here you go zoners, info on preston;
Versatile interior lineman who joined the team as an unrestricted free agent March 30 after four seasons with Buffalo
Expected to provide depth at both guard spots and at center
Brings 59 games of experience to Green Bay with 20 starts, including a career-high 11 starts in 2008
Has started games at both center and right guard during his career and has also been a valuable contributor on special teams
During his four seasons in Buffalo, the Bills had a 1,000-yard rusher three of those years, with Willis McGahee’s 990 yards in 2006 being the lone season when they did not
Originally a fourth-round draft choice by Buffalo out of the University of Illinois, played in 15 games during his rookie season in 2005
Saw his first significant time as a starter during his second season, opening up eight games at RG in 2006 for an injured Chris Villarrial
Was the first center drafted out of Illinois since Tim Simpson was selected by Cleveland in the 12th round in 1992
A three-year starter at Illinois, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2004
Allowed just one sack during his final two seasons with the Illini
Came to Illinois from Mt. Carmel High in San Diego, Calif., where he was named to PrepStar’s All-West team and earned all-league honors his final two seasons
2008 Season Back To Top
Played in 15 games with a career-high 11 starts, opening up at C for the final 11 games of the season
Dressed but did not play in season opener vs. Seattle (Sept. 7)
Helped clear the way for Marshawn Lynch’s 1,036 rushing yards
Part of an offensive line that blocked for 1,092 rushing yards (136.5 yards per game) in the second half of the season, ranking ninth in the league and fifth in the conference
Team posted 100-plus yards rushing in seven of his 11 starts
Vs. San Diego (Oct. 19): Earned his first start of the season at center, filling in for an injured Melvin Fowler, and was part of a line that did not allow a sack
At Miami (Oct. 26): Played in his 50th career game and started his second straight at C; also filled in at RG
Vs. San Francisco (Nov. 30): Blocked for Lynch on his way to a season-high 134 yards rushing on just 16 carries (8.4 avg.)
At N.Y. Jets (Dec. 14): Helped clear the way for the team’s season-high 187 rushing yards
2007 Season Back To Top
Served as a key contributor on special teams and a valuable reserve on the offensive line, seeing time in 13 games
Was the team’s only active reserve interior lineman for the final 13 games
Saw most of his playing time on special teams
2006 Season Back To Top
Played in all 16 games with a (then) career-high eight starts, filling in for an injured Villarrial for a majority of the second half of the season
At Chicago (Oct. 8): Made first start of the season, opening at RG
At Detroit (Oct. 15): Replaced an injured Fowler at center in the fourth quarter
At Houston (Nov. 19): Started at RG and provided solid protection for QB J.P. Losman as he threw for a career-high 340 yards
Vs. San Diego (Dec. 3): Returned two kickoffs for 10 yards
At N.Y. Jets (Dec. 10): Started at RG and helped clear the way for the team’s season-high 174 rushing yards
2005 Season Back To Top
Played in 15 games with one start, taking snaps at both center and guard
Vs. Miami (Oct. 9): Made first career start, filling in for Villarrial at RG
At Miami (Dec. 4): Replaced Villarrial at RG after the starter suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter. Also saw action on special teams
2005 Draft: Selected in the fourth round (122nd overall), and was the fourth center picked
Was the first true center taken by the Bills in the draft since the team selected Tom Nutten in the seventh round in 1995
Was the first center drafted out of Illinois since Simpson was selected by Cleveland in the 12th round in 1992
College Back To Top
Three-year starter who played in 37 games with 35 starts during his career
Allowed just one sack during his final two seasons
Protected Illini quarterbacks as they passed for over 2,000 yards each of his final three seasons
Earned a degree in speech communication
Senior season (2004): Started all 11 games at center and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors
Named the team’s captain and offensive MVP
Played 704 snaps without allowing a sack and only gave up 10 pressures
Recorded 105 knockdowns and was not called for a penalty all season
Helped the Illini to three 200-yard rushing games
Junior season (2003): Started all 12 games at center
Took every snap on the season and allowed only one sack
Registered 71 knockdowns and gave up six pressures
Sophomore season (2002): Started all 12 games at center
Helped set school total-offense record with 5,356 yards, an average of 446.3 per game, topping the 5,000-yard mark for the second straight season and second time in school history
Helped clear the way for RB Antoineo Harris on his way to a single-season school rushing record of 1,330 yards, including five 100-yard rushing games
Redshirt freshman season (2001): Played in two games as the backup to All-American center Luke Butkus
Saw time in the season opener at California (Sept. 1) and at Purdue (Nov. 3)
Personal Back To Top
Given name Raymond Newton Preston III
Born in San Diego, Calif.
Married to Lisa
Father, Raymond Jr., played linebacker for the San Diego Chargers for nine seasons (1976-84) and was a Kodak All-American at Syracuse University
High school: Four-year letterman at Mt. Carmel (San Diego) High
Named to the PrepStar All-West team and was twice selected first-team All-Palomar League
Added first-team all-county and All-North County honors as voted by the North County Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune
Named team’s MVP as a senior in ’99 and voted team’s lineman of the year as a junior and as a senior
Played in the North/South San Diego all-star game as well as the Cal-Hi/Texas all-star game
Also earned four letters in baseball
Two-time member of the San Diego Union-Tribune’s all-academic team
Community involvement: Active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his church
Interests/hobbies: An avid golfer who carries a 3 handicap; finished third in the Drew Brees Professional Open in 2008
Other hobbies include basketball, surfing and billiards
Lists Muhammad Ali as his favorite athlete
Residence: Splits residence between San Diego and Green Bay
Player Stats Back To Top
Year GP GS
2005 Buffalo 15 1
2006 Buffalo 16 8
2007 Buffalo 13 0
2008 Buffalo 15 11
NFL totals (four years) 59 20
Additional statistics: Returned two kickoffs for 10 yards at San Diego, 12/3/06.
NFL debut: vs. Houston, 9/11/05
First NFL start: vs. Miami, 10/9/05
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2005: Selected by Buffalo Bills in fourth round (122nd overall) in '05 NFL Draft, April 24...Signed first contract, July 6.
2009: Signed by Green Bay Packers as unrestricted free agent, March 30.
CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2010
Eatman Blog 
Cowboys To Add Center Duke Preston
