Stefen Wisniewski
Encyclopedia
Stefen David Wisniewski (born March 22, 1989) is an American football
offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders
of the National Football League
, and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
played four seasons for the Colts
as a nose tackle, while his uncle Steve Wisniewski
was an eight-time Pro Bowl
guard with the Raiders and is the team's first-year assistant offensive line coach for 2011. The extended family also includes current NHL defenseman James Wisniewski
.
three times, having been a first team selection in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He became Penn State's 95th first team All-American at the conclusion of the 2010 season
. Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft
, Wisniewski was regarded as one of the top centers
prospects available.
by the Oakland Raiders
, and signed with the Raiders shortly before the beginning of the 2011 training camp. Stating that he wished to create his own legacy, he declined to wear his uncle's old uniform #76 (which was available), opting for his college #61 instead.
At the beginning of the 2011 season, coach Hue Jackson
named Wisniewski the Raiders' starting left guard
, the same position occupied by Steve Wisniewski, between Samson Satele
at center and Jared Veldheer
at left tackle. On opening day of the 2011 NFL season
, the offensive line cleared the way for 190 rushing yards and a victory over the Denver Broncos
.
Wisniewski was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
for Week 3 of the 2011 NFL season
, after the Oakland offensive line cleared the way for 234 rushing yards and allowing only one sack against the New York Jets
. His lead block on a pivotal fourth quarter touchdown run gave Oakland a two-score lead.
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...
offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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...
, and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Personal
Wisniewski comes from an athletic family; his father Leo WisniewskiLeo Wisniewski
Leo Joseph Wisniewski is a former American football nose tackle who played professionally in the National Football League.-Early years:...
played four seasons for the Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as a nose tackle, while his uncle Steve Wisniewski
Steve Wisniewski
Steve Wisniewski nicknamed "The Wiz" is a former Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and is now an assistant offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft. His rights were traded...
was an eight-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
guard with the Raiders and is the team's first-year assistant offensive line coach for 2011. The extended family also includes current NHL defenseman James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
.
College football
Wisniewski became the first Penn State Football student-athlete to be named an ESPN Academic All-AmericanAcademic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
three times, having been a first team selection in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He became Penn State's 95th first team All-American at the conclusion of the 2010 season
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2010 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Big Ten Conference...
. Prior to 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...
, Wisniewski was regarded as one of the top centers
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
prospects available.
Oakland Raiders
Wisniewski was taken with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft2011 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...
by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and signed with the Raiders shortly before the beginning of the 2011 training camp. Stating that he wished to create his own legacy, he declined to wear his uncle's old uniform #76 (which was available), opting for his college #61 instead.
At the beginning of the 2011 season, coach Hue Jackson
Hue Jackson
Hue Jackson is an American football coach who is currently head coach of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League after previously serving as the team's offensive coordinator in 2010....
named Wisniewski the Raiders' starting left guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, the same position occupied by Steve Wisniewski, between Samson Satele
Samson Satele
Samson H. Satele is an American football center for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
at center and Jared Veldheer
Jared Veldheer
Jared Veldheer is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Hillsdale....
at left tackle. On opening day of the 2011 NFL season
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
, the offensive line cleared the way for 190 rushing yards and a victory over the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Wisniewski was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Every week during the NFL season, five finalists are chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award, and a winner is determined by fan voting online at . At the end of the season, total fan voting from the year is tabulated to determine the five finalists for the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the...
for Week 3 of the 2011 NFL season
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
, after the Oakland offensive line cleared the way for 234 rushing yards and allowing only one sack against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His lead block on a pivotal fourth quarter touchdown run gave Oakland a two-score lead.