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Aqib Talib (born February 13, 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers 20th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was a unanimous All-American at the University of Kansas in 2007.[1]
[edit] Early 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. As a college football prospect during his senior year, he was rated 2 stars by Rivals.com. He was recruited by Kansas, Kansas State, Wyoming, Tulsa, Arizona, and Baylor. He chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for Kansas.[2]
[edit] College career
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 2007 season
Talib has established himself as one of the best defensive college football players in the country as a junior, becoming a unanimous 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 forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 NFL Draft.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Pre-draft
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 had an excellent workout, posting a 38-inch vertical leap, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 6.82-second 3 cone drill, bench pressing 225 pounds 10 times and notching a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. [3]
[edit] Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Talib was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 20th Pick in the NFL draft, becoming the first KU player to be drafted in the first round since 1993.[4]
[edit] Personal
His first name is Arabic and means "the last to come,". He was named so by his mother as he was the youngest of 4 children.
[edit] References
- ^ Corcoran, Tully. "Talib named All-American, Talib is KU's first undisputed All-America player since Sayers in 1964", Topeka Capital-Journal, December 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-03. "With his Associated Press All-America selection on Tuesday, the junior cornerback became just the second Jayhawk ever to earn unanimous All-America honors — AP, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News — joining Gale Sayers, who did it in 1964."
- ^ Aqib Talib. Rivals.com.
- ^ Results - Defensive Backs
- ^ Wood, Ryan."Talib First First-round Jayhawks since 1993", Lawrence Journal-World, April 27, 2008.
[edit] External links
