Aqib Talib
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| NFL draft: | 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20 |
| Career history | |
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Aqib Talib (born February 13, 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played cornerback and wide receiver for the University of Kansas. His first name means "the last to come". He was named so by his mother as he was the youngest of 4 children. Talib was widely considered one of the top defensive players in the Big 12 Conference and among the best cornerbacks in college football.[1] On December 12, 2007, Talib was named an All-America first-team member by the Associated Press.[2]
High School Years
Talib attended Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas and lettered in football, basketball, and track. In football, as a senior, he was named the Berkner High School's Defensive Back of the Year while garnering first-team all-district and first-team all-city honors.
College career
2005 season
After redshirting in his first year at Kansas, Talib contributed substantially to a strong Jayhawk defense. Playing alongside now NFL cornerback Charles Gordon, Talib played in 11 games, starting nine. He recorded two interceptions and led the team by breaking up eight passes. He helped Kansas achieve a 7-5 record, including a 42-13 victory against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl. For his efforts, Talib was named all-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the conference coaches, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a freshman all-American by Rivals.com.
2006 season
As a sophomore, Talib was the defensive leader of a Jayhawk team that finished 6-6. He led the nation in passes broken up per game and recorded six interceptions. In the final game of the season against the Missouri Tigers, Talib deflected four passes and scored a 42-yard touchdown after lining up as a wide receiver. He picked up first-team all-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches and was named a second-team all-American by Sports Illustrated.
2007 season
Talib has established himself as one of the best defensive college football players in the country as a junior, becoming a consensus all-American. He also continued to play sparingly as a wide receiver, catching four touchdown passes through the first nine games. He ended a potentially game-winning drive by intercepting a pass from Josh Freeman against Kansas State. He has also returned an interception more than 100 yards for a touchdown. In the 2008 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, Talib returned an interception for a touchdown and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He announced on Jan. 6, 2008 that he would forego his senior season and enter the 2008 NFL Draft.
2008 NFL combine
As one of the nation's top cornerback prospects, Talib received an invitation to the 2008 NFL Combine, held at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Talib was measured as having a 42-inch vertical leap, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, bench pressing 225 pounds a total of 10 times and notching a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. [3] As a result of his workouts, NFL draft experts have predicted Talib to go in the mid- to late-first round.
Talib has reportedly been removed from "multiple teams'" draft boards due to alleged marijuana use in college. Talib reportedly acknowledged at the Combine that he tested positive for pot three times at Kansas. [4]
External links
References
- ^ New York Times article
- ^ Wood, Ryan."Three Jayhawks AP All-America", Lawrence Journal-World, December 12, 2007.
- ^ Results - Defensive Backs
- ^ Character concerns drop Talib, Manningham from multiple draft boards