Trai Jamar Essex life and biography

PRO (33-4/1-0): Signed a two year deal during the 2009 offseason...originally drafted in the third round (93rd overall) by the Steelers in the 2005 NFL Draft...has provided depth at left tackle his first four seasons, making a total of three starts his rookie year.

2008 (9-0/1-0): Played in nine regular-season games...saw his most significant action of the season on October 5 at Jacksonville when he relieved an injured Marvel Smith at LT...saw action as a reserve during the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Game against San Diego...9/7 vs. Houston: Played as a reserve along the offensive line and on special teams...9/14 at Cleveland: Was inactive...9/21 at Philadelphia: Was inactive...9/29 vs. Baltimore: Was inactive...10/5 at Jacksonville: Played in his 26th career game...saw extensive action at LT during the second half due to an injury to Smith...helped clear the way for the Steelers to rush for 129 yards on 26 carries (5.0 avg.) as a team...10/19 at Cincinnati: Played in his 27th career game...contributed on special teams...10/26 vs. New\ York Giants: Played in his third consecutive game... contributed on special teams...11/3 at Washington: Played in his fourth consecutive game...contributed on special teams...11/9 vs. Indianapolis: Played in his fifth consecutive game...served as the team’s third tight end on goal-line formations...contributed on special teams...11/16 vs. San Diego: Played in his sixth consecutive game...served as the team’s third tight-end on goal-line formations and played a couple of snaps at RG when Darnell Stapleton briefly left the game...contributed on special teams...11/20 vs. Cincinnati: Dressed but did not play...11/30 at New England: Dressed but did not play...12/7 vs. Dallas: Dressed but did not play...12/14 at Baltimore: Played in his 32nd career game as a reserve along the offensive line...12/21 at Tennessee: Dressed but did not play...12/28 vs. Cleveland: Played in his 33rd career game...saw action at offensive tackle during the fourth quarter...AFC Divisional Game 1/11 vs. San Diego: Played in his second consecutive postseason game as a reserve along the offensive line during the final two drives in the fourth quarter...AFC Championship Game 1/18 vs. Baltimore: Dressed but did not play...Super Bowl XLIII 2/1 vs. Arizona: Dressed but did not play.

2007 (3-0/1-1): Appeared in three games as a reserve tackle and special teams contributor…made first start of the season and first career playoff start in the AFC Wild Card Game at LT...9/9 at Cleveland: Was inactive...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Was inactive...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Was Inactive...9/30 at Arizona: Was inactive...10/7 vs. Seattle: Was inactive...10/21 at Denver: Was inactive...10/28 at Cincinnati: Was inactive...11/5 vs. Baltimore: Was inactive...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Was inactive...11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Was inactive...11/26 vs. Miami: Dressed for the first time this season but did not see any action...12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Dressed and saw action on special teams...12/9 at New England: Was inactive...12/16 vs. Jacksonville: Was inactive...12/20 at St. Louis: Saw his first offensive action of the season…helped Najeh Davenport run for 123 yards on 24 carries (5.1 avg.) and one TD, while also allowing Ben Roethlisberger to finish 16-of-20 passing for 261 yards and three TDs, which gave him his third perfect (158.3) passer rating of his career, tying Peyton Manning’s NFL record...12/30 at Baltimore: Saw action in his second consecutive and 24th career game...AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville: Made his first start of the season at LT…was also the first postseason start of his career…gave Ben Roethlisberger time to finish 29-of-42 for 337 yards passing with two TDs…also helped Najeh Davenport finish the game with two rushing TDs.

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... ranked the fifth-best tight end in the country by Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report and earned All-America honors as a senior...Prep Star Super 30 All-Midwest Region, Prep Star 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 Jamar Essex.

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