cowboyjoe
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Anatomy of a prospect: Illinois OT Xavier Fulton
11:00 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
When the NFL needs speed, its teams look down South. When the NFL needs power, its teams look to the North.
The Big Ten has long been a power conference that has produced prototypical NFL offensive linemen who can drive block in addition to pass protect. The best Big Ten offensive tackle has gone in the Top 3 of the last two drafts -- Michigan's Jake Long first overall to Miami in 2008 and Wisconsin's Joe Thomas third overall to Cleveland in 2007.
If you want to run the football in the NFL, you might need a Big Ten lineman or two. The top-rated Big Ten offensive tackle in this draft is Xavier Fulton, a three-year starter at Illinois and a two-time second-team All-Big Ten pick. In 2007 Illinois set school records for rushing yards and fewest sacks in a single season. In 2008 the Illini led the Big Ten in passing.
Fulton (6-4 1/2, 302) has a huge upside. He spent his first two college seasons on the defensive line, starting seven games at tackle as a true freshman. So he has only played on the offensive line for two years. He's still learning the position, so his best days at offensive tackle are still ahead of him. He projects as a mid-round draft pick.
Anatomy of a prospect: Illinois OT Xavier Fulton
11:00 AM Thu, Mar 26, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
When the NFL needs speed, its teams look down South. When the NFL needs power, its teams look to the North.
The Big Ten has long been a power conference that has produced prototypical NFL offensive linemen who can drive block in addition to pass protect. The best Big Ten offensive tackle has gone in the Top 3 of the last two drafts -- Michigan's Jake Long first overall to Miami in 2008 and Wisconsin's Joe Thomas third overall to Cleveland in 2007.
If you want to run the football in the NFL, you might need a Big Ten lineman or two. The top-rated Big Ten offensive tackle in this draft is Xavier Fulton, a three-year starter at Illinois and a two-time second-team All-Big Ten pick. In 2007 Illinois set school records for rushing yards and fewest sacks in a single season. In 2008 the Illini led the Big Ten in passing.
Fulton (6-4 1/2, 302) has a huge upside. He spent his first two college seasons on the defensive line, starting seven games at tackle as a true freshman. So he has only played on the offensive line for two years. He's still learning the position, so his best days at offensive tackle are still ahead of him. He projects as a mid-round draft pick.