[align=center]Andrew Quarless | Tight End | Penn State | 6'4" - 248 lbs.[/align]
OVERVIEW
Quarless boasts the size and athleticism that can cause match-up problems for opposing defenses. A tall, talented target with the ability to make big plays, his emergence as a primary target for Penn State in 2009 saw the Nittany Lions finish 11-2 during the tight end's final campaign.
With the graduation of three of Penn State's most prolific receivers in program history, Deon Butler, Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood, the opportunity for an expanded role in the passing attack was there for Quarless to seize last fall.
During his first three years at Penn State, Quarless started just fifteen of the 34 games he had appeared in. Determined to not "waste" another year on the sidelines, his rigid off-season training program saw the tight end emerge from a fierce battle with Mickey Shuler to spend his final season at Penn State as the full-time starter.
With his speed and athleticism, in addition to his pass-catching ability, Quarless also worked hard to become a stronger and more effective blocker, making the former prep standout a boon to the productive Penn State offense. By the end of the 2009 campaign, he was the school's new record-holder for most receptions by a tight end in a season (41) and a career (87), reviving a position that had lost its importance in the PSU game plan since the graduation of Tony Stewart in 2000.
At Uniondale High School, Quarless earned second-team All-State and first-team All-County accolades during his senior season, as he generated more than 1,200 all-purpose yards, including 600 receiving yards and 325 rushing yards, with nine touchdowns. He made 39 catches for 843 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, recording 50 tackles and 16 sacks. The first-team All-Borough selection was also rated the 11th-best tight end prospect in the nation by Scout.com.
Quarless enrolled at Penn State in 2006, earning Freshman All-Big Ten Conference honors from The Sporting News. His stellar performances in August camp convinced the coaching staff to not redshirt the seventeen-year-old. Playing in every game, he became a reliable and favorite target of QB Anthony Morelli as the season progressed.
Quarless would eventually earn eight starting assignments, as he led the team with a 13.71-yard receiving average. He finished fifth on the squad with 21 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns, coming up with sixteen grabs in his final six contests, as the Lions won five of those games. His blocking improved during the course of the year, as he was instrumental in helping Tony Hunt rush for over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in the tailback's career.
In 2007 he returned to start seven of the games he appeared in. The tight end again paced the PSU receivers with a 14.64-yard receiving average, but was less involved in the passing game that he was as a freshman, finishing with fourteen grabs for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2008 he appeared in just 415 snaps, down from the 652 from the previous season and 583 as a freshman. He managed to catch eleven passes for 117 yards (10.64 ypc), scoring once in twelve contests.
Quarless and Shuler were expected to resume their competition for first unit duties when 2009 preseason camp began, but with Shuler limited by ankle issues, the battle was over before it ever began. Quarless earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, as he started all thirteen games for Penn State. His 41 receptions set a school tight end season- record, amassing 536 yards on those grabs that included three touchdowns.
Having graduated in December, 2009, the tight end used the Capital One Bowl clash as his "coming out" party, hauling in eight passes for 88 yards in a 19-17 victory. He carried over that performance all week during East-West Shrine Game practices. Most scouting personnel in attendance labeled his showing as the best of any of the 80-plus draft prospects participating in that event.
CAREER NOTES
Quarless started 29-of-47 games at Penn State, catching 87 passes for 1,146 yards (13.17 ypc) and eight touchdowns...Scored 48 points and recorded four solo tackles...Also had a 3-yard gain from an onside kickoff and recovered one fumble...His 87 receptions broke the school tight end career-record of 86 by All-American Ted Kwalick (1966-68) and rank 15th on the school's overall all-time record list...His 41 catches in 2009 topped the previous PSU tight end season-record of 38 grabs by Tony Stewart in 2000...His eight touchdown receptions are two shy of Kwalick's team tight end career-record of ten...Joined Kwalick (1,343) and Mickey Shuler Sr. (1,016 yards, 1975-77) as the only Penn State tight ends to gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a career (1,146)...His 536 yards receiving in 2009 were the most by a Penn State tight end in a season since Mickey Shuler Sr. amassed 600 yards in 1977...His eight receptions vs. Louisiana State in the 2010 Capital One Bowl broke the school bowl game record of seven grabs by David Daniels (1990 Blockbuster), Bobby Engram (1994 Citrus) and Tony Stewart (1999 Outback).
2009 SEASON
Member of the John Mackey Award Watch List (nation's top tight end)...Started all thirteen games for the Nittany Lions, earning All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention...Ranked third on the team and set the school tight end season-record with 41 receptions, topping the old mark of 38 catches by Tony Stewart in 2000...Gained 536 yards receiving (13.07 ypc), the most by a Penn State tight end since Mickey Shuler Sr. recorded 600 yards in 1977...Ranked 19th in the conference in receptions (3.15 rpg) and receiving yardage (41.23 ypg)...
2008 SEASON
Quarless played in twelve games, starting vs. Ohio State... Participated in a career-low 415 offensive plays, finishing the season with only eleven receptions for 117 yards (10.64 ypc) and one touchdown.
2007 SEASON
Quarless played in the final eleven games of the season, earning seven starts ...Participated in 652 plays, catching fourteen passes for 205 yards, leading the team with a 14.64-yard average...Had two touchdown receptions and also recorded a solo tackle in the Iowa clash...Five of his catches were for 20 yards or longer.
2006 SEASON
Freshman All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice by The Sporting News...Started eight games for the Lions, as Quarless became a reliable and favorite target of Anthony Morelli as the season progressed...Collected 21 passes for 288 yards, as his average of 13.71 yards per reception was the best among PSU receivers with at least ten grabs...Added two touchdowns and also recovered an on-side kick for a 3-yard gain vs. Notre Dame in his collegiate debut.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.74 in the 40-yard dash...1.64 10-yard dash...2.72 20-yard dash...4.37 20-yard shuttle...11.74 60-yard shuttle...6.94 three-cone drill...33-inch vertical jump...9'3"broad jump...400-pound bench press...33 3/4-inch arm length...10-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Uniondale (N.Y.) High School, playing football for head coach Greg Didio...Rated fourth on the Rivals.com New York Top 20 team...That recruiting service placed him 13th among the top tight end prospects in the nation...Earned second-team All-State and first-team All-County accolades during his senior season, as he generated more than 1,200 all- purpose yards, including 600 receiving yards and 325 rushing yards, with nine touchdowns...The first-team All-Borough selection was also rated the 11th-best tight end prospect in the nation by Scout.com.
PERSONAL
Graduated in December, 2009 with a degree in Telecommunications... Born Andrew C. Quarless... Resides in Uniondale, New York.