and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 84% … The team gained 32 yards with one touchdown on 21 carries (1.52 ypc), 155 yards with one interception on 18-of-35 passes and 187 total yards on 56 plays (3.34 yards per snap).

Richmond … The offense managed just 295 yards in a 16-0 win over their Division 1-AA opponent, as Monroe collected eleven knockdowns that included a crucial block on the offense's only touchdown … Tailback Cedric Peerman turned the left corner for a 17-yard run and then used an inside rush lane created by Monroe for another 17-yard scamper, giving Virginia field position to kick a 26-yard field goal after that 15-play, 80-yard drive stalled in the first quarter … In the final stanza, Monroe leveled defensive end Sherman Logan on a 9-yard carry by Peerman to the Richmond 45. The left tackle than cut down linebacker Eric McBride on QB Peter Lalich's 13-yard sideline toss to receiver Kevin Ogletree. Tailback Mikell Simpson then followed Monroe's lead block for a 9-yard pick up to the UR 7, where on third-&-goal, Monroe blasted his way into the end zone with Simpson in tow for a 1-yard touchdown run that concluded the 54-yard, 12-play series with 7:25 left in the game … Head to Head Competition-DE#8-Sherman Logan (6:03-241)-Two tackles (1 solo) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eleven key blocks/ knockdowns, with one down field block and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 91% … The team gained 91 yards with one touchdown on 38 carries (2.39 ypc), 204 yards and two interceptions on 21-of-39 passes and 295 total yards on 77 plays (3.83 yards per snap).

Connecticut … It was another long day for the Virginia defense, as the offense had too many three-&-out series, totaling just 219 yards in a 45-10 loss … Miscommunication between Monroe and left guard Zak Stair saw defensive end Cody Brown play off the left tackle's block and slip past Stair to sack QB Marc Verica for a 9-yard loss on second-&-goal early in the third quarter … Monroe later made up for that miscue by flattening Brown on a 13-yard run by tailback Mikell Simpson to the Connecticut 24 and he helped close out the 6-play, 44-yard possession by opening a hole used by Cedric Peerman on first-&-goal for a 1-yard touchdown run … Head to Head Competition-DE#50-Cody Brown (6:03-248)-Three tackles (2 solos), a 9-yard sack, one pass deflection … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight key blocks/knockdowns, with one touchdown-resulting block, grading 82% … The team gained 31 yards with one touchdown on 14 carries (2.21 ypc), 188 yards and two interceptions on 25-of-38 passes and 219 total yards on 52 plays (4.21 yards per snap).

Duke … The offense was averaging 233.67 yards per game entering the Duke contest, but after a 31-3 loss to the Blue Devils, Monroe had enough of the team's lethargic play. He made eight knockdowns, but was penalized for holding and saw defensive end Greg Akinbiyi slip through the Cavalier left side of the line to register a 6-yard sack of QB Marc Verica on a third-&-19 snap, causing the Cavaliers to punt after their game-opening drive … Mad at his own performance, Monroe took out his frustrations on Akinbiyi, who was a complete non-factor the rest of the game … Virginia's only score was a 33-yard field goal late in the opening quarter. On that series, Monroe cleared a huge hole that fullback Rashawn used for a 22-yard scamper to the Duke 35. From there, Monroe leveled Akinbiyi on a 9-yard run around left end by tailback Mikell Simpson. Verica then followed suit, as his left tackle upended linebacker Marcus Jones to spring the QB for an 8-yard run to the Duke 18, setting up Virginia's three-pointer when the 68-yard, 10-play series stalled … Head to Head Competition-DE#54-Greg Akinbiyi (6:02-253)-Two tackles (1 solo), a 6-yard sack … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight key blocks/knockdowns, with one down field block, but was penalized once, grading 81% … The team gained 110 yards with no touchdowns on 33 carries (2.39 ypc), 194 yards and four interceptions on 19-of-42 passes and 304 total yards on 75 plays (4.05 yards per snap).

Maryland … Monroe made it a point to work with the team's young offensive line that featured one junior, one freshman and two sophomores. The additional "schooling by Professor Monroe" paid off immensely for the Cavaliers, as they stunned the Terps in a 31-0 shutout, piling up a then season-high 427 yards. The left tackle was simply dominating, as he delivered eleven knockdowns with a pair of touchdown-resulting blocks. It was a welcome sight to see Monroe's "tough love" with his fellow line mates bring about the team's first offensive explosion for the season … Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim praised the left tackle after the game, as he talked about the job done by the offensive line, "We were moving the ball downfield and we had a lot of first downs, which was key. It was good to see that some of the older guys like Eugene (Monroe) work with some of the younger guys like Austin (Pasztor). I think it was his first or second game so it was good to see him mature and come into his own." … Monroe was equally impressed by the line's improvement this week from last week, stating, "This whole past week we have focused on getting targeted on the right defenders because we weren't doing a great job of doing that. Tonight we did a better job and obviously had big help from the run game, which was a great thing. I'm just excited that tonight we got this win." … Late in the first quarter, Monroe cleared a rush lane used by tailback Cedric Peerman for an 8-yard gain to mid field. On the team's next snap, Monroe retreated into the backfield, holding off a pair of defenders to give QB Marc Verica time to unleash a 51-yard scoring bomb to Kevin Ogletree … At the start of the second quarter, he flipped linebacker Trey Covington out of the way on a third-&-1 handoff to fullback Rashawn Jackson that produced a 7-yard gain. Peerman then raced around left tackle for a 10-yard jaunt to the Maryland 13. Monroe then played the "skipper" to his "little buddy" Verica, as the QB ran like Gilligan on a third-&-2 snap for a 5-yard touchdown that capped a 12-play, 75-yard series. Protecting his quarterback was Monroe's sole task and he was more than up to keeping Verica's uniform clean vs. the Terps … Verica again used his left tackle to pick up 9 yards on an option, but it was Peer-man who benefited from Monroe's block, as the lineman obliterated defensive end Jeremy Navarre for a 35-yard scamper to the Maryland 11. The drive stalled, but Virginia settled for a 32-yard field goal on their first possession of the second half … On the Cavaliers' next series, Monroe cut down linebacker Dave Philistin on Verica's third-&-1 toss to Dontrelle Inman for a 6-yard gain. The left tackle opened a rush lane for Simpson to run for 7 yards on the next snap. Monroe ended that 11-play, 61-yard possession by pushing Navarre into Covington, starting a "domino effect" that paved the way for Peerman to take a fourth-&-1 run over the left side for a 9-yard touchdown and a 31-0 Virginia lead … Talking to the press after the game, Monroe praised the performance of running backs Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson, saying, "They are going to find the holes and different find different opportunities. They make us look good by look good by targeting the holes and accelerating off of the end. If we can run the ball, we take pressure off of the quarterback and that also opens up the guard game. We just did a better job all around; we played better tonight than we have before." … Obviously in a better mood due to the victory, the tackle was asked about his impression of the team being able to bounce back after last week's loss and he replied, "It's big. It's not just that it's an ACC team, but it's Maryland-they are one of our biggest rivals. We wait for this game every year, all year and we are ecstatic that we got this win." … Head to Head Competition-DE#40-Jeremy Navarre (6:03-270)-Three tackles (2 solos) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eleven key blocks/knockdowns, with two down field blocks and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 97% … The team gained 201 yards with two touchdowns on 41 carries (4.93 ypc), 226 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-34 passes and 427 total yards on 75 plays (5.59 yards per snap).

East Carolina … Coming off his best performance for the season vs. Maryland, Monroe was nearly flawless in an even more impressive showing vs. the Pirates, as he completely dominated one of the top defensive ends in the country (C.J. Wilson) while registering eleven knockdowns for the third time in 2008. He had three touchdown-resulting blocks, as the offense beat their previous season-high with 430 yards in a 35-20 win, going on to earn ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors … It was the left tackle who was the star of the game, even though tailback Cedric Peerman received all of the media's attention … Peerman exploded around his left tackle's area for two long touchdown runs. His first score came on the last play of the first quarter. The Cavaliers had done little on offense before he beat one defender to the left edge, slipped a couple of tackles and raced down the right sideline 78 yards, with Monroe leveling Wilson at the line of scrimmage and then racing down field to flatten linebacker Jeremy Chambliss … The tailback's 60-yard touch-down run came five minutes later, on the first play after a 1-yard shanked punt by East Carolina's Matt Dodge. Peerman found a gaping hole behind Monroe and was untouched on his way to the end zone, stretching Virginia's lead to 14-6. Asked about his blocking pattern for Peerman's touchdown runs, Monroe simply stated, "It was power. I had a down block so I took the backside linebacker. A lot of time when you get the backside line-backer, the run play is big because they are usually the ones who make the stops. All we did was our job. We got everyone blocked up like we needed to and Cedric did his thing." … Monroe was not done punishing the East Carolina defense, as he did a stellar job of reading what the Pirates intended to do, "I am sure everyone does it, but the defense knows what we do when we get in certain formations but it works the other way around as well. We were clued in on their formations and that gave us a big advantage." … Later in the second quarter, Wilson was simply flattened by Monroe on QB Marc Verica's 12-yard flag pass to Kevin Ogletree. The left tackle helped finish off that 6-play, 61-yard series by running over none guard Khalif Mitchell, who fell into Wilson, opening a rush lane that tailback Mikell Simpson used on a first-&-goal handoff for a 5-yard score … After the game, Monroe commented on the improvement of the offensive line in the past two weeks,

"We are paying better attention and have a greater sense of focus during the week and it shows on game day. East Carolina has a good front, but communication was key because they ran a lot of games up on the front of the defensive line. I had to communicate with my guard and center and I am sure on the other side Will Barker did the same to make sure that we had everything squared away." … Head to Head Competition-DE#95-C.J. Wilson (6:04-271)-Three tackles (1 solo) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eleven key blocks/knockdowns, with two down field blocks and three touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 99% … The team gained 202 yards with three touchdowns on 33 carries (6.12 ypc), 228 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions on 26-of-34 passes and 430 total yards on 67 plays (6.42 yards per snap).

North Carolina … For the third consecutive week, Monroe graded over 90% for blocking consistency, coming up with a pair of touchdown-resulting blocks while providing stellar pass protection for an aerial game that gained over 200 yards for the third-straight game …

As the ground game was nowhere to be found, the Cavaliers took to the air in this 16-13 overtime decision … On the team's first series in the second half, Monroe upended defensive end E.J. Wilson on QB Marc Verica's third-&-10 pass to tailback Cedric Peerman that west up the team's first score, a 37-yard field goal … Monroe put on a blocking clinic on the team's final possession in regulation, taking down linebacker Mark Paschal on Verica's 26-yard sideline toss to Maurice Covington. Verica hid behind his left tackle until he connected with Cary Koch on a 16-yard pass. Verica continued to use his All-American blocker for protection, as Monroe flattened defensive end Robert Quinn on a 17-yard toss to Kevin Ogletree that put the ball at the UNC 11. Two plays later, on third-&-1, Peerman used a hole created by Monroe to score on a 2-yard run with 0:47 left. The team held its breath as the extra point attempt was tipped by UNC, but still made it over the crossbar, knotting the game at 10-10 … In overtime, tight end John Phillips made a nifty catch of Verica's 19-yard throw, as Monroe clobbered Quinn to give Verica room to make the pass completion. Two snaps later, Peerman again used Monroe to clear a path that allowed the tailback to squirm into the end zone for a game-winning 2-yard touchdown … Monroe praised Cedric Peerman during the team's post-game press conference, stating, "The best thing about blocking for Ced is just hearing the impacts that happen when he hits guys right in front of you. It's a car crash every time. You almost want to ask him if he's all right, but I know it's not him who's hurting." … Head to Head Competition-DE#42-Robert Quinn (6:05-261)-One assisted tackle … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded nine key blocks/knockdowns, with two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 95% … The team gained 58 yards with two touchdowns on 27 carries (2.15 ypc), 217 yards with no touch-downs on 24-of-38 passes and 430 total yards on 67 plays (6.42 yards per snap).

Georgia Tech … The Cavaliers extended their winning streak to four games, thanks to Monroe emerging victorious from his epic battle with All-American defensive end Michael Johnson. With pro scouts filling the stands to see those two clash, Johnson did post a sack, but was held to four tackles, as Monroe knocked the defender down eight times, made a pair of blocks down field and had two more that resulted in touchdowns to guide Virginia to a 24-17 decision … Monroe staved off Johnson's surge on back-to-back passes that gained 13 and 15 yards, but when the team's first possession stalled, Virginia settled for a 25-yard field goal … Tailback Cedric Peerman turned the left corner on a third-&-1 carry for 17 yards at the end of the first quarter. That series carried over into the second stanza, where Monroe drove into Johnson as Marc Verica rolled out, stood behind his left tackle and fired a 14-yard touchdown to Kevin Ogletree, ending a 66-yard, 12-play drive …

Verica's third quarter 34-yard scoring strike to Maurice Covington was the result of Monroe clobbering defensive tackle Darryl Richard and wheeling around to drop Johnson on the play … The left tackle cleared a huge hole used by Peerman for a 31-yard scamper that set up the tailback's 3-yard touchdown run, concluding an 8-play, 70-yard fourth quarter drive that gave Virginia the 24-17 win … Head to Head Competition-DE#43-Michael Johnson (6:07-260)-Four solo tackles, a 14-yard sack, one forced fumble … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight key blocks/knockdowns, with two down field blocks and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 84% … The team gained 126 yards with one touchdown on 36 carries (3.50 ypc), 270 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions on 29-of-39 passes and 396 total yards on 75 plays (5.28 yards per snap).

Miami … Virginia's four-game winning streak came to an end in a tough 24-17 loss, as the Cavaliers would begin a four-game losing streak to end the season. Monroe continued to excel in the trenches, making two more touchdown-resulting blocks for the fifth-straight game … Tailback Cedric Peerman bounced around the left corner, with Monroe taking down linebacker Sean Spence during that 14-yard run that set up a Cavalier 23-yard field goal on the game's first possession … Middle linebacker Glen Cook was flattened by the left tackle on QB Marc Verica's 33-yard toss to Maurice Covington, as Monroe then opened rush lanes used by Peerman for a 16-yard run and on a 16-yard reverse by Kevin Ogletree for a touchdown, capping a 74-yard, 5-play first quarter series … Later in the second quarter, Monroe took down defensive end Adewale Ojomo on a third-&-goal 2-yard scoring lob from Verica to Jared Green that gave Virginia a temporary 17-10 lead … Record Watch-The left tackle became the first Virginia offensive lineman to grade over 90% for blocking consistency five times in the same season … His eight knockdowns gave him 82 key blocks for the season, breaking the previous school season-record of 76 by Jim Dombrowski in 1985 … Head to Head Competition-DE#97-Adewale Ojomo (6:03-248)-Two tackles (1 solo) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight key blocks/knockdowns, with one down field block and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 94% … The team gained 78 yards with one touchdown on 24 carries (3.25 ypc), 240 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions on 27-of-41 passes and 318 total yards on 65 plays (4.89 yards per snap).

Wake Forest … Monroe was flagged twice for false starts, but he also delivered seven knockdowns, including one that resulted in a touchdown … On back-to-back series midway through the first quarter, Monroe was called for false starts, the first time in his career that he had multiple penalties in a game … He crushed defensive end Kyle Wilber on a 26-yard run by tailback Cedric Peerman that set up a Cavalier 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter … Early in the final frame, Monroe took the legs out from under Wilber, giving QB Marc Verica a chance to find tight end John Phillips with a 21-yard scoring strike … Head to Head Competition-DE#97-Kyle Wilber (6:05-232)-One solo tackle (note-Wilber has a fourth quarter 12-yard sack, but it came on a stunt over Virginia's left guard and center) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded seven key blocks/knockdowns, with one touchdown-resulting block, but was penalized twice, grading 80% … The team gained 28 yards with no touchdowns on 17 carries (1.41 ypc), 279 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions on 23-of-45 passes and 307 total yards on 62 plays (4.95 yards per snap).

Clemson … The offense was non-existent in a 13-3 loss, as the Cavaliers managed to gain only 190 yards. Monroe posted nine key blocks, but saw his touchdown-resulting block string of six games come to an end … He flattened defensive end Kevin Alexander on a 9-yard run by tailback Cedric Peerman and shoved rush end Ricky Sapp to the ground on Marc Verica's 16-yard pass to Kevin Ogletree that gave the Cavaliers field position to kick a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter … Talking about Clemson's defense to the media after the game, Monroe stated, "I think that we just didn't get the job done up front. We had some setbacks that we just couldn't overcome. In the end we just didn't put forth enough to get the win." … Talking about his team's defensive performance, the left tackle noted, "They gave us good field position a lot during the game. It's just a shame that we couldn't get it done for them because they put us in some good positions and held their point count down pretty well." … Asked about the upcoming game vs. arch-rival Virginia Tech, the All-American said, "I haven't beaten Virginia Tech since I have been here so it will probably be the most exciting game of the season for us." … Record Watch-Monroe had his 15th touchdown-resulting block for the season, topping the old school annual record of 14 TD-resulting blocks by Ray Roberts in 1991 … Head to Head Competition-DE#7-Ricky Sapp (6:04-244)-One assisted tackle … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded nine key blocks/knockdowns, grading 84% … The team gained 30 yards with no touchdowns on 24 carries (1.25 ypc), 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions on 24-of-39 passes and 190 total yards on 63 plays (3.02 yards per snap).

Virginia Tech … Monroe did everything he could in the trenches to finally beat Tech, but the Cavaliers fell, 17-14, thus ending their season. The left tackle posted seven key blocks that included one that resulted in a touchdown … Tailback Vic Hall raced 14 yards around left end, with Monroe clobbering linebacker Brett Warren in the second level. On third-&-3, he held odd rush end Orion Martin on a 4-yard lob by Marc Verica to Kevin Ogletree to keep the 6-play, 71-yard possession alive. Martin was then ran over by Monroe, who led the charge on Hall cutting back to the right side en route to breaking free for a 40-yard scoring scamper on the game's first series … Cedric Peerman used a block by Monroe on line-backer Cam Martin to pick up 16 yards, setting up Vic Hall's 16-yard touchdown run two plays later … Record Watch-With seven key blocks, Monroe became the first Virginia offensive lineman to record more than 100 knockdowns in a season (105) … Monroe's 16th touchdown-resulting block for the season broke the previous ACC record of 15, set by Duke's Chris Port in 1989 … Head to Head Competition-DE#90-Orion Martin (6:02-258)- Three tackles 91 solo; note-Martin had three other tackles and a pressure playing on the opposite side of the field, away from Monroe's territory) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded seven key blocks/knockdowns, with two down field blocks and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 90% … The team gained 172 yards with two touch-downs on 31 carries (5.55 ypc), 77 yards with no touchdowns and one interception on 8-of-15 passes and 249 total yards on 46 plays (5.41 yards per snap).

All-American honorable mention and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, adding All-ACC mention from the league's coaches … Second-team All-State pick by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association and the Roanoke Times … Named the Rock Weir Award winner as the team's most improved offensive player and earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance in the North Carolina contest … Started eleven games at the demanding left offensive tackle position, missing the Pittsburgh and Middle Tennessee State contests after suffering a knee sprain vs. Georgia Tech … Still managed to lead the conference's offensive tackles with an 87.09% blocking consistency grade, receiving the highest grades of any Cavalier down lineman in six contests … Did not allow any quarterback sacks and gave up just one pressure on 428 pass plays … Delivered 55 knockdown/key blocks, including 15 that resulted in touch-downs, as he also made ten blocks down field … Was penalized four times (one ineligible receiver down field, one holding, two personal fouls) … Paced ACC down lineman with three performances that produced blocking consistency grades of 90% or better … Also recorded a solo tackle and recovered one fumble.

Wyoming … It was a quiet season opener for Monroe, coming up with a pair of knock-downs, but the offense struggled in a 23-3 loss, as the ground game was held to minus 3 yards on 18 attempts … Head to Head Competition-DE#91-John Fletcher (6:06-274)-Two tackles (1 solo).

Duke … Monroe posted four knockdowns, along with a touchdown-resulting block, as the Cavaliers picked up 324 yards in a 24-13 win … Midway through the opening quarter, he teamed with left guard Branden Albert to clear a path for tailback Cedric Peerman's 58-yard scoring scamper, as Monroe simply flattened middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili to clear away the final obstacle on Peerman's burst to the end zone … At the start of the second quarter, a third-&-goal 4-yard reception by Maurice Covington was negated when Monroe was called for holding … Head to Head Competition-DE#54-Greg Akinbiyi (6:02-253)-Seven tackles (3 solos) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded four knockdowns, with one down field block and touchdown-resulting block, grading 82% … The team gained 133 yards with one touchdown on 34 carries (3.91 ypc) and 324 total yards on 66 plays (4.91 yards per snap).

North Carolina … The Cavalier left tackle was dominant in the second level, where he made a pair of downfield blocks, along with one touchdown-resulting block and six knock-downs, as he graded 89% for a unit that amassed 350 yards in a 22-20 triumph, earning ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades … On the team's first series, Monroe leveled defensive end Hilee Taylor to spring tailback Cedric Peerman for a 6-yard run to the UNC 1-yard line. From there, the left tackle teamed with left guard Branden Albert to drive into the end zone, with Peerman following for a 1-yard score that capped a 68-yard, 12-play series … Monroe made up for a fourth quarter personal foul by taking down linebacker Durell Mapp, allowing Peerman to turn the left corner for a 38-yard gain down to the UNC 11. The drive stalled, but the Cavaliers salvaged some points with a 28-yard field goal … Head to Head Competition-DE#92-E.J. Wilson (6:02-269)-Three tackles (2 solos), one QB pressure … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded six knockdowns, with two down field blocks and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 89% … The team gained 197 yards with one touchdown on 51 carries (3.86 ypc) and 350 total yards on 78 plays (4.49 yards per snap).

Georgia Tech … The Cavaliers' third-straight victory was the result of Monroe's dominance in the trenches, as he delivered a trio of touchdown-resulting blocks and graded 96% for blocking consistency, helping the team generate 354 yards in a 28-23 win, but the squad lost their left tackle when Monroe suffered a knee sprain late in the fourth quarter … He started the game off by joining left guard Branden Albert in leading the charge on a 4-yard scoring run by QB Jameel Sewell midway through the first quarter … He then leveled line-backer Gary Guyton down field on a 20-yard run by Cedric Peerman and on second-&-goal, Monroe shoved defensive end Darrell Robertson to the ground on the tailback's 4-yard touchdown burst that ended a 5-play, 81-yard series … Midway through the fourth quarter, Monroe took Robertson down in the backfield, giving Sewell time to find Jobe Staton with a 26-yard scoring strike … On the team's next-to-last play, Sewell fumbled a third-&-8 snap that he recovered at the Cavalier 42, but Monroe suffered a knee sprain on the play and was forced to sit out the team's next two contests … "It was the second- or third-to-last play, typical of the way these things happen," Virginia head coach Al Groh said after the game. "So many players [were] around the pile and an opposing player fell down and landed on him We're just going day-to-day on that one and he's [Monroe] doing everything he can to get back as quickly as he can." … Two days later, Groh announced at his press conference that Monroe would be sidelined for several games. "Frustration is not a medicine that is prescribed by any doctor," said Groh of a conversation he had with Monroe on Monday. "It's not going to make him heal any faster. We feel it for him and we feel it for us. He's just got to keep a positive attitude. He's been through it before. That certainly was a much, much greater long-term situation than this one." … Perhaps a testament to his toughness, Monroe did not even let anyone know he was hurt, as he finished out the game. "Eugene's my housemate," guard Ian-Yates Cunningham said, "and when it occurred, you would have thought nothing happened. He was just happy we won." … Head to Head Competition-DE#90-Darrell Robertson (6:05-248)-One solo tackle …

Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded five knockdowns, with one down field block and three touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 96% … The team gained 121 yards with two touchdowns on 42 carries (2.88 ypc) and 354 total yards on 77 plays (4.60 yards per snap).

Pittsburgh and Middle Tennessee State … Did not play (knee).

Connecticut … Monroe returned to the lineup with a vengeance, grading 91% as he posted two touchdown-resulting blocks to lead the Cavaliers to their sixth-straight victory in a 17-16 decision, as Virginia totaled 332 yards. He also recorded a solo tackle and recovered a fumble, scooping up the ball after tailback Andrew Pearman coughed up the ball midway through the first quarter, as the left tackle alertly pounced on the ball at the Cavalier 21 … In the third quarter, Monroe chased down Robert Vaughn at the UVA 6, after the defender had picked off a Jameel Sewell pass for a 32-yard return … Earlier in the first frame, he opened a hole for Sewell's 9-yard run, cleared a path for Sewell to convert a third-&-2 carry into a 2-yard first down, leveled defensive tackle Rob Lunn on Sewell's third-&-2 carry for 5 yards and then led the way on Keith Payne's 1-yard touchdown run that capped a 59-yard, 11-play series … Sewell followed Monroe's downfield block on a third-&-7 18-yard run and then hid behind his left tackle on second-&-goal until he found tight end John Phillips with an 8-yard scoring toss with 5:19 left in the first half … Head to Head Competition-DE#50-Cody Brown (6:03-248)-One assisted tackle, one fumble recovery … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded seven knockdowns, with one down field block and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 94% … The team gained 148 yards with one touch-down on 44 carries (3.36 ypc) and 332 total yards on 69 plays (4.81 yards per snap).

Maryland … For the first time in his career, Monroe was charged with two penalties in a game, but he also registered a touchdown-resulting block as Virginia piled up 439 yards in an 18-17 triumph … In the second quarter, he was charged with a personal foul after a 6-yard carry by Chris Gorsham … He was charged with being an ineligible receiver downfield, negating a 20-yard reception by Chris Cook in the fourth quarter, but made up for that miscue by upending defensive tackle Carlos Feliciano to pave the way for a 1-yard touch-down run by Mikell Simpson to conclude that 15-play, 90-yard drive … Head to Head Competition-DE#55-Trey Covington (6:03-254)-Seven tackles (2 solos).

North Carolina State … Monroe's knockdown block on a fourth-&-1 play in the fourth quarter was followed by his touchdown-resulting block, but the Cavaliers saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end in a 29-24 loss … QB Jameel Sewell used a hole created by Monroe to convert that fourth down run into an 11-yard gain. On first-&-goal, he leveled defensive end Martrell Brown on Mikell Simpson's 5-yard scoring burst … Head to Head Competition-DE#41-Martrell Brown (6:02-271)-Four tackles (2 solos), one stop for a 2-yard loss … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded five knockdowns, with one touchdown-resulting block, grading 82% … The team gained 94 yards with one touchdown on 36 carries (2.61 ypc) and 369 total yards on 87 plays (4.24 yards per snap).

Wake Forest … Monroe graded 86%, posting five knockdowns for an offense that gained 307 yards in a 17-16 victory … Defensive tackle Boo Robinson was run over by Monroe on a 5-yard run by Mikell Simpson and the left guard capped that 56-yard, 4-play second quarter drive by upending blitzing linebacker Aaron Curry on Jameel Sewell's 39-yard scoring strike to Maurice Covington … Head to Head Competition-DE#98-Jeremy Thompson (6:05-269)-Four tackles (3 solos) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded five knockdowns, with one down field block and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 86% … The team gained 82 yards with one touchdown on 25 carries (3.28 ypc) and 307 total yards on 68 plays (4.51 yards per snap).

Miami … Former All-American defensive end Calais Campbell's sub par 2007 season became even more frustrating, as Monroe leveled the defender eight times, producing two touchdown-resulting blocks over his opponent. Virginia amassed 130 yards with four scores on the ground en route to a 48-0 shutout … Monroe flipped the 6:08 defensive end to the ground, preventing Campbell from getting to QB Jameel Sewell on a 24-yard flag pass to tight end Tom Santi. He then crushed Campbell as tailback Mikell Simpson turned the left corner for a 28-yard gain. On third-&-5, Campbell simply quit when Monroe crashed into him on Sewell's 29-yard touchdown toss to Maurice Covington that capped a 96-yard, 7-play first quarter drive … Later in the opening frame, Campbell was no match for Monroe's power, as the left tackle drove the defender into the end zone on Keith Payne's 5-yard scoring scamper … Defensive tackle Joe Joseph was flattened by Monroe on an 11-yard run by Mikell Simpson, followed by the left tackle holding off linebacker Tavares Gooden on Simpson's 8-yard carry. Monroe then ended the 72-yard, 7-play second quarter series by clearing a rush lane used by Simpson on third-&-goal for a 1-yard touchdown run … Head to Head Competition-DE#98-Calais Campbell (6:08-287)-Six tackles (4 solos) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded eight knockdowns, with one down field block and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 87% … The team gained 130 yards with four touchdowns on 39 carries (3.33 ypc) and 418 total yards on 74 plays (5.65 yards per snap).

Virginia Tech … The offense managed just 241 yards in a 33-21 loss, but Monroe graded 88% with a touchdown-resulting block … He took down defensive tackle Carlton Powell at the line of scrimmage and then raced down field to smash into linebacker Vince Hall, springing tailback Mikell Simpson for a 27-yard touchdown jaunt late in the first quarter …

Head to Head Competition-DE#43-Jason Worilds (6:02-261)-Two solo tackles … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded four knockdowns, with one down field block and one touchdown-resulting block, grading 88% … The team gained 97 yards with three touch-downs on 36 carries (2.69 ypc) and 241 total yards on 64 plays (3.77 yards per snap).

Texas Tech (Gator Bowl) … Monroe closed out the season in explosive fashion, boasting a 94% grade for blocking consistency, as he posted two touchdown-resulting blocks for a unit that generated 249 yards on the ground in a tough 31-28 loss … Midway through the first quarter, Monroe delivered key blocks on a trio of third down runs that produced first downs, setting up his crunching block on linebacker Paul Williams that let QB Jameel Sewell lob a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Stupar, ending a 67-yard, 13-play series … In the second quarter, an over-pursuit by defensive end Jake Ratliff and Monroe shoving nose guard Colby Whitlock into linebacker Brian Duncan opened a huge hole used by Mikell Simpson for a 96-yard touchdown jaunt … Head to Head Competition-DE#98-Jake Ratliff (6:07-247)-No tackles (note-Ratliff had a stop for a 3-yard loss, but not against Monroe) … Monroe's Offensive Impact-The left tackle recorded five knockdowns, with one down field block and two touchdown-resulting blocks, grading 94% … The team gained 249 yards with one touchdown on 47 carries (5.30 ypc) and 345 total yards on 75 plays (4.60 yards per snap).

All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention by The Gridiron Report … Shared left offensive tackle duties with Zak Stair, starting vs. Pittsburgh, Wyoming, Western Michigan, Duke, East Carolina (team opened with six linemen), Miami and Virginia Tech … Was slowed early in the year while recovering from knee problems … Underwent surgery on April 7th to repair a left kneecap that he dislocated six days earlier during spring drills and was limited in action during August camp … Still collected 39 knockdowns/key blocks, along with eight touchdown-resulting blocks and five blocks downfield … Did not allow any quarterback sacks (the front wall unit gave up 35 sacks, ranking 104th in the nation) and just four pressures on 345 passing plays … Finished with an 81.17% grade for blocking consistency, as the offense struggled, averaging just 257.17 yards per game, ranking 113th in the nation and last in the conference … When in the starting lineup, Monroe graded 84.43% for blocking consistency, producing 36 of his knockdowns in those contests.

Pittsburgh … Monroe's permanent move into the starting lineup produced an 88% blocking consistency grade for his first career starting assignment, but the team managed to gain just 211 yards, including 52 yards on 21 carries in the season opener … Monroe posted his first career touchdown-resulting block, driving linebacker Clint Session into the end zone to clear a path for tailback Jason Snelling's 2-yard scoring run with 0:57 left in the first half … Head to Head Competition-DE#48-Doug Fulmer (6:03-287)-No tackles.

Wyoming … Held to 32 yards on 22 carries, the Cavaliers' offense continued its early season struggles, as Monroe allowed just one tackle and posted five key blocks in a hard-fought 13-12 win … The game-winning touchdown was the result of the left tackle picking up strong safety John Wendling coming off the edge on a blitz, pushing the defender into linebacker Ward Dobbs, giving QB Kevin McCabe a chance to fire a 25-yard scoring strike to Kevin Ogletree in overtime … Head to Head Competition-DE#97-Jake Mayer (6:03-292)-One assisted tackle.

Western Michigan … Still playing on a sore left knee, Monroe produced a season-high seven knockdowns, grading 87% as the team gained 258 yards in a 17-10 upset loss … He made a timely downfield block that leveled linebacker Dustin Duclo on an 18-yard run by tailback Jason Snelling and then helped cap that 10-play, 83-yard first quarter series by clearing a path for Snelling's 5-yard touchdown run off left tackle … Head to Head Competition-DE#90-Zach Davidson (6:02-243)-One solo tackle for a 2-yard loss.

Georgia Tech … Monroe was given time off to let his left knee further heal, coming off the bench at left tackle.

Duke … Back in the lineup, but still hobbling, Monroe gamely posted six knockdowns, including a pair of downfield blocks on his sore knee, as the ground game scored twice in a 37-0 shutout … After Virginia's Jamaal Jackson recovered a blocked Duke punt at the Blue Demons' 1-yard line, tailback Jason Snelling took a handoff and followed Monroe into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run … Later in the third quarter, the left tackle raced down field on back-to-back Snelling carries that produced gains of 23 and 27 yards, but that drive would eventually stall at the Duke 43 … Head to Head Competition-DE#3-Vince Oghobaase (6:06-310)-Four tackles (1 solo), one stop for a 3-yard loss.

East Carolina … The Cavaliers stacked their offensive line with six players to open the game, but even with the additional blocker, the offense generated just 298 yards in a 31-21 loss, as Monroe collected four knockdowns, including a touchdown-resulting block, as he leveled defensive tackle Mark Robinson while leading a sweep over the right side on third-&-1 that resulted in a 13-yard run by Jason Snelling. Monroe then ended that 63-yard, 9-play fourth quarter series by upending rush end C.J. Wilson on QB Jameel Sewell's 9-yard scoring lob to Fontel Mines … Head to Head Competition-DE#95-C.J. Wilson (6:04-269)-One solo tackle.

Maryland, North Carolina State and Florida State … Monroe came off the bench in each of the games, as he was given extra time to let his spring knee injury heal.

North Carolina … Even though Monroe did not start and was charged with a holding penalty, he still came up with a timely touchdown-resulting block that staked Virginia to a 23-0 fourth quarter victory … With 2:28 left in the first half, he was flagged for a holding penalty, but made up for that miscue by taking down defensive tackle Shelton Bynum on a first-&-goal 5-yard touchdown run by tailback Jason Snelling early in the fourth quarter …

Head to Head Competition-DE#33-Hilee Taylor (6:03-241)-One solo tackle.

Miami … Monroe had his "coming out party," as he simply dominated All-American defensive end Calais Campbell, holding the 6:08 Hurricane to one assisted tackle while coming up with a pair of touchdown-resulting blocks and a block downfield that helped set up a Cavalier field goal, as the offense generated 349 yards in a 17-7 triumph … Early in the first quarter, Monroe and tight end John Phillips shoved Campbell and defensive tackle Teraz McCray into each other, creating a huge hole that was used by QB Jameel Sewell on third-&-goal for a 12-yard touchdown run that capped a 92-yard, 12-play series. On that drive, Monroe also held off linebacker Tavares Gooden on Sewell's 44-yard seam pass to Phillips and also knocked down Campbell to clear a hole used by Sewell for a 13-yard option run … In the second quarter, Gooden was flattened by Monroe when he tried to come off the edge on a 25-yard Sewell pass to Kevin Ogletree. On third-&-goal, Sewell kept the ball and used Monroe's block on Campbell to slip into the end zone for a 2-yard score … Defensive end Baraka Atkins was introduced to the ground by Monroe's cut block, springing Ogletree for a 28-yard gain on a reverse, setting up a Cavalier 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter … Monroe would finish the day with six knockdowns and a season-high 91% blocking consistency grade … Head to Head Competition-DE#81-Calais Campbell (6:08-269)-One assisted tackle, one QB pressure.

Virginia Tech … The offense crashed in the season finale, managing just 112 yards in a 17-0 shutout, as Monroe managed just two knockdowns and was penalized once for a false start in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-DE#96-Noland Burchette (6:02-263)-One assisted tackle, three QB pressures.

Monroe saw action as a reserve left offensive tackle and right guard in twelve games, as he also performed on the kick scoring unit … In addition to action on offense, he appeared briefly as a defensive tackle in two contests, but did not record any statistics.

2005: Suffered a patella tendon strain in his left knee while practicing for an all-star game (1/11).

2006: Suffered a left kneecap dislocation during April camp (4/01), undergoing surgery on 4/07. He returned to practice by August camp, but was slow to recover until later in the season.

2007: Injured his knee late in the fourth quarter vs. Georgia Tech (9/24), sitting out the next two games vs. Pittsburgh and Middle Tennessee State.

Campus: 5.09 in the 40-yard dash … 1.69 10-yard dash … 2.86 20-yard dash … 4.47 20-yard shuttle … 7.42 three-cone drill … 29 1/2-inch vertical jump … 475-pound bench press … 535-pound squat … 340-pound power clean … 34 1/8-inch arm length … 10 1/4-inch hands.

Combine: 5.18 in the 40-yard dash … 1.75 10-yard dash … 2.96 20-yard dash … 4.78 20-yard shuttle … 7.88 three-cone drill … 28 1/2-inch vertical jump … 9'2" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times … 33 7/8-inch arm length … 11 1/8-inch hands.

Attended Plainfield (N.J.) High School, playing football for head coach Clinton Jones …

Rated the best offensive lineman in the country by numerous recruiting services … U.S. Army, USA Today, Parade, EA Sports and Super Prep All-American choice … Received a five-star prospect rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com … Rated third overall in the nation, according to Rivals.com and Scout.com … Ranked second overall among high school football players, by College Football News … Was the top-rated player on Super Prep's Elite 50 list … Added Scout.com East Hot 100 list honors … Named Super Prep's Northeast Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, adding top player in New Jersey recognition by Super Prep, Scout.com, and Rivals.com … First-team All-State choice by the Newark Star-Ledger as a senior and a first-team All-State selection as a junior … Did not allow any quarterback sacks during his final three seasons as a starter.

Sociology major … One of 16 children (10 brothers, five sisters) of Stephanie Green and the late John Monroe … Born Eugene Christopher Monroe on 4/18/87 in Plainfield, New Jersey.