By Josh Wolff
June 23, 2008

This is the first in a series of features on prospects for the 2009 NFL draft.

Virginia OLT Eugene Monroe

As he walked into the weight room of the McCue Center, Virginia’s football training facility, Monroe saw a man of impressive physical prowess. Working out was none other than Cavaliers OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, an All-ACC honoree. Immediately, Monroe was in awe of the immense strength of his new teammate.

“I remember seeing him work out,” Monroe said. “He was doing power cleans in the weight room, and I just couldn’t believe the weight he was putting up. It was just amazing how hard he was working.”

Monroe, similarly built to Ferguson, possesses incredible athleticism for a 6-6, 315-pound brick wall, but just as important as his physical skills is his ability to learn.

“Eugene’s inquisitive about everything,” Virginia head coach Al Groh said. “He’s not a real chatty guy, but he’s always interested in learning new things. He works hard and studies hard.”

But go back one year from Monroe’s weight-room encounter, and it is Monroe who is the awe of the entire nation — especially college coaches east and west. As a high school senior at Plainfield High School in New Jersey, Monroe was the third-best player in the country, according to Rivals.com, the consensus top offensive tackle in the country and a Parade All-American.

Monroe had offers from football powerhouses such as Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.) and Florida State, but he chose Virginia. Although many fans expected great things right away from the highly decorated tackle, Monroe’s coaches eased him in, knowing the difficult transition from high school to college for offensive linemen.

“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Monroe said. “I had the accolades from high school, but I knew I was coming into something completely new, so I didn’t feel as though there was pressure placed on me.”

During his freshman season, Monroe backed up Ferguson at left tackle and saw the field most on the time during field goals and extra points. Although Monroe did not receive much playing time, he studied Ferguson’s technique and developed a stronger work ethic by seeing him constantly in the weight room.

When Ferguson left for the NFL in 2006 as the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, the All-America tackle gave Monroe advice.

“I remember him telling me, ‘Honestly, nothing should change; you should always work hard no matter what situation you’re in,’ ” Monroe said. “You know it’s going to get more difficult, but at the same time, you’re just going to have to work that much harder when it does get more difficult.”

Faced with the arduous task of replacing Ferguson, who had started every single game in his collegiate career, Monroe didn’t feel nervous.

“I didn’t look at it as the fact that I was going to replace D'Brickashaw,” Monroe said. “I looked at it as I was getting the opportunity to start in college football. There was more excitement than anything.”

Although his sophomore season was slowed by injury — a dislocated kneecap during spring football — and inconsistent play, Monroe continued to work hard in the weight room and in the film room. He repeatedly watched film of Ferguson — studying every detail of Ferguson’s game, something he still does today. While he never doubted his ability, he was upset that he wasn’t performing up to the level he expected.

As a junior in 2007, everything finally clicked for Monroe. A combination of in-game comfort and competition in practice led to his arrival.

Matched up against him during practice was DRE Chris Long, a future All-American. The son of Hall of Famer Howie Long and the second pick overall in the 2008 draft by the St. Louis Rams, Chris Long was arguably the best pass rusher in the nation.

“I faced Chris every down of every practice, so it was great for both of us,” Monroe said. “He has a motor like none other, and you see that in a game. He makes you work so much harder because he brings up the energy in the practice, too.”

Monroe used his experience against Long to become a more complete football player. If beaten by Long on a play during practice, Monroe said the two would talk about ways to prevent it the next time.

“Whatever (Chris) could do to help the team win, he was going to do, and if that meant helping me as a player, then he was going to do it,” Monroe said.

Facing Long on the field provided Monroe a competitor with a relentless motor. But equally as important for Monroe’s maturation was playing alongside one of his best friends, former Virginia OLG Branden Albert, now with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Branden is like my brother. I still talk to him three to four times a week even though he’s in Kansas City playing for the Chiefs right now,” Monroe said. “We came here the same year and we’ve been roommates every camp. It’s just like a brother relationship. He knows my family and I know his.”

The two even shopped together for Valentine’s Day presents for their girlfriends. And whenever they would go out during school, they would be together. Having such a close connection, the two stalwarts on the left side of the offensive line had career seasons.

Albert became a first-round pick, and Monroe was named honorable mention All-ACC, not allowing a sack during the regular season.

“He was able to get healthy, and that was the biggest thing for him,” Albert said. “He’s got the talent; he just needed to be healthy and have the experience.”

Monroe’s eagerness to learn is readily apparent to his teammates, and it comes from his desire to dominate pass rushers.

“Eugene is a strong kid and he wants to be the best,” Albert said. “It’s a competitive thing with him, and he wants to learn because he just wants to get better. He’s a very coachable kid.”

Now Monroe, 21, is expected to be the next elite O-line prospect from Virginia. With superb athleticism and agility for a lineman, Monroe is the rare true OLT prospect. The fact that Virginia has sent top offensive linemen like Ferguson and Albert to the NFL in recent years, Monroe says it speaks to the professional standards Groh models his program after.

“It’s a great representation of the type of people and players that come out of our university,” he said. “When you hear about teams in college having an “O-line U” or “any position U” where they consistently put out guys who perform in the pros, it’s a good feeling.”

Monroe says he knows that people talk about his future in the NFL, but his mind is focused on improving his game to be an All-American at the University of Virginia.

“I have to continue to build my game to where I can be a dominating player,” Monroe said. “Dominate people not only in the run game, but the passing game; do everything it takes to help my team win. That’s the most important thing for me right now.”

Monroe’s coach says that with his dedication to all facets of the game, Monroe is the only person who can stop himself from becoming an impact NFL player.

“I don’t want to put a ceiling on his future,” Groh said, “but he’s really improved from each game to each season, and I think he will continue to improve into a highly productive NFL player.”

For the player whom teammates call “Brick Jr.,” in reference to the striking similarities between Monroe and Ferguson, there’s a good chance that Monroe will mirror Ferguson’s career and become a collegiate All-American and high first-round draft choice.