Nicholas Allan Mangold (born January 13, 1984) is a former American football center. He played college football at Ohio State, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Mangold was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection with the Jets, and was considered to be among the best at his position. High school years Nick Mangold attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, where he was a letterman in football, wrestling, and track & field. In football, he was a three-year starter on both offense and defense and as a senior, he garnered All-Ohio honors. He also earned three letters in wrestling and two in track and field, competing in the shot put. Mangold went completely unregarded by recruiting services like Rivals.com and Scout.com. Regardless, he played in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. College career Mangold attended Ohio State University, and was a three-year starter at center for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. He was rated on a par with former Buckeye All-American and 2001 Rimington Trophy winner LeCharles Bentley by offensive line coach Jim Bollman. "Most guys you get out of high school have to be taught to play center. He already knew the mechanics of the position. That was a big, big advantage," said Bollman. Ohio State's most durable lineman, Mangold logged over 300 minutes of action in each of his last three seasons. In his true freshman year, Mangold appeared in eight games as backup for Alex Stepanovich. In 2003, Stepanovich suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season vs. San Diego State. Nick Mangold moved in and started the final 11 games of the season. When Stepanovich returned, he shifted to guard while Nick Mangold continued to man the center position. He earned All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2004, when the coaching staff named Nick Mangold Offensive Lineman of the Week seven times and Offensive Player of the Week vs. Northwestern. Nick Mangold was again chosen second-team All-Big Ten in 2005. He finished his career with 33 starts in 45 games Professional career After a "tremendous performance" at the 2006 Senior Bowl, Mangold was widely regarded as the top center available in the 2006 NFL Draft, ahead of 2005 Outland and Rimington Trophy winner Greg Eslinger. Nick Mangold was selected in the first round (29th overall) by the New York Jets,