As NFL scouts watch closely, Monroe keeps leading the way

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Eugene Monroe may not crave the limelight, but he better get used to it.

Three years removed from Plainfield (N.J.) High School, where some deemed him the nation's No. 1 prospect, Monroe stands atop ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.'s list of 2009 prospects.

"I wouldn't say I'm oblivious to it," said Monroe, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle. "It's unavoidable. "

Despite the accolades that accompanied his arrival at Virginia, Monroe has toiled mostly in the shadows. He didn't allow a sack last year but failed to make even second-team All-ACC.

Some of that might have resulted from the attention given Cavaliers guard Branden Albert, who was named first-team All-ACC and then was selected by Kansas City in the first round of April's draft.

Albert and Monroe were in the same recruiting class and both played as true freshmen in 2005, Albert as a starter and Monroe as a back-up to All-American D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Monroe took Ferguson's place in 2006, but not until he spent an entire spring and summer rehabilitating a dislocated kneecap. Monroe played in every game that year but only started six of them.

"It was rough," he said. "It was difficult knowing I could play better if I was healthy. I'm just thankful I was able to get back to 100 percent in 2007."

After last season, he was projected as a high first-round draft pick. Monroe, who did not turn 21 until April and is nearly 2-1/2 years younger than Albert, said he never seriously considered passing up his final season of eligibility. U.Va. coach Al Groh and Monroe discussed the topic only briefly "because it was not something Gene was particularly interested in from the outset," Groh said.

"It was very important to him that he get his degree, which he'll do in 3-1/2 years, and it was important to him to finish with his class and his teammates," Groh added. "He is a player who has clearly profited from playing his full four years. His skill level and his execution this season is substantially upgraded from what it was last year."

That might not have been apparent when Virginia lost three of its first four games and ranked near the bottom of Division I-A in virtually every offensive category. On the offensive line, the two tackles, Monroe and Will Barker, were the only returning starters from 2007 - and it showed.

The Cavaliers eventually turned the corner with victories against Maryland and East Carolina.

"Finally, we started to block the right people," Monroe said. "We're just doing now what we should have been doing at the beginning of the season."

Monroe is not a co-captain but said he feels an obligation to be a leader - especially with 17-year-old Austin Pasztor starting next to him at left guard.

"Very obligated," the senior said. "My main goal as a leader is to make my performance speak for what I demand out of my teammates in terms of performance or focus. If I'm not doing my part in that regard, then nothing I say will matter.

"I was frustrated with my play (early), but I'm frustrated with my play every week. I always go back to the drawing board and see things I could have done better."

Sometimes, he takes out his frustration on linebacker Clint Sintim, the ACC's sack leader who occasionally faces Monroe in practice.

"I definitely see why he's No. 1," Sintim said. "He's extremely talented, he's massive and he has great feet. Going against him every day in practice really elevates my game. "