Players

Mruczkowski (merch-COW-ski) is back for a seventh season as the backup to Nick Hardwick after signing a oneyear contract to remain a Charger in July.

Mruczkowski played the finest football of his career in 2009, anchoring the offensive line for 13-plus games as starting center Nick Hardwick was sidelined with a severe ankle injury. Mruczkowski was immediately pressed into duty when Hardwick was injured during the third quarter of the Chargers’ season opener in Oakland. “Mooch” performed admirably that night as the Chargers rallied for a late fourthquarter game-winning touchdown and afterward earned a Game Ball from the coaching staff for his effort.

Unfortunately for Mruczkowski, he too would fall victim to the injury bug, suffering a season-ending ankle injury late in the Chargers’ Dec. 20 win at home against Cincinnati. But because of his work ethic, courage and selfless play, the coaching staff awarded him with another Game Ball following the Bengals game.

His brother, Gene, also was an offensive lineman and played for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. In 2004 while the Mruczkowski brothers were playing golf at the Brandywine Country Club in Ohio, Scott scored a hole in one on the course’s par-three ninth hole.

Mruczkowski also enjoys fishing and spending time at the beach. A Cleveland-area native, he certainly doesn’t miss Ohio winters. His uncle, Steve, owns a boat and a cabin on Catawba Island in Ohio and taught him and his brother to fish when they were kids.

In Feb. 2010, Mruczkowski married the former Kate LaMaster. The wedding took place in Jaco, Costa Rica, and several of his teammates including Hardwick, Kris Dielman and Steve Gregory attended the wedding.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Seventh-round pick (242), April 24, 2005…signed, June 16, 2005...re-signed, Feb. 27, 2008 and one-year contract, July 31, 2011.

2010: Saw action in 14 games.

2009: Game Ball after taking over at C in 3Q of season opener for Nick Hardwick (ankle) and anchoring OL on late 4Q game-winning TD drive...started next 13 games at C, including season-high 203-yard rush game at Denver Nov. 22...Game Ball for Dec. 20 Cincinnati game prior to leaving with season-ending ankle injury...placed on "Reserve-Injured" Dec. 23.

2008: Started Wk 12 vs. Atlanta at LG for Kris Dielman (stomach virus)…took over for Dielman (ejection) in 2Q vs. KC Dec. 14 for phantom punch...Chargers trailed Chiefs
21-10 in 4Q and rallied for 22-21 win, with OL giving Philip Rivers time to complete 19 of 25 for 199 yards with two TDs.

2007: Nicknamed "pinch hitter" after coming in for one snap at RG Dec. 2 at KC for Mike Goff...on lone snap, buried Chiefs defender to open huge hole for LaDainian Tomlinson 31-yard TD run…extra OL for one play late in 3Q of Wild Card vs. Tennessee and threw key block for Rivers to throw 25-yard TD pass to Vincent Jackson for Chargers’ first lead of game.

2006: Saw time at LG Sept. 17 vs. Tennessee and delivered key blocks on 73-yard run by Michael Turner and 14-yard TD run by Charlie Whitehurst two plays later…started Wk 11 vs. Oakland for Dielman…injured (knee) Wk 13 vs. Denver on PAT and INA Wks 14-16…returned to action for Divisional Playoffs vs. NE.

2005: Saw ST action Weeks 6-7, 9-11 & 15.

COLLEGE: Second-team All-MAC and team captain as senior…invited to 2005 East-West Shrine Game…started school-record 49 consecutive games…first-team all-conference and Team’s Top OL as junior…starting LG as frosh and soph...redshirted in 2000…played at Bowling Green from 2000-04…productions and operations management major.

PERSONAL: Born in Cleveland, Ohio…all-area at Benedictine HS in Cleveland, state champions in '96 and regional champs in '97…lettered in track…student council president…dean's list student with 3.5 GPA.