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Overview
Eugene Christopher Monroe is an offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Monroe joined the Jaguars after an award-winning college career at the University of Virginia. Eugene Monroe is 6-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs 315 pounds.
Prep Career
Coming out of Plainfield High School in Plainfield, NJ, Monroe was the consensus No. 1-ranked offensive line prospect. He was a two-time first team All-State selection, and went the final 25 games of his high school career without allowing a sack. He considered Florida State, Maryland, Miami (FL), Ohio State and USC before signing with Virginia. He was the centerpiece of Virginia's top-20-ranked recruiting class in 2005.
Freshman Year
Eugene Monroe did not redshirt as a freshman, but did not start either. He did see action in every game, playing at both left tackle and right guard.
Sophomore Year
In 2006, Monroe was expected to step up and replace D'Brickashaw Ferguson, the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. However, he dislocated his kneecap in the spring of 2006, and underwent surgery to repair the injury. He did recover in time to play the 2006 season, but was slowed by the injury. Monroe started six games at left tackle, Ferguson's old position, splitting time with Zak Stair.
Junior Year
Monroe took control of the left tackle position in 2007, starting 11 games, including the Cavaliers' Gator Bowl loss to Texas Tech. Monroe started every game he played, missing the games against Pittsburgh and Middle Tennessee due to a knee injury. According to the Virginia coaches' film, he was the Cavaliers' top-graded offensive lineman in five of his 11 games, and recorded 20 pancake blocks. He was the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against North Carolina, and was given honorable mention All-ACC honors at the end of the season.
Senior Year
Monroe started all 12 games for Virginia in 2008, earning top grades from the Virginia coaches in seven of the Cavaliers' first 11 games of the season. He received the 2008 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the most outstanding blocker in the ACC. He was the 11th Virginia player to win the award, and the first since Elton Brown in 2004. He was a first-team All-ACC selection and was a semifinalist for the Orlando Pace Award, given to the nation's top offensive lineman. After the 2008 season, Monroe was invited to participate in the 2009 Senior Bowl, but chose to withdraw before practice began.
NFL Career
Eugene Monroe was selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Monroe held out for the first 12 days of training camp, but eventually came to terms on a five-year/$25M contract that included $19M in guaranteed money.
Monroe beat out Tra Thomas for the starting left tackle job as a rookie. He started his first three games of the season, before missing Week 4 with an illness. He moved in and out of the starting lineup over the next few weeks, before regaining his starting job in Week 9. He finished 2009 with 13 starts in 15 games played.
Monroe beat out Tra Thomas for the starting left tackle job as a rookie. He started his first three games of the season, before missing Week 4 with an illness. He moved in and out of the starting lineup over the next few weeks, before regaining his starting job in Week 9. He finished 2009 with 13 starts in 15 games played.
Personal
Monroe is the son of Stephanie Green and the late John Monroe. He is one of 16 children in his family, including 11 boys.
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