| Brandon Catanese |
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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Weaverville, California
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| High School:
Trinity
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| Last College:
Shasta JC
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| Height / Weight:
5-11 / 197
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| Position:
Free Safety
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| Birthdate:
02/22/1981
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| Experience:
1V
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PERSONAL—Born 2/22/81 in New Orleans, LA...son of Paul and Patti Catanese...his father is a boat captain and fishing guide and his mother works in medical transcription...he is in the College of Business and is a business administration major...he has one brother, Zach, 3, and three sisters, Paige, 20; Brooke, 16; and Cameron, 2...his father played football at Tulane and baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization...his uncle Jack played baseball at Tulane and his grandfather played professional baseball...enjoys fishing, video games, 4X4 wheeling and spending time with family and friends...receiving a scholarship from Oregon State has been his top athletic thrill to date...selected OSU because, "I wanted to play for a team that had the coaching staff and players that could win championships, and I have always been a Beavers fan.”
OSU—(2003—Senior)—Brandon was a solid performer on OSU’s defensive unit in 2002 as a backup safety and kick returner...he is slated for the same duties again in 2003...he will return to fall camp as a backup free safety and a kick returner...Brandon can play both safety positions...he certainly is capable of being a starter...he is playing behind a pair of outstanding safeties in Lawrence Turner and Mitch Meeuwsen...Brandon has produced career weightlifting bests of 460 in the back squat, 375 in the bench press, 314.2 in the power clean and 297.6 in the push press...he has impressive vertical jump of 37 inches.
(2002—Junior)—Brandon played in 11 of 13 games during the season...he did not play against UNLV or Oregon...he was suspended (one game) for the Duck game by head coach Dennis Erickson for disciplinary reasons...he produced 24 defensive points during the season while playing as a backup free safety and on special teams...he participated on all four kicking teams, including returning kickoffs...Brandon returned nine kickoffs for a total of 214 yards, an average of 23.8, including a long return of 46 yards against Washington...he returned two kickoffs for 65 yards at Washington and two for 34 yards at Stanford...he returned five kickoffs vs. Pittsburgh in the Insight Bowl for 115 yards, with a long of 27...Brandon has outstanding speed which has made him an outstanding participant on special teams...he is a solid backup at strong or free safety...Brandon signed a letter of intent with Oregon State on December 19 during the early signing period and enrolled at the start of winter quarter on January 7 and participated in the winter conditioning program...Brandon opened spring drills listed No. 2 at free safety behind Mitch Meeuwsen...Brandon had an outstanding spring and solidified his opportunity for playing time in 2002...Brandon, along with fellow JC transfer Lawrence Turner, and Meeuwsen, were locked in a tight battle all spring for the two starting safety positions...Brandon established himself as a “hitter” during the spring...Brandon completed spring drills with a flourish as he intercepted two passes in the Spring Game, picking off starting quarterback Derek Anderson twice...Brandon returned one interception 54 yards for the winning Black squad to put his team into scoring position...Brandon reported to fall camp as the No. 2 free safety on the depth chart...during winter conditioning, Brandon posted weightlifting bests of 375 in the back squat, 355 in the bench press, 303 in the power clean and 287 in the push press...he recorded a vertical jump best of 34 inches.
SHASTA COLLEGE, Redding, CA—Brandon was selected as a first-team NorCal Conference all-star as a sophomore during the 2001 season and led Shasta College with 80 tackles, including 35 solo and seven tackles for loss...he broke up three passes and intercepted one...timed at 4.33 in the 40...returned punts and kickoffs for Shasta, averaging 11.9 yards on punt returns and 31.5 yards on kickoff returns, the fourth best average among junior college players in California...recorded 14 tackles in game vs. Mendocino College...two-year starter in football under Coach Craig Thompson...also lettered in baseball and track and field at Shasta...named Shasta’s MVP on defense and also top defensive back...earned all-league honors as a sprinter in track while running on the 4X100 relay team.
TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL, Weaverville, CA—Brandon was an all-around athlete at Trinity High School, earning four letters in football, four in baseball (center fielder) and one in basketball...played running back in high school...in 11 games as a senior, he rushed for 1,610 yards on 168 carries (9.6 average) and scored 21 touchdowns...he had a long run of 86 yards...produced 412 receiving yards and caught three TD passes, with a long of 55 yards...he returned kickoffs for 620 yards as a junior, including a 76-yard return for a touchdown...he also had a kickoff return for a touchdown of 82 yards as a sophomore and 91 as a senior...he produced 2,022 yards of offense as a senior...set school record for career points with 171...his 24 touchdowns as a senior was second in the NorCal, as was his 1,610 rushing yards...he was a two-time all-league (Shasta Cascade League) center fielder...his best prep statistical game produced 272 yards rushing, 46 yards receiving and four touchdowns against Quincy High School...he scored the winning TD in that game for a 44-43 victory to send Trinity into the NorCal section title game...played for Coach Mike Flint.
Brandon Catanese's Career Statistics
Year GP UT AT Total For Loss/Yds Sacks Int
2002 11 7 3 10 0 0 0
