Torrin Tucker

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Torrin Tucker
No. 77
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1979-12-25) December 25, 1979 (age 44)
Meridian, Mississippi
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:315 lb (143 kg)
Career information
High school:Meridian (MS) Southeast Lauderdale
College:Southern Miss
Undrafted:2003
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:36
Games started:24
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Torrin Tucker (born December 25, 1979) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the New York Dragons, Florida Tuskers and Sacramento Mountain Lions. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.

Early years[edit]

Tucker attended Southeast Lauderdale High School. As a senior defensive tackle, he posted 87 tackles, while scoring touchdowns on a fumble return and a blocked punt. He received All-district 7-2A, Most Valuable Defensive Lineman in the district and second-team All-state honors.

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Southern Mississippi. As a redshirt freshman, he started in 5 out of 9 games. As a sophomore he started every game, playing at both right tackle and left guard. As a junior and senior, he started every game at right guard. He made the Dean's List in his last two years.[1]

Professional career[edit]

Dallas Cowboys[edit]

Despite being ranked by different publications as one of the top guard prospects available in the 2003 NFL Draft,[2] Tucker was not selected and had to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. After being waived on August 31, he was signed to the practice squad on September 30.[3] On October 1, he was promoted to the active roster.[4]

As a rookie, he was switched to offensive tackle and would play as the "swing" tackle, backing up the left and right tackle positions, while appearing in seven games (one start) and being declared inactive in 6 contests. In 2004, he started 13 games at right tackle after passing Kurt Vollers on the depth chart. He was declared inactive in the final 3 contests, as Vollers regained his starting position.

Entering the 2005 season, he was expected to compete for the starting right tackle role, but struggled after coming in to camp overweight and lost the position to rookie Rob Petitti.[5] He became the starter at left tackle after the sixth game of the season, when Flozell Adams was lost after tearing his ACL.[6]

In the 2006 offseason, he was as a restricted free agent and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to a two-year offer sheet, that included a $100,000 signing bonus, a $1.2 million and $1.1 million base salaries, along with a $200,000 roster bonus if he was on the team in 2007.[7] The Cowboys eventually decided not to match the offer and lost Tucker without receiving any compensation.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers[edit]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking for Tucker to earn the left tackle starting role over Anthony Davis, but an arthritic knee forced him to miss nearly all of training camp.[8] He was placed on the injured reserve list on September 2, 2006, only to be waived from the team 6 days later in a salary cap move, having never played a game with the Buccaneers.[9][10]

Oakland Raiders[edit]

On August 17, 2007, he was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Raiders. He was cut on August 28.

Houston Texans[edit]

On August 8, 2008, he signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent. He was released on August 29.[11]

New York Dragons (AFL)[edit]

On November 21, 2008, he signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League. He was waived on April 24, 2008.[12]

Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)[edit]

In 2008, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was cut before the start of the season on June 17.[13]

Florida Tuskers (UFL)[edit]

In 2010, he was signed by the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, who were coached by Jay Gruden.[14] He played 6 games during the season.

Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL)[edit]

In May 2011, he signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League, reuniting with Gruden.[15] He played 4 games during the season.

Personal life[edit]

Tucker's character has been often defined as passionate and strong willed. He can be accounted for performing multiple community service acts including volunteering at youth football camps and participating in passing out Christmas turkeys. He also assisted in sending over 70 kids to college through his AAU basketball team.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Torrin Tucker NFL Draft profile". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Iowa's interior motives about to pay off for Steinbach". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Cowboys' Swinton Goes to the Packers in a Trade". Los Angeles Times. October 2003. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Report: Dolphins among six team interested in QB". 19 August 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "Eli is coming". 24 October 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bucs sign Cowboys OT Tucker to offer sheet". 31 March 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Bucs re-sign Davis, further strengthen OT position". Espn.com. 11 April 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  9. ^ "Lions cut draft bust Rogers, No. 2 pick in 2003". 2 September 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. ^ "Tucker reaches injury settlement". St. Petersburg Times. September 9, 2006.
  11. ^ "Texans cut 21, including Colvin". 29 August 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "AFL transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  13. ^ "West Training Camps Recap Day 17". 17 June 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "Week 1: Florida Tuskers at Las Vegas Locomotives". 13 September 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  15. ^ "Mountain Lions Sign 10 Players". Our Sports Central. 24 May 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2018.