Alex Wujciak
Encyclopedia
Alex Wujciak is an American football
linebacker
. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football
at Maryland
.
. His father, Alan Wujciak (pictured here as #66), played as an offensive guard at Notre Dame
, including as part of the 1974 national championship team and alongside Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger
. Alex Wujciak attended Seton Hall Preparatory School
in West Orange, New Jersey
where he was a four-year letterwinner playing football at linebacker, tight end
, and punter. During his junior year in 2004, he recorded 145 tackles, five sack
s, and one interception, and 23 pass receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. In 2005, he was named the New Jersey Defensive Player of the Year and an Associated Press
and The Star Ledger first-team all-state player. ESPN
.com assessed him as the 17th-ranked, and Rivals.com
assessed him as the 24th-ranked prospective college linebacker in the nation.
Wujciak was considered one of the top inside linebacker prospects of 2006. As such, he was heavily recruited by several major colleges and received offers from Maryland, Michigan State
, Nebraska
, Rutgers
, Wisconsin
, and Louisville
. His mother, Erin Wujciak, said that Alex chose Maryland because he believed that head coach Ralph Friedgen
and recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo were "straight shooters" and did not make unrealistic promises about playing time.
as a redshirt
. In 2007
, he suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament
in summer training camp which caused him to miss the entire subsequent season. According to Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen
, as a redshirt freshman, Wujciak had been a serious competitor for a starting position. Friedgen said that "[Wujciak's injury] is a big blow for us right now."
In 2008
, Wujciak started in all 13 games and was the leading tackler for Maryland. He recorded a total of 133 tackles, including 56 solo and 8.5 for a loss of 26 yards, and 1.5 sacks for 9 yards. He also broke up two passes, recovered a fumble, and blocked a kick. He finished the season second in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) and 13th in the nation in tackles. Wujciak received second-team All-ACC honors, and he was named the team's defensive MVP
.
After the 2008 season, Wujciak underwent knee surgery which caused him to miss spring practice, but he was able to recuperate by the start of the 2009 season
. In the spring of 2009, College Football News
named him as one of their "120 Players to Know" for the upcoming season, and wrote that "he craves contact and plays with a no-quit, blue-collar mentality ... He flows nicely to the ball, will shed blockers, and rarely misses a tackle." Prior to the 2009 season
, he was named to the preseason All-ACC team. Wujciak was included on the Chuck Bednarik Award
, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
, and Lombardi Award
watch lists.
Before the 2010 season
, Scout.com included him at number-33 among its Top 100 Players.
as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL Draft
on July 26, 2011. He was waived on August 4, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Early years
Wujciak was born on April 15, 1988 to Alan and Erin Wujciak in West Caldwell, New JerseyWest Caldwell, New Jersey
West Caldwell is an township located in the West Essex area in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey. It is located approximately west of Manhattan and six miles northwest of Newark...
. His father, Alan Wujciak (pictured here as #66), played as an offensive guard at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, including as part of the 1974 national championship team and alongside Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger
Daniel Ruettiger
Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger is a motivational speaker and former collegiate football player for the University of Notre Dame, who is best known as the inspiration for the motion picture Rudy....
. Alex Wujciak attended Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School, generally called Seton Hall Prep, is a Roman Catholic boys' high school located in the suburban community of West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, operating under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark...
in West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
where he was a four-year letterwinner playing football at linebacker, tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, and punter. During his junior year in 2004, he recorded 145 tackles, five sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s, and one interception, and 23 pass receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. In 2005, he was named the New Jersey Defensive Player of the Year and an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and The Star Ledger first-team all-state player. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com assessed him as the 17th-ranked, and Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
assessed him as the 24th-ranked prospective college linebacker in the nation.
Wujciak was considered one of the top inside linebacker prospects of 2006. As such, he was heavily recruited by several major colleges and received offers from Maryland, Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
, and Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
. His mother, Erin Wujciak, said that Alex chose Maryland because he believed that head coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
and recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo were "straight shooters" and did not make unrealistic promises about playing time.
College career
Wujciak sat out the 2006 season2006 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2006 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 54th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its second within the...
as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. In 2007
2007 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its third within the...
, he suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in summer training camp which caused him to miss the entire subsequent season. According to Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
, as a redshirt freshman, Wujciak had been a serious competitor for a starting position. Friedgen said that "[Wujciak's injury] is a big blow for us right now."
In 2008
2008 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season...
, Wujciak started in all 13 games and was the leading tackler for Maryland. He recorded a total of 133 tackles, including 56 solo and 8.5 for a loss of 26 yards, and 1.5 sacks for 9 yards. He also broke up two passes, recovered a fumble, and blocked a kick. He finished the season second in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) and 13th in the nation in tackles. Wujciak received second-team All-ACC honors, and he was named the team's defensive MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
After the 2008 season, Wujciak underwent knee surgery which caused him to miss spring practice, but he was able to recuperate by the start of the 2009 season
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
. In the spring of 2009, College Football News
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
named him as one of their "120 Players to Know" for the upcoming season, and wrote that "he craves contact and plays with a no-quit, blue-collar mentality ... He flows nicely to the ball, will shed blockers, and rarely misses a tackle." Prior to the 2009 season
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
, he was named to the preseason All-ACC team. Wujciak was included on the Chuck Bednarik Award
Chuck Bednarik Award
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States...
, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
, and Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
watch lists.
Before the 2010 season
2010 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2010 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Terrapins' 58th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its sixth within the framework of the ACC Atlantic Division...
, Scout.com included him at number-33 among its Top 100 Players.
Cleveland Browns
Wujciak was signed by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
on July 26, 2011. He was waived on August 4, 2011.
External links
- Alex Wujciak NFL Draft Scout Profile, NFL Draft Scout, retrieved March 26, 2009.