Branden Albert
Encyclopedia
Branden B. Albert III is an American football
offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia
.
. He failed his freshman year of high school twice and nearly flunked out of school midway through his third year as a ninth-grader. His mother, Susan Albert, decided to send him to Washington, D.C.
, where his older brother Ashley Sims, a defensive lineman for the Maryland Terrapins
from 1994 to 1997, worked as a probation officer. As a junior at Glen Burnie High School, he started playing football. He was also a part of the basketball team, which made it to the state finals the final two years of Albert's career.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Albert was not ranked among the nations top recruits. Because he had played football for only one season, but also because of Albert's poor grades, the University of Virginia
was the only school to offer Albert a scholarship.
. He played football and was able to obtain a qualifying grade-point average and standardized test score.
Albert started all 37 games during his three-year career at Virginia, mostly at the offensive guard position as D'Brickashaw Ferguson
and later five-star recruit Eugene Monroe
occupied the left tackle spot. He was only the second Virginia freshman since 1972 to start on the offensive line. Albert earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior.
). He was the highest selected guard since Chris Naeole
went 10th overall to the New Orleans Saints
in the 1997 NFL Draft
.
With high expectations, 2009 was a disappointing struggle for Albert. He committed 10 penalties and his 9 sacks allowed were the fifth most in the league. He missed Week 6 and 7 with an ankle injury but started the other 14 games. Despite his struggles, Albert finished the season a little stronger allowing no sacks in the final three games. Head coach Todd Haley
later called his 2009 performance an "adjustment period" after losing nearly 40 pounds the last offseason in his request.
Branden started 15 games in 2010 and has established himself as the Chiefs feature left tackle. He is slotted to begin the 2011 season at left tackle, occasionally covering left guard due to the recent acquisition of Jared Gaither
from the Baltimore Ravens
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Early years
Albert grew up in a single-parent home in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He failed his freshman year of high school twice and nearly flunked out of school midway through his third year as a ninth-grader. His mother, Susan Albert, decided to send him to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where his older brother Ashley Sims, a defensive lineman for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
from 1994 to 1997, worked as a probation officer. As a junior at Glen Burnie High School, he started playing football. He was also a part of the basketball team, which made it to the state finals the final two years of Albert's career.
Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Albert was not ranked among the nations top recruits. Because he had played football for only one season, but also because of Albert's poor grades, the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
was the only school to offer Albert a scholarship.
College career
Still struggling academically, Albert spent the 2004 season at Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
. He played football and was able to obtain a qualifying grade-point average and standardized test score.
Albert started all 37 games during his three-year career at Virginia, mostly at the offensive guard position as D'Brickashaw Ferguson
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
-New York Jets:Ferguson finally reached the NFL when the New York Jets drafted him with the 4th pick overall after Vince Young was chosen by the Titans. On July 26, 2006, Ferguson signed a five-year deal with the Jets that was similar to the $35 million deal that 2005’s No. 4 pick, Cedric Benson,...
and later five-star recruit Eugene Monroe
Eugene Monroe
-Jacksonville Jaguars:In an effort to rebuild their offensive line, the Jaguars selected Monroe and Eben Britton with their first two picks. Monroe was expected to compete with veteran free-agent acquisition Tra Thomas for the start at left tackle...
occupied the left tackle spot. He was only the second Virginia freshman since 1972 to start on the offensive line. Albert earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior.
2008 NFL Draft
Albert was the first guard taken in the draft, as well as the second Virginia Cavalier (behind No. 2 pick Chris LongChris Long (American football)
Christopher Howard Long is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.Long is a son of Hall of Fame NFL defensive end Howie Long.-Early...
). He was the highest selected guard since Chris Naeole
Chris Naeole
Christopher Kealoha Naeole |guard]]. He played college football at Colorado. Naeole played in the National Football League for two teams from 1997 to 2007.-Early years:...
went 10th overall to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
On July 24, 2008, Albert signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs. It was announced by the Chiefs that he would be moved to the tackle position, though he played guard at Virginia. Despite missing all four preseason games with a foot injury suffered at training camp, Albert still managed to start 15 games at left tackle (only missing Week 5 at Carolina due to a elbow injury). He allowed just 4.5 sacks in 2008, and the only penalty called against him all season was a false start.With high expectations, 2009 was a disappointing struggle for Albert. He committed 10 penalties and his 9 sacks allowed were the fifth most in the league. He missed Week 6 and 7 with an ankle injury but started the other 14 games. Despite his struggles, Albert finished the season a little stronger allowing no sacks in the final three games. Head coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
later called his 2009 performance an "adjustment period" after losing nearly 40 pounds the last offseason in his request.
Branden started 15 games in 2010 and has established himself as the Chiefs feature left tackle. He is slotted to begin the 2011 season at left tackle, occasionally covering left guard due to the recent acquisition of Jared Gaither
Jared Gaither
Jared Gaither is an American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 Supplemental Draft...
from the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.