Eric Ghiaciuc

Last updated

Eric Ghiaciuc
Eric Ghiaciuc.jpg
Ghiaciuc In 2006
No. 53
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1981-05-28) May 28, 1981 (age 42)
Oxford, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:303 lb (137 kg)
Career information
High school: Oxford
College: Central Michigan
NFL draft: 2005  / Round: 4 / Pick: 119
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:48
Games started:42
Fumbles recovered:4
Player stats at NFL.com

Eric M. Ghiaciuc [GUY-check] (born May 28, 1981) is a former American football center . He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Michigan.

Contents

Early years

While attending Oxford High School, Ghiaciuc was a three-sport standout in football, wrestling, and track and field. In football, he won All-League, All-County, All-Metro, All-State honors, and he was ranked No.37 prospect by The Detroit News , and No.47 by the Detroit Free Press . In wrestling, he was the state heavyweight champion. Ghiaciuc is of Romanian descent. [1]

College career

At Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Ghiaciuc was part of an offensive line which generated 105 touchdowns in a three-year stint. He was redshirted in 2000, saw limited action in 2001, then took over as starting center in 2002, starting for the next 37 games for the Chippewas. He was an Industrial Education major who graduated with a 3.30 GPA.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

Ghiaciuc was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. [2] Ghiaciuc's college teammate, Adam Kieft, was drafted in the fifth round. Paul Alexander, the Bengals' offensive line coach and assistant head coach, had also attended Central Michigan University. Ghiaciuc made his NFL debut and got his first career start against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 9, 2005. He went on to play in four more games in his rookie season as a reserve. In 2006, Ghiaciuc started 12 of the final 13 games of the season at center, following an injury to Rich Braham in Week 2. He started in 12 games in 2007 and all 16 games in 2008 for the Bengals.

Kansas City Chiefs

An unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season, Ghiaciuc signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 30. He was waived on September 4, 2009.

San Diego Chargers

Ghiaciuc was signed by the San Diego Chargers on December 22, 2009 after center Scott Mruczkowski was placed on injured reserve. He was inactive for the final two games of the Chargers' regular season, as well as their playoff game against the New York Jets. He became a restricted free agent after the season but was not offered a tender by the Chargers.

Cleveland Browns

Ghiaciuc was signed by the Cleveland Browns on April 8, 2010. He was released on June 16, 2010.

Florida Tuskers

Ghiaciuc was a member of the Florida Tuskers' (United Football League) minicamp roster in June 2010.

New England Patriots

Ghiaciuc was signed by the New England Patriots on August 4, 2010. He was released on September 3, during final cuts.

Miami Dolphins

Ghiaciuc was signed by the Miami Dolphins on November 22, 2010 after placing Cory Procter On IR. Ghiaciuc was released on December 28, 2010.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Hochstein</span> American football player (born 1977)

Russ Hochstein is a former American football Center. After playing college football for Nebraska, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played for the Buccaneers for two seasons from 2001 to 2002, the New England Patriots for seven seasons from 2002 to 2008, and the Denver Broncos for three seasons from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Neal</span> American football player (born 1970)

Lorenzo LaVonne Neal is an American former football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. Neal played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro, he was also a member of the New York Jets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tennessee Titans, the Cincinnati Bengals, the San Diego Chargers, the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders. Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, Neal blocked for a 1,000-plus-yard running back in eleven straight seasons from 1997 to 2007.

Brandon Michael Manumaleuna is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Arizona and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Rayner</span> American football player

Dave Rayner is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State. Rayner shares the NFL record for most teams played on with J. T. O'Sullivan, and Billy Cundiff; each has played for 11 teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wesley Britt</span> American football player (born 1981)

Wesley Britt is an American former football tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and received third-team All-American and a first-team All-SEC honors as a senior. Selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Britt was released before making the final roster and signed with the Patriots, where he played from 2005 to 2008. He is the husband of Alabama Senator Katie Britt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Hadnot</span> American football player (born 1982)

Jonathan Rex Hadnot, Jr. is a former American football guard. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Svitek</span> Czech gridiron football player (born 1982)

Will Svitek is a former American football offensive tackle and offensive guard that played for the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.

Steve Allen Heiden is an American football coach and former player who is the tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Michigan Chippewas football</span> Football team of Central Michigan University

The Central Michigan Chippewas are a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University (CMU). CMU has the 30th highest overall winning percentage of programs playing in NCAA Division I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Gaither</span> American football player (born 1986)

Jared Dwight Gaither is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 Supplemental Draft. He played college football at Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Goff (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Michael Jason Goff is a former American football guard and coach. He currently serves as an offensive line coach at San Diego State. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Chargers</span> American football team (1961–2017)

The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating back to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin O'Connell (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1985)

Kevin William O'Connell, nicknamed "KOC", is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). O'Connell played quarterback for the San Diego State Aztecs, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. O'Connell's NFL coaching career began in 2015; he held various assistant coaching roles on the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. J. Biggers</span> American football player (born 1987)

Edjaun Sinclair "E. J." Biggers is a former American football cornerback that played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Western Michigan University, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Biggers also played for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricardo Mathews</span> American football player (born 1987)

Ricardo Eugene Mathews is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.

Marcus Tyler Gilchrist is a former American football safety. He played college football at Clemson. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and also had stints with the New York Jets, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Zeitler</span> American football player (born 1990)

Kevin Zeitler is an American football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft and he has also played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladarius Green</span> American football player (born 1990)

Ladarius Green is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Louisiana–Lafayette and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Bodine</span> American football player (born 1992)

Russell Bodine is an American former professional football center. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Wylie (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Andrew Wylie is an American football offensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Michigan and went undrafted in 2017, having short stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Chargers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he won Super Bowl LIV and LVII.

References

  1. Andy Hart (April 8, 2010). "Grinding it out; Wednesday PM practice notes". patriots.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
  2. "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.