#51 Dan Wenger 2009-10 Football Roster

CAREER: One of three fifth-year seniors on fall roster (Barry Gallup Jr. and Chris Stewart are the others) … has appeared in 29 games in his Irish career and only two offensive players on Irish roster have recorded more career starts than his 19 starts (Kyle Rudolph, 22; Chris Stewart, 22) … has started at both guard and center in his Irish career … started three games in 2007 at right guard before starting final two games of [apos]07 and all 13 games in 2008 at center … opens fall drills in competition for starting center position.

2009 (SENIOR): Played in eight games for Irish (did not play against Michigan State, USC, Connecticut and Stanford), including one start against Navy at left guard … made transition to guard for 2009 season and also played some as backup center … logged 115:58 of playing time and made one special-teams appearance.

2008 (JUNIOR): Started all 13 games for the Irish at center … blocked for an Irish offense that rushed for 122 yards and did not give up a sack in season-opening victory over San Diego State … the start was the sixth of his career … protected quarterback Jimmy Clausen by not allowing a sack for the second consecutive game vs. Michigan … helped open up massive holes for the Irish rushing attack, which piled up 201 yards in victory over Purdue … assisted the Irish cause that piled up 459 total yards in the contest against Washington … helped the Irish offense amass 478 total yards in bowl game victory vs. Hawai[apos]i.

2007 (SOPHOMORE): Made Notre Dame debut and wound up playing in eight games and starting five contests … started each of the first three games at right guard (Georgia Tech, Penn State and Michigan) and played in the last five contests including starting at center vs. Duke and at Stanford … did not play in games four through seven … played for the first time in his Notre Dame career when he started at right guard vs. Georgia Tech … lined up next to his high school teammate, tackle Sam Young … made second appearance for the Irish in his career, starting at right guard vs. Penn State … made third career start at Michigan … missed Michigan State game due to injury … did not see playing time vs. Purdue … was brought in during the second half for a couple downs at the center position after John Sullivan was hit hard vs. Air Force … made first career start at center for the Irish vs. Duke and helped the Irish record 414 total yards of offense and 220 rushing yards, both the second most in [apos]07 … started at center at Stanford and helped Robert Hughes eclipse 100 yards rushing for the second consecutive game … logged 154:35 of playing time with 14 special-teams appearances.

2006 (FRESHMAN): Promising center who was hampered by injury most of the year … named show team player of the week on at least one occasion after providing a good look for the first-team defense … did not see any game action as a rookie lineman.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. … rated 136th on list of top 150 players nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com … a first-team offensive lineman on Florida Class 5A all-state team selected by Florida Sports Writers Association … on list of next 20 players after first 20 that made 2005 Best of the South team by Tampa Tribune … helped St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., average 41.3 points and 337.7 yards per game as senior in 2005 … helped St. Thomas Aquinas to Florida Class 5A state title game in `05 on squad rated 10th in USA Today Super 25 final listing of top prep teams nationally … selected for U.S. Army All-American Bowl prep all-star game … selected for CaliFlorida Bowl all-star game … first-team offensive lineman on South Florida Sun-Sentinel all-county team … helped St. Thomas Aquinas roll up 4,606 total yards in `05 … one of 19 offensive linemen on `05 national preseason top 100 list by CBS SportsLine.com … prep teammate and classmate of fellow senior Sam Young … first St. Thomas Aquinas player to head for Notre Dame since receiver Bobby Brown signed in 1995 … born March 16, 1988 … son of Ed and Debbie Wenger … high school coach was George Smith … enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology … earned a 3.245 grade-point average in `09 spring semester… graduated in May[apos]10 with a degree in sociology from the College of Arts and Letters… enrolled in graduate studies program.

Wenger[apos]s Career Statistics