2007 NFL Draft: Skill Trumps Size for Mountaineer Dan Mozes

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Once upon a time, an offensive lineman weighing 285 pounds was considered big. Now, at 293 pounds, former West Virginia center Dan Mozes is viewed as small.

It's not really his weight naysayers hold against him, though. It's the fact that he stands in at 6-foot-2, two to three inches shorter than the "ideal" height.

Luckily for Mozes, he has learned to stop listening to his critics. Now, he lets his play on the field do the talking for him.

Mozes (#76) hoists the Gator Bowl Trophy

"Coming out of high school, not many people recruited me because of my size," says Mozes, who helped lead Washington High School in West Virginia to a 15-0 record and a Class AA state title in 2001. "You get a little chip on your shoulder when you hear all that stuff, but you learn to deal with it and in the long run it helps motivate you to be a better player."

Mozes spent most of his collegiate career at left guard, but at the start of the 2006 season he was moved to center. The West Virginia coaches told him it could be a "career move," indicating that experience at that position may propel him into the NFL.

As it turns out, it was a good move. With All-Big East credentials under his belt, Mozes is considered one of the top professional prospects at the center position.

"I take a lot of pride in playing every day," he says. "After you play a few games you're always going to be a little banged up here and there, but you have to go out and play through it."

Toughness isn't Mozes' only asset. He's also perceptive and dedicated. He works hard to refine his blocking skills, which he said greatly improved under the tutelage of his college coaches.

"I had athletic ability, but I didn't know a thing about technique," he admits. "My coaches and the direction they gave me made me the player I am today."

The center says it is critical for high school linemen to work on all facets of the blocking game if they want any chance of playing at the next level.

"You want to learn a zone blocking scheme because it is the base for you in high school," he says. "But it's not all about zone blocking, so you need to be able to branch out and learn all of the blocking schemes."

When it comes to advice specifically for centers, it's a no-brainer to focus on the snap. Besides that, Mozes says, "work on your agility, because that's a trait you need at center."

Finally, the center recommends that prep players pay attention in school.

"Take pride in the classroom," he insists. "If you work hard in the classroom, you'll work hard on the football field, and vice versa."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.