B. J. Tucker

B.J. Tucker
No. 30
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1980-10-12) October 12, 1980
Place of birth: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school: Glendale (WI) Nicolet
College: Wisconsin
NFL draft: 2003 / Round: 6 / Pick: 178
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Baigeh Joe Tucker (born October 12, 1980) is a former professional football cornerback in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers. He also played in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin. He is distinguished as being the first Sierra Leonean to play in the National Football League.

Early years

B.J., short for Baigeh Joe, was born in Sierra Leone and took up football until his teenage years. He attended Nicolet High School where he was a standout track and field athlete, winning the state 100 and 200 meters, while also receiving national accolades.[1]

College career

Tucker accepted a scholarship for the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a letter in his freshman year of 1999. He was the top backup and nickel back in 2000, when was in on 22 tackles and broke up seven passes. He started the first two games in 2001 and had 15 tackles and broke up two passes.

In 2002, he became a starter and had 76 tackles, 5 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He finished his college career after playing in 34 games (18 starts), registering 115 tackles (94 solo), 21 passes defensed and 5 interceptions.

Track and field

Tucker ran track at Wisconsin and helped the school win the Big Ten Conference title during his first three years. He finished first in the Big Ten 60 m dash in 2001 and second in the 100 m dash in 2002. His personal bests are 10.35 seconds in the 100 meters, 21.10 in the 200 meters and 6.70 seconds in the 60 meters.

Personal bests

Event Time (seconds) Venue Date
60 meters 6.70 Ames, Iowa February 12, 2000
100 meters 10.35 Tempe, Arizona March 18, 2000
200 meters 21.10 Iowa City, Iowa May 20, 2000

Professional career

2003 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
5 ft 11 in 188 lb 4.34 s 1.61 s 2.56 s 3.98 s 6.79 s 35 in 10 ft 6 in 16 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Dallas Cowboys

Tucker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft, because of his track speed. He was waived on August 17.[2]

New Orleans Saints

He was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints and released on August 31, 2003.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed him to their practice squad on September 4, 2003.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to their practice squad on December 12, 2003. He was signed to the active roster on December 24.[3] He was waived before the start of the season on May 20, 2004.[4]

Seattle Seahawks

On February 2, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks and allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. He had a strong showing there, including being named All-NFL Europe, tied for the league lead with 5 interceptions and helped his team win World Bowl XIII. He was signed to team's practice squad on September 5, before being released on September 15.[5]

San Francisco 49ers

On September 15, 2005, the San Francisco 49ers signed him to their practice squad and would later be waived and signed during different periods of times. On July 16, 2007, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a pectoral muscle injury.[6]

BC Lions (CFL)

On September 16, 2008, he signed with the BC Lions of the CFL. He played in four games mainly on special teams, before being released on June 18, 2009.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "2012 Athletic Hall of Fame". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Lions release four as D-linemen Gibbs, Williams shine". Retrieved February 19, 2016.

External links

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