The two-year starter has been the anchor of the Longhorns offensive line, providing steady performances while being surrounded by more heralded teammates Jonathan Scott and Justin Blalock, two former first-team All-Americans.

Sendlein is another in a line of legacies to play for the Longhorns. His father, Robin, was a standout linebacker at the University of Texas (1977-80) before embarking on an eight-year NFL career (Minnesota, 1981-85; Miami, 1986-87; Houston, 1988). His brother, Austin, was a teammate and a defensive lineman who lettered for the Longhorns from 2002-03. His mother, Carrie, also attended Texas.

Born in Edina, Minn., Sendlein also has lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Elko, Neva. and Las Vegas before moving to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he attended Chaparral High School. He lettered four times in football, starting his final three seasons. He started at defensive tackle and linebacker as a senior, linebacker as a junior and offensive tackle as a sophomore, leading the team to back-to-back Arizona Class 4A state championships in 1999-2000 and a 28-game winning streak.

Sendlein earned first-team all-state, all-region and all-city honors as a senior, posting 110 tackles, six sacks, three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and a 29-yard interception return for a score that year. His best game saw him register 21 tackles, two sacks and a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown against Saguaro High in 2001.

Sendlein was a second-team all-state and first-team all-region and all-city selection as a junior. He was also named the Valley's 2000 Defensive Player of the Year as he racked up 157 tackles, including a 19-tackle performance against Saguaro High. Sendlein added first-team all-region accolades at offensive tackle as a sophomore.

Sendlein enrolled at Texas in 2002, spending the season performing on the scout team. He saw action in 13 games as a reserve center in 2003 and appeared in that same role during 10 games in 2004.

Before the 2005 season, Sendlein became a "pet project" of Texas offensive line coach Mac McWhorter. Sendlein went on to start all 13 games during the Longhorns' national championship season. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference accolades from the Associated Press, as he was a key part of a line that helped Texas rank first in the nation in scoring offense (50.2 points per game), second in rushing offense (274.9 yards per game) and third in total offense (512.1 yards per game). He cleared the way for Texas to set school single-season records in both points scored (652) and total yards (6,657).

In 2006, Sendlein started every game at center, but also saw action at right guard when injuries depleted the depth at that position. He was a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List (nation's top center) and earned consensus first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors. He was voted captain by his teammates and named one of Texas' Most Consistent Offensive Players.

Before the 2006 Alamo Bowl, Sendlein graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts. He also earned several academic honors during his time at Texas. He was listed on UT's Athletics Director's Academic Honor Roll in the spring and fall of 2003 and named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall of 2003.

Positives: Has a wide waist, good lower-body muscle definition, thick thighs, calf thickness and a frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness … Shows adequate quickness off the snap, doing a nice job of locating stunts and neutralizing pocket pressure thanks to his strong anchor and good base … Makes all the blocking assignment calls and communicates with his guards well in attempts to execute combo blocks … Vocal line leader who is an aggressive drive blocker who shows confidence in his hand punch to shock and jolt … Not sudden off the ball, but comes up hard in the running game to gain advantage and is active with his hands to shock and jolt the defender … Despite a lack of explosion, he has the functional initial step to reach or scoop, but lacks timed speed to play in the second level … When he keeps his pad level down, he aggressively puts his face on the target and drives hard with his legs to maintain the rush lane … Holds his position firmly at the point of attack, but needs to roll his hips and move his feet better to position or seal … Effective zone blocker who shows good leg drive … Sendlein had some issues trying to anchor in pass protection in the past, but in 2006 he demonstrated a stronger base and better hand usage to control … Will get pushed back vs. a strong rush, but when he bends his knees and moves his feet to mirror, he is more effective handling the blitz … Slow at times to replace his hands, but will control and shock defenders with his punch if he lands it.

Negatives: Best working on the line, as he struggles to change direction or get in front quickly on pulls and traps … Lacks the speed to be effective blocking in space … Lacks ideal hip flexibility and bends more at the waist than with his knees … Plays with good effort, but needs some structure in his training, as he only does what is asked in the training room … Lacks the explosion coming off the snap and when he gets too narrow in his base, he will lose leverage vs. the bull rush … Shows a good hand punch, but needs to use it with more consistency … Shows good urgency working on the defender, but when he tries to lean into his man, he is easily taken off his feet, as the defender can lock onto his exposed chest and jerk him down … Has good leg drive as a run blocker, but needs to be more sudden coming out of his stance … Liability on pulls and traps due to poor timed speed and hip stiffness that makes him struggle working in space, as his feet tend to die and he will duck his head on contact … Because of his poor change of direction, he fails to take good angles or show the burst needed to get out and neutralize second-level defenders … His feet get too heavy at times in his pass set, preventing him from redirecting.

Compares To: Mike Flynn, Baltimore Ravens -- If Sendlein is allowed to stay on the line rather than move out in space, he is effective clearing the rush lane or handling combo blocks with his guards … He has a strong hand punch, but lacks the foot speed and balance to be used on pulls and traps.

2006: Left the season opener vs. North Texas (Sept. 2) in the first quarter when he suffered a left ankle sprain.

Campus: 5.3 in the 40-yard dash … Bench presses 225 pounds 27 times … 520-pound squat … 29-inch vertical jump … 32-inch arm length … 10-inch hands.

Attended Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) High School, playing football for head coach Ron Esthbrook … Lettered four times in football, starting his final three seasons … Started at defensive tackle and linebacker as a senior, linebacker as a junior and offensive tackle as a sophomore, leading the team to back-to-back Arizona Class 4A state championships in 1999-2000 and a 28-game winning streak … Earned first-team all-state, all-region and all-city honors as a senior, posting 110 tackles, six sacks, three fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and a 29-yard interception return for a score that year … His best game saw him register 21 tackles, two sacks and a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Saguaro High in 2001 … Second-team all-state and first-team all-region and all-city selection as a junior … Also named the Valley's 2000 Defensive Player of the Year, as he racked up 157 tackles, including a 19-tackle performance vs. Saguaro High … Added first-team all-region accolades at offensive tackle as a sophomore … Honor Roll student.

Graduated in December 2006 with a degree in Liberal Arts … Earned a spot on Texas' Athletics Director's Academic Honor Roll in the spring and fall of 2003 … Named to the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall of 2003 … Father, Robin, was a standout linebacker at the University of Texas (1977-80) before embarking on an eight-year NFL career (Minnesota, 1981-85; Miami, 1986-87; Houston, 1988) … Brother, Austin, was a teammate and a defensive lineman who lettered for the Longhorns from 2002-03 … Mother, Carrie, also attended Texas … Born Lyle Robert Sendlein on March 16, 1984 in Edina, Minn. … Also has lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Elko, Nev. and Las Vegas …

Resides in Scottsdale, Ariz.