Mark Brandenstein

Height:
5-11
Weight:
215
Year:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Boardman, Ohio
High School:
Cardinal Mooney
Position:
LB

2010 (Freshman): Played special teams, primarily on kickoff coverage unit...played in all 11 games...had a total of 13 tackles, including nine solo stops...11 tackles came on kickoff returns and two were on punt returns...had five solo tackles in victory over Central Connecticut State...credited with two solo tackles at Illinois State...had two stops at Western Illinois...had single tackles versus North Dakota State and Indiana State...had team's Hit of the Game at Western Illinois...earned his first letter.

High School: As a senior, was a first-team All-Ohio Division III linebacker...first-team Division III Northeast Inland District selection...played middle linebacker and fullback...credited with 54 tackles for the season, including a team-high 36 solo stops...had 7.5 tackles for losses on the season...rushed for five touchdowns and added a two-point conversion from the fullback spot...had 25 carries for 217 yards, including a long run of 54 yards...Mooney beat Columbus St. Francis DeSales 35-7 in the Division III State Championship game capping a 15-0 season...in title game led the Cardinals with seven total tackles, five solo stops...also had a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss...helped spearhead a defense that was plus-29 in turnover margin and allowed just over 10 points per game...Mooney finished the year ranked No. 3 by MaxPreps, 20th by Rivals.com and No. 9 in the Midwest by USA Today...Cardinals were 9-3 his junior season reaching the state playoffs...as a sophomore, Mooney was 14-1 with lone defeat a one-point loss to Coldwater in state title game...coach was P.J. Fecko.

Personal: Parents are Kelly and Mark Brandenstein...has three sisters...born June 11, 1991...major is exercise science...awarded the Raymond J. Briya Family Scholarship for the 2011-12 academic year.