2006
(15/0): Saw
action in all but one game, primarily on special teams and goal-line
situations…9/7 vs. Miami: Saw action
on special teams and goal line…9/18 at
Jacksonville: Dressed but did not play…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Saw action on
special teams and goal line…10/8 at San
Diego: Saw action on goal line and special teams…10/15 vs. Kansas City: Saw action at
left tackle and on goal line…10/22 at
Atlanta: Saw action on special teams and goal line…10/29 at Oakland: Saw action on special
teams and goal line…11/5 vs. Denver:
Saw action on special teams and goal line…helped spring Willie Parker for a
three-yard TD run in the third quarter…11/12 vs. New Orleans: Saw action on
special teams and goal line…helped Willie Parker score on touchdown runs of four
and three yards…11/19 at Cleveland:
Saw action on special teams and goal line…helped Willie Parker score on a
one-yard run in the fourth quarter…11/26
at Baltimore: Saw action on special teams…12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Saw action on goal
line and special teams…12/7 vs.
Cleveland: Saw action at LT…helped spring Ben Roethlisberger on a two-yard
touchdown run…12/17 at Carolina: Saw
action on special teams and goal line…played LT in the fourth quarter…12/24 vs. Baltimore: Saw action on
special teams and goal line…12/31 at
Cincinnati: Saw action on goal line and special teams.
COLLEGE:
Is
a solid drive blocker who did a fine job of protecting the quarterback's blind
side...manned the left tackle position for his final 37 games. 2004: A
three year starter (left tackle) on the offensive line...played a key role in
allowing just 12 sacks in 2004...helped NU rank 29th nationally in total offense
(409.5 ypg). 2003: Team's starting left tackle...made his 25th straight
start in the Motor City Bowl game at tackle...was named to ESPN.com's 2003
All-Bowl team for his performance vs. Bowling Green, when NU rushed for a
bowl-record 357 yards...had six championship performances in his last nine
regular-season games...key player in NU's offensive success running the
football. 2002: Moved from tight end to offensive tackle during the
preseason...was making excellent progress at the position until an ankle injury
slowed him down during preseason camp...came back to start at left tackle versus
Air Force...started all 12 games. 2001: Started every game as a tight end
in 2001 for Northwestern, catching three passes for 24 yards and a
touchdown...true freshman tight end who was named to The Sporting News
Big Ten All-Freshman team...scored his first collegiate touchdown against
Iowa, a 3-yard reception...first reception was a 13-yarder at Duke…majored in
African-American studies.
PERSONAL:
Attended
Paul Harding (Fort Wayne, Ind.) High School, playing football for coach Sherwood
Haydock…ranked the fifth-best tight end in the country by Tom Lemming's Prep
Football Report and earned All-America honors as a senior…PrepStar
Super 30 All-Midwest Region, PrepStar Top 125 Dream Team,
SuperPrep all-region, Bloomington Herald Top 33 all-state,
Associated Press all-state and Indiana Football Coaches Association
(IFCA) Top 50 all-state team choice in his final year…IFCA Region III MVP,
National High School Football All-Star and selected to play in the Indiana
North-South All-Star Game…caught 83 balls for 1,416 yards and 14 touchdowns in
his high school career…lettered four times each in football and basketball…named
all-conference in basketball as junior and was a member of the school's honor
roll 10 times…son of Kimberly and Donald Essex…Full Name: Trai J.
Essex.
