Scott Quessenberry

Skill position stars like Josh Rosen (as well as Brett Hundley and Paul Perkins before him) earned most of the attention at UCLA but the Bruins quietly churned out NFL caliber offensive linemen in four of the past five drafts, including former Morris Trophy award winner and No. 33 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, Xavier Sua-Filo (Houston Texans). Assuming his surgically-repaired shoulders hold up to the medical evaluations at the Combine, Quessenberry - a 43 game starter and two-time All-Pac-12 honoree - will soon make it five UCLA offensive linemen drafted since 2013. Quessenberry signed with UCLA as "just" a three star recruit but quickly proved recruiting experts wrong, emerging as a starter midway through his freshman season at left guard. He started at center in the season 2014 season opener due to an injury to teammates before sliding back to guard for the rest of his redshirt sophomore campaign, fighting through pain in his shoulders which would ultimately require offseason surgery, forcing him to redshirt in 2015. When Quessenberry returned to the field in 2016, he was noticeably bigger and stronger. He started camp at right guard but ultimately was moved inside to center to help protect Rosen, earning him the first of back to back all-conference honors while starting all 25 games at the pivot. BACKGROUND Played three seasons of varsity football at La Costa Canyon HS ... A three-star recruit according to scout.com and rivals.com ... Selected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, FL ... Ranked as the nation's No. 7 center, No. 2 in the West region, according to scout.com ... Rated as the No. 5 center in the nation and the No. 45 prospect in the state of California by rivals.com ... No. 62 recruit on the scout.com West 150 list ... Ranked as the nation's No. 274 recruit, the No. 3 center in the country and the No. 30 prospect in California by ESPN.com ... PrepStar All-West Region selection and the No. 18-ranked offensive guard in the country ... SuperPrep's No. 39-rated prospect in the CA/NV/HI region ... Started all 33 high school games ... Also lettered in basketball and track and field ... Served as team captain for football and track ... Coached by Sean Sovacool... Has two older brothers David (offensive lineman at San Jose State, selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans) and Paul (linebacker at Naval Academy).

in our view

Do not let the fact that Quessenberry dropped from First Team All-Pac-12 honors as a junior to Honorable Mention accolades as a senior convince you that he played poorly in 2017. Quessenberry may not be a physically dominating player but his build, agility and technique are each NFL-caliber, warranting a Day Three selection and the expectation that he will compete for playing time early in his pro career.

strengths

Possesses a prototypical build for a center with a naturally low center of gravity due to short legs and a big bubble with a thick, well distributed musculature. Effective anchor due to his frame, core flexibility and quality knee bend, surrendering some ground but holding up well against even powerful nose guards (Washington-2017). Good snap to step quickness, firing accurate shotgun snaps and delivering a solid initial punch to defenders. Plays on the balls of his feet, showing good overall athleticism, including quickness and balance to slide laterally to mirror in pass protection. Shows agility as a trap blocker and when asked to block on the move, quickly climbing to the second level and when adjusting to secondary targets. Experience shows with his recognition of blitzes and ability to land a pop on multiple defenders on the same play, passing off defenders with teammates and adjusting on the fly. Offers position flexibility with 18 career starts at guard. Largely durable performer with 44 career starts, including the final 25 consecutively at center after missing the 2015 season. Two-time team captain. Nominated for the Senior CLASS Award, a national honor given to the player who stars in the community and classroom with character and competition. -- Rob Rang 1/14/2018

compares to

Brian Schwenke, Titans - The 6-3, 315 pound Schwenke was a standout in the Pac-12 (Cal), as well, before the Titans nabbed him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. His quickness and tenacity have earned him starts at center and guard since then, a reflection of his positional versatility and smarts.

weaknesses

There is some passivity to Quessenberry's play. He absorbs while anchoring bull rushers and is more of a wall-off than dominating run blocker, relying on his quickness, leverage and hand placement to get the job done. Lacks elite height for the position and makes himself shorter by occasionally ducking his head on contact, leaving him vulnerable to swim moves. Lacks a dominant punch, failing to knock defenders down, even when assisting on double-teams. Missed the entire 2015 season following surgeries on both shoulders and wore a visible brace early in 2016. - Rob Rang 1/14/2018

Played three seasons of varsity football at La Costa Canyon HS

A three-star recruit according to scout.com and rivals.com

Selected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, FL

Ranked as the nation's No. 7 center, No. 2 in the West region, according to scout.com

Rated as the No. 5 center in the nation and the No. 45 prospect in the state of California by rivals.com

No. 62 recruit on the scout.com West 150 list

Ranked as the nation's No. 274 recruit, the No. 3 center in the country and the No. 30 prospect in California by ESPN.com

PrepStar All-West Region selection and the No. 18-ranked offensive guard in the country

SuperPrep's No. 39-rated prospect in the CA/NV/HI region

Started all 33 high school games

Also lettered in basketball and track and field

Served as team captain for football and track

Coached by Sean Sovacool.

Scott W. Quessenberry

Born in Carlsbad, CA

Parents: David and Maureen Quessenberry

Has two older brothers David (offensive lineman at San Jose State, selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans) and Paul (linebacker at Naval Academy)

Lists his biggest thrills in sports as blocking a punt in high school and scooping it up for a score

Lists the NBA's LeBron James and NFL twins Mike and Maurkice Pouncey as the athletes he admires the most

Hobbies includes basketball and going to the beach

Named to the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll in Fall 2014, Spring 2015 and Winter 2017 quarters

Political Science major.

2016

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0