2007 NFL Draft: Seattle Ships In Mansfield Wrotto

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Mansfield Wrotto was a bit of a nomad during his college football days. At Brookwood High School in Georgia, he was a defensive whiz-bang. That changed at Georgia Tech, however, where he went on to make his mark on the other side of the ball.

"I was a defensive lineman when I started out in high school," explains the 6-foot-3, 317-pound Wrotto. "I came out as a defensive lineman, but the switch to the offensive side of the ball was a mutual decision between me and my coaches. I wanted to play more reps and felt more comfortable as an offensive lineman."

It's a little odd to think Wrotto was more comfortable after the switch, considering his early success playing defense.

He was a three-year letterman at Brookwood, where he was a first-team All-State pick in Georgia's Class 5A as a senior. That year, he totaled 61 tackles, including five for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. He hurried the opposing quarterback 16 times. He was solid on the offensive line as well - he recorded 46 knockdown blocks and graded out at 92 percent by his coaches.

Wrotto did play plenty of defense at Georgia Tech, and he says he's willing to play it in the NFL, too, if that's what his coaches want. But, he's guessing he'll wind up as either an offensive tackle or guard.

Wrotto's NFL career officially began in this spring's NFL draft, when the Seattle Seahawks made him a fourth-round pick.

"I have a lot of experience at offensive tackle, but I can also play guard," he says. "I played guard in practices and I can play on both sides of the ball. I could even play defense in the NFL as well, if needed, since I had so many years of experience there."

There's definitely a difference between playing offense and defense, and it's as mental as it is physical.

"You have to play offensive tackle with an aggressive, defensive mentality," says Wrotto. "But you have to have more patience and really work on your technique. Being familiar with defensive moves and techniques is definitely an advantage."

What exactly is it that Wrotto likes most about playing offense? That's easy, he says - playing time. On the offensive line you rarely get a breather, even when you need one. The same can't be said for defense.

"When you're on defense you rotate out a lot with guys so you don't get worn down," explains Wrotto. "I've really liked playing offense from the beginning, though I do miss sacking the quarterback and having my name called out for a sack or something like that."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.