Ryan Wendell
Encyclopedia
Ryan Wendell is an American football
center for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Fresno State
.
. He attended Diamond Bar High School
where he played football as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He had his jersey number retired and is a member of the school's hall of fame.
honors.
The Patriots waived Wendell on September 22, 2009. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad two days later. In mid-season, the Patriots raised Wendell's salary in mid-season from the practice squad minimum (about $150,000) to that of a first-year active roster player ($310,000). Wendell was promoted to the active roster on December 31, 2009.
Wendell played in 15 games for the Patriots in 2010
. He started the final two games of the season in place of an injured Dan Connolly
.
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...
center for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. 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 Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
.
Early years
Wendell was born in Diamond Bar, CaliforniaDiamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 55,544 at the 2010 census, down from 56,287 at the 2000 census. It is named after the "diamond over a bar" branding iron registered in 1918 by ranch owner Frederick E...
. He attended Diamond Bar High School
Diamond Bar High School
Diamond Bar High School is located in Diamond Bar, California and is part of the Walnut Valley Unified School District. The school mascot is the Brahma, and the school colors are purple, gold, and white. Diamond Bar High School students participate in programs such as Advanced Placement and...
where he played football as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He had his jersey number retired and is a member of the school's hall of fame.
College career
After graduating from high school, Wendell attended Fresno State University, where he played in nine games as a true freshman in 2004. He started all 13 games of his sophomore season and all 12 games of his junior season (at both guard and center), earning All-WACWestern Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
honors.
New England Patriots
Wendell was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2008. He was waived by the team on August 26, 2008, and signed to the Patriots' practice squad on September 24, 2008. He spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad and was re-signed to a future contract following the season.The Patriots waived Wendell on September 22, 2009. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad two days later. In mid-season, the Patriots raised Wendell's salary in mid-season from the practice squad minimum (about $150,000) to that of a first-year active roster player ($310,000). Wendell was promoted to the active roster on December 31, 2009.
Wendell played in 15 games for the Patriots in 2010
2010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
. He started the final two games of the season in place of an injured Dan Connolly
Dan Connolly (American football)
Daniel Paul Connolly is an American football center for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Southeast Missouri State.-Early years:Connolly was born in St. Louis,...
.