April 30, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - Owen Marecic, who was the only player among Football Bowl Subdivision teams to start on both sides of the ball last season, was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft being held in New York City.
Marecic become the second Stanford player selected in this year's Draft, following Sione Fua, who was taken by the Carolina Panthers in the third round on Friday. It marks the first time since 2007 Stanford has had two players selected in the first four rounds.
The last time the Browns drafted a Stanford player was in 2006, when the club tabbed Babatunde Oshinowo in the sixth round. In 2004, the Browns selected Amon Gordon (4th round) and Kirk Chambers (6th round). The Browns also drafted fullback Tommy Vardell in the first round in 1992.
One of Stanford's tri-captains, Marecic earned All-America recognition by the American Football Coaches Association as a all-purpose player last season. He also garnered first team All-Pac-10 selection as a running back and earned honorable mention conference marks as a linebacker. He also finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
The recipient of the inaugural Paul Hornung Award honoring the most versatile player in college football, Marecic started at both fullback and inside linebacker for the Cardinal as a senior. He finished as the team's fifth leading tackler with 51 stops and also had 5.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and two interceptions.
One of the top blokcing fullbacks in the nation, Marecic rushed 23 times for 46 yards and a career high five touchdowns.
He was on the field for an average of 110 plays a game, the equivelant of two seasons for most players.
Marecic scored touchdowns on both sides of the ball just seconds apart in Stanford's victory at Notre Dame. He capped an 11-play, 49-yard scoring drive with a one-yard run at the 7:45 mark of the fourth quarter. Following the ensuing kickoff, he intercpeted a pass on the Irish's first play from scrimmage and returned it 20 yards for another score.
Marecic was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy honoring college football's top scholar athlete. A first team All-Pac-10 Academic selection, he also earned second team ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
The NFL Draft continues on Saturday at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.