| No. 77, 73 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1979-12-25)December 25, 1979 (age 45) 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 | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Torrin Tucker (born December 25, 1979) is a formerAmerican footballoffensive tackle who played in theNational Football League for theDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football atSouthern Mississippi.
Tucker attendedSoutheast Lauderdale High School. As a seniordefensive tackle, he posted 87 tackles, while scoringtouchdowns 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 theUniversity of Southern Mississippi. As aredshirt freshman, he started in 5 out of 9 games. As a sophomore he started every game, playing at bothright tackle and left guard. As a junior and senior, he started every game at right guard. He made theDean's List in his last two years.[1]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft5+3⁄4 in (1.97 m) | 328 lb (149 kg) | 34+1⁄2 in (0.88 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 5.43 s | 1.91 s | 3.13 s | 4.96 s | 30.0 in (0.76 m) | ||||
| All values fromNFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Despite being ranked by different publications as one of the topguard prospects available in the2003 NFL draft,[2] Tucker was not selected and had to sign as anundrafted free agent with theDallas Cowboys. After being waived on August 31, he was signed to thepractice squad on September 30.[3] On October 1, he was promoted to the active roster.[4]
As a rookie, he was switched tooffensive 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. In2004, he started 13 games atright tackle after passingKurt Vollers on the depth chart. He was declared inactive in the final 3 contests, as Vollers regained his starting position.
Entering the2005 season, he was expected to compete for the startingright tackle role, but struggled after coming in to camp overweight and lost the position to rookieRob Petitti.[5] He became the starter atleft tackle after the sixth game of the season, whenFlozell Adams was lost after tearing hisACL.[6]
In the2006 offseason, he was as arestricted free agent and theTampa 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 in2007.[7] The Cowboys eventually decided not to match the offer and lost Tucker without receiving any compensation.
TheTampa Bay Buccaneers were looking for Tucker to earn theleft tackle starting role overAnthony Davis, but an arthritic knee forced him to miss nearly all oftraining camp.[8] He was placed on theinjured 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]
On August 17,2007, he was signed as afree agent by theOakland Raiders. He was cut on August 28.
On November 21, 2007, he signed with theNew York Dragons of theArena Football League. He was waived on April 24, 2008.[11]
In2008, he signed with theEdmonton Eskimos of theCanadian Football League. He was cut before the start of the season on June 17.[12]
On August 8,2008, he signed with theHouston Texans as afree agent. He was released on August 29.[13]
In2010, he was signed by theFlorida Tuskers of theUnited Football League, who were coached byJay Gruden.[14] He played 6 games during the season.
In May2011, he signed with theSacramento Mountain Lions of theUnited Football League, reuniting with Gruden.[15] He played 4 games during the season.
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.