National Football League

Bucs continue defensive-minded draft

Published May. 1, 2011 1:20 a.m. ET

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Ahmad Black's college resume included everything pro teams look for in a hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety except size and speed.

So when the NFL draft began, the former Florida star sat and sat and sat before his telephone finally rang and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the other end.

The Bucs selected Black in the fifth round Saturday, continuing an overhaul of a defense could wind up being one of the youngest in the league next season.

''It's been a long couple of days,'' Black said by telephone from nearby Lakeland, where he grew up rooting for the Bucs and helped his high school team win three consecutive state championships before heading off to college, where he started 39 of 48 games and was part one national championship.

''Coming off the last couple of years I had at Florida, I thought I'd be picked a little bit earlier. A few things set me back a little bit, I guess the measurables,'' he added. ''At the end of the day, I just wanted a chance. I appreciate the opportunity that's being given to me.''

Black closed out his college career with an MVP performance in the Outback Bowl, which is played at Raymond James Stadium - the home of the Buccaneers.

The 5-foot-9, 184-pound safety had 13 career interceptions at Florida, including one he returned 80 yards for a touchdown to clinch the Gators' Outback Bowl victory over Penn State.

One of five defensive players selected by the Bucs, Black grew up as a fan of the team and even had a chance to meet some of the club's biggest stars - Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn - because his aunt was a Bucs cheerleader for six seasons and still occasionally assists with the squad.

''Growing up I used to always be at the functions, the team picnics and things like that,'' Black said. ''Just being around those guys, it always made me want to play for Tampa. Those guys being friendly to me when I was little made me like the team even more.''

The Bucs made four other selections Saturday, taking Tennessee tight end Luke Stocker in the fourth round and picking Southern California running back Allen Bradford in the sixth. They added Florida International cornerback Anthony Gaitor and Idaho tight end Daniel Hardy in the seventh round.

Black began his college career as a reserve cornerback and made the transition as a sophomore to strong safety. Despite being Florida's leading tackler and having five interceptions as a senior, some NFL shied away from him because of his lack of size and lack of speed (4.70 in the 40-yard dash).

''He a productive player. He's a great kid off the field or on the field,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said. ''He's always produced. He's always been able to battle above some of the limitations that people always thought he had.''

Black hopes to compete for a starting job as a rookie, but noted he contributed on special teams at Florida and is eager to do anything he can to help the Bucs.

''I'm very capable. I'm not going to count myself out,'' Black said of the prospect of earning a starting job. ''At the same time, it's also a learning process.''

Stocker was the first offensive player taken by the Bucs, who used their first three picks on defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers and Washington linebacker Mason Foster.

To get the 6-foot-5, 253-pound tight end, Dominik made a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up 12 spots in the draft order. Stocker had 39 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns as a senior at Tennessee and feels his skills complement those of Bucs starter Kellen Winslow.

''He's got great size. He's a great worker. He plays special teams,'' Dominik said. ''He catches the ball very well and he also is a good blocker.''

At 5-11, 235 pounds, Bradford is comparable in size to Bucs running back LeGarrett Blount, an undrafted free agent who joined Tampa Bay just before the start of last season and wound up rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie.

That's not a coincidence.

A converted defensive player at USC, Bradford averaged nearly 6 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns on 267 carries despite being a part-time starter during his college career. As a senior, he gained 7.22 per carry while rushing for 794 yards and five TDs.

''We like big backs,'' said Dominik, who started the trend by signing Blount and Kregg Lumpkin off waivers last year. ''We went big back hunting again today and brought in another one we're really fired up about. He's got great strength, great power.''

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