| Marcel Blanchard |
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Center
6-4 · 305
Sugar Land, Texas (Elkins)
#78
A four-year center who played in 30 career games, including two bowl games (1999-2000 Cotton Bowls) ... also saw action at deep snapper ... started the first four games of his junior year ... was limited with a knee injury during the 1997 season.
JUNIOR (1999)
Saw action in all 14 games, including the Cotton Bowl, at center and deep snapper ... started the first four games of the season ... a member of a young, but talented line that paved the way for UT's fifth-straight 1,000-yard rusher (Hodges Mitchell/1,343 yards) ... part of an offensive line that helped produce some of the top 30 single-game total offense outputs in school history in 1999 (504 vs. Texas Tech/ 553 vs. Oklahoma/ 586 at Baylor/ 558 vs. Stanford).
SOPHOMORE (1998)
Played in all 12 games, including the Cotton Bowl ... provided solid relief for starter Russell Gaskamp at the center position, which was given increased responsibility in offensive coordinator Greg Davis' scheme ... also saw action on special teams.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (1997)
With Russel Gaskamp injured, served as primary backup to senior Ryan Fiebiger at center ... saw action in four games on the year ... played in the first two games of the season, before being sidelined with a knee injury ... worked his way back into action and played in the final two games of the season ... redshirted in 1996.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Andy Boland at Elkins High ... played center, guard and tackle for Elkins, the No. 2 rushing team in the district (2,293 yards rushing/229.0 per game) in 1995 ... was a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club's Offensive Player of the Year Award that season ... tabbed honorable mention Class 5A all-state (1995) ... was a two-year starter who also played defensive end and was the team's deep snapper ... threw the shot put for the track team.
PERSONAL
Born 8/2/77 in Sacramento, Calif. ... majored in elementary education ... full name is Marcel Jean Blanchard.
