Torrin Tucker (born December 25, 1979) is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
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| Born: | December 25, 1979 Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
editTucker 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
editDallas Cowboys
editDespite 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
editThe 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
editOn August 17, 2007, he was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Raiders. He was cut on August 28.
New York Dragons
editOn November 21, 2007, he signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League. He was waived on April 24, 2008.[11]
Edmonton Eskimos
editIn 2008, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was cut before the start of the season on June 17.[12]
Houston Texans
editOn August 8, 2008, he signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent. He was released on August 29.[13]
Florida Tuskers
editIn 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
editIn 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
editTucker'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- ^ "Torrin Tucker NFL Draft profile". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Iowa's interior motives about to pay off for Steinbach". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Cowboys' Swinton Goes to the Packers in a Trade". Los Angeles Times. October 2003. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Report: Dolphins among six team interested in QB". August 19, 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Eli is coming". October 24, 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Bucs sign Cowboys OT Tucker to offer sheet". March 31, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Bucs re-sign Davis, further strengthen OT position". Espn.com. April 11, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Lions cut draft bust Rogers, No. 2 pick in 2003". September 2, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Tucker reaches injury settlement". St. Petersburg Times. September 9, 2006.
- ^ "AFL transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "West Training Camps Recap Day 17". June 17, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Texans cut 21, including Colvin". August 29, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Week 1: Florida Tuskers at Las Vegas Locomotives". September 13, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Mountain Lions Sign 10 Players". Our Sports Central. May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2018.