Bucs select Illinois T Xavier Fulton in 5th round

The Bucs made a surprising move to bolster their offensive line by selecting Illinois left tackle Xavier Fulton.

The 6-foot-4, 302-pound Fulton could be an eventual replacement for Donald Penn, who will become an unrestricted free agent next season. Behind Fulton, Illinois led the Big Ten in offense and pass offense.

Fulton began his career as a right defensive end before tearing a knee ligament. He was granted a medical hardship in 2006 and returned the next season after making the transition to left tackle.

"It was a little difficult at first getting to adjust,'' Fulton said. "Especially, the biggest thing I had trouble with and so does everybody else learning pass blocking. It's totally different from the way you're taught to play defense. Defense is easy by comparison -- chase the ballcarrier. You can't be wrong if you chase the ballcarrier. Go tackle someone. Whereas on offense, you make one mistake and the entire play is busted and it's lost yardage.

"It was difficult at first but I think I got the hang of it over the past two seasons and I feel pretty comfortable at it now.''

Since the NFL combine, Fulton underwent surgery on his right shoulder.

      

Comments

[brent]

The offensive line is the deepest spot on the team. When the hell will they address LB or DB. We have 2 7th rounders left.

This may be one of the poorest drafts ever.

[Matt H]

Ronde Barber better find the fountain of youth if we're going OT here.

[Duffiedawg]

Before his knee injury, he was quite good as a D Lineman.

Is it possible they intend to convert him back?
He seems to fit the profile Jags loves.

[Capt.Tim]

Really starting to like I-line. Who knows, meybe we may actually be able to establish a running game !

[Clueless in Tampa]

According to Street and Smith, it should read Xavier tackle Illinois Fulton.

[Robert]

Brent keep eating your potato chips and scratching your butt because you have not a clue about football! To win in the NFL you have to be great in the trenches and have to have a franchise QB. We have been addressing those needs all weekend. The BUCS are on their way back to the top and thats a fact.

[conradbuff]

im with robert, brent you sir are no sherlock holmes

[brent]

Guys don't get me wrong. The DL we picked up were great pickups from quality programs. I know you win in the trenches. That is why I feel a DL at #19 would have been better use of that pick. But we didn't need to toss an extra pick to get the one lineman.

The OL was a luxury we can't really afford because our current group of OL is very, very good and we have needs at DB and LB. We are moving to a new defensive scheme and need and CB that can play the bump and run.

[Brandon]

Again Stroud proves he knows less than even the slowest of the mental midgets on here. He claims Penn is an unrestricted free agent next season but doesn't take into consideration that a player needs to have accrued 6 seasons of experience in order to be a free agent... and this will be Penn's 4th season. Penn isn't going anywhere, It's called drafting an OT to provide depth and competition. It could also be that anybody that has seen the Bucs play knows that Trueblood is terrible and needs to be pushed or replaced.

[Rick Stroud]

Hey Brandon,
Don't know which football league you cover but in the NFL, a player becomes a free agent after four seasons of service. The only exception will be if the collective bargaining agreement expires and 2010 becomes an uncapped year. We're a long way from that happening, but if it does, players will need six years of service to become a free agent. So as we sit here today, tomorrow and until over a year from now, Penn stands to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2009.
The Bucs are also high on James Lee and nobody at One Buc Place (where I'm sitting) would be surprised if Penn hit free agency. Except you, of course.
By the way, how tall are you?

[Robert]

Rick, you are the man and these clowns who try to say different are exactly that, CLOWNS! I love how the draft is going.. We may have found our long awaited franchise QB and have added talent and depth on both sides of the line. How do you feel about the draft so far?

[aj]

Brandon just got pwned.

Trueblood needs better coaching. Too many stupid penalties, over time, is the coaches fault. The Bucs needed depth at tackle, so the pick isn't surprising. They only had three tackles on the roster down the stretch last year.

[Robert]

To everybody elese out there that wants to be like Brandon and try to rip Rick or Mr holder, keep your mouths shut and go to another web site if you dont like their articles. If Rick was a bum I dont think they would be having him on ESPN WEEKLY! These 2 men are great at what they do and have full reports of these guys we are drafting within minutes of the picks. They stay on top of their game and work hard to keep us BUCS fans happy! Oh, I just figured out whe problem.. Most BUCS fans are cry babies who complain about everything! Every move that is made people cry about in Tampa, every move that is not made people cry in Tampa, if people want the coach fired they cry in Tampa, when a new coach is hired people cry in Tampa, people in Tampa cry we ned franchise QB, people in Tampa cry when we draft franchise QB, people in Tampa cry we need to Draft DL, people in Tampa cry after we draft 2 L.. Get the picture people??? I hear so much girly crying it makes me sick!! A real fan supports their team and backs them 100% Learn to be real fans and not fair weather fans. Learn how to be there in good times and bad!!! Rick and Mr Holder are part of that team too!! They are our liason with the franchise and they do a great job at keeping us up to date!

[G. Michael Reynolds]

Bwaha! Rick 4tw.

[John P]

Whatever can be said for this pick - he's athletic. Has a 40 time about the same as Freeman. As a converted D-lineman with 2 years time at tackle, he's going to be a project. Might be worth seeing what develops.

[Ben bolt fan]

Hey Rick I am sooo glad you cover football. I was wondering would the bucs send this lineman back to the other side of the ball? To take this player and make him a one year project to take over for Penn seams like a stretch for me. I am sold on Freeman but I knew that Morris was going to take this guy. His stats in a week, week defensive conference screams of Trent Dilfer to me. Not sold on the new remgime, but they do a have a tone of work to do. They are right were the bolts are last year. Far from being good!