Danny McGrath Season 2006

69 - Danny McGrathPosition: Center
Class: r-Senior
Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 290 lbs.

High School: Herndon
Hometown: Herndon, Va.

Gave the Hokies a real lift last season when he moved into the starting center spot early in the season, allowing veteran Will Montgomery to move to guard ... Held his own, posting 24 knockdown blocks and allowing just one sack ... Is expected to hold down the starting duties again this fall despite missing spring practice ... Underwent shoulder surgery following the season and is expected back at full strength by the start of the summer ... Has excelled in strength and conditioning ... Brings a good work ethic and toughness to the position ... Named to the 2005 All-ACC Academic Football team ... Will be looked to for senior leadership.

2005: First action of the season came at Duke, where he graded 94 percent and had a knockdown block during 18 snaps ... Worked 32 plays in the Ohio game, posting three knockdowns and grading out at 84 percent ... Made his first collegiate start in the Georgia Tech game ... Played 51 snaps and picked up three more knockdown blocks ... Started at center against Marshall and played 39 downs ... Had three knockdowns ... Remained in the starting lineup the next four games ... Graded 90 percent at Maryland and had five knockdowns in the BC game ... Picked up three knockdowns against UNC ... Made his seventh start in the FSU game ... Underwent shoulder surgery following the season and missed winter workouts and spring practice.

2004: Played in four games, seeing action on 72 offensive snaps and picking up four knockdowns ... Saw his first action of the year against Western Michigan ... Played 18 snaps, grading out at 91 percent with a knockdown block ... Played 39 snaps on offense against Florida A&M, grading out at 85 percent with two knockdowns ... Given the Don Williams TEAM UNITED Award, awarded for outstanding leadership, following spring practice ... Posted a 455-pound bench, a 316-pound power clean and a 351-pound push jerk in spring testing.

2003: Took a redshirt year while working hard in the strength and conditioning program ... Worked at center during the spring.

2002: Played in two games ... Was in for 25 offensive snaps on the season ... Saw action on 22 offensive snaps in the opener against Arkansas State ... Had a knockdown block in that game.

2001: Entered school in January ... Registered a 420-pound bench press during spring testing ... Also turned in a 500-pound back squat ... Worked at the center position during spring practice.

High School: A three-year letterman as an offensive guard and defensive lineman for Coach Tom Meier at Herndon High ... Led the team in snaps played his senior year ... Set a school record for pancake blocks ... Made first-team all-district and all-region ... Named to the All-Northern Virginia first-team selected by The Fairfax Journal ... An honorable-mention pick on The Washington Post All-Metro team and the state All-Group AAA squad ... Earned PrepStar All-American honors as the No. 5 offensive lineman in the Atlantic Region ... Rated the No. 20 player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and the No. 24 player by SuperPrep ... Listed No. 17 in Virginia by ACC Area Sports Journal ... Started at offensive guard as a sophomore ... Began playing on both sides of the football his junior season ... Also lettered in wrestling and baseball ... Attended Tech's summer football camp after his junior year.

Personal: Daniel Patrick McGrath ... Born 3/19/83 in Fairfax, VA ... Son of Tim McGrath and Rebecca Krausman ... Graduated with a degree in physical education and is enrolled in health and physical education in graduate school.

- INTEGRITY - SERVICE - HONOR - EXCELLENCE - STRONG TOGETHER