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| Position: | Center | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | (1987-03-19)March 19, 1987 (age 38) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 274 lb (124 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) | ||||
| College: | Boston College | ||||
| NFL draft: | 2010: 5th round, 158th pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Matthew H. Tennant (born March 19, 1987) is an American former professionalfootball player who was acenter in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theBoston College Eagles and was considered one of the best centers available for the2010 NFL draft.[1] He was drafted by theNew Orleans Saints in the fifth round and played with the Saints for two years.
Tennant attendedMoeller High School inCincinnati, Ohio, where he was a three-year starter on the offensive line and senior team captain. He gained Associated Press All-State second-team honors and was named a 2004 All-American bySuperPrep.
Considered a three-star recruit byRivals.com,[2] Tennant was listed as the No. 55 offensive guard prospect in the nation in 2005.[3] He chose Boston College over offers fromIndiana,Kentucky,Penn State, andPurdue.
Afterredshirting his initial year at Boston College, Tennant saw action in five games in the 2006 season. In his sophomore season, Tennant succeededKevin Sheridan as the Eagles' center. He started all 14 games for the Eagles in 2007 and helped the team to finish with 5,924 yards of total offense, while quarterbackMatt Ryan passed for 4,507 yards.
As a junior, Tennant remained BC's starting center and played in all 14 games. The Eagles' line allowed only 21quarterback sacks with a pair of first-year starting quarterbacks behind them. Tennant's performance earned him an All-ACC honorable mention.
Prior to his senior season, Tennant was voted a team captain. He started all games for the Eagles and anchored an offensive line that ranked 35th in the country in sacks allowed (1.42). He subsequently earned Second-team All-American honors by the Walter Camp Foundation.[4]
Projected as a second-round selection bySports Illustrated,[5] Tennant was ranked as the No. 2 available in the2010 NFL draft, behind onlyMaurkice Pouncey.[6]
Tennant was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the2010 NFL draft with the 158th overall pick.[7] He signed a four-year contract with the Saints on July 22, 2010.[8] He was cut in 2012.
Tennant was claimed off waivers by theNew England Patriots on September 1, 2012, but was cut on September 4 when the Patriots needed to make room on the roster for running backLex Hilliard.[9] Tennant was again signed by New England as an emergency depth option because of the injuries to GuardLogan Mankins and TackleNick McDonald.
Tennant was released by the Patriots on October 20, 2012.
Tennant was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on October 23, 2012, after the Eagles released centerSteve Vallos, who replaced injured starting centerJason Kelce.[10] He was released on August 30, 2013.