Iowa's Star LT Bulaga entering draft

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 6, 2010 11:50 PM CST

Iowa's star LT Bulaga entering draft

Less than 24 hours after helping Iowa to a win in the FedEx Orange Bowl, star left tackle Bryan Bulaga announced he's entering the NFL draft.

Bulaga, named the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year, is projected as one of the nation's top tackle prospects. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors this fall despite missing three games because of a thyroid condition, which he said played a role in his decision to leave school early.

"This was not an easy decision since my Iowa experience has been very positive and rewarding," Bulaga said in a statement released through the school. "The illness I was faced with at the beginning of the 2009 season made me realize how important football is in my life and how quickly it can be taken away.

"I want to thank coach [Kirk] Ferentz, coach [Reese] Morgan and the rest of the Iowa football staff who played a significant role in my development."

The 6-6, 315-pound Bulaga earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last year and put himself on the NFL draft radar. He drew comparisons to former Iowa star lineman Robert Gallery entering the 2009 season.Bulaga's departure along with that of guard Dace Richardson and tackle Kyle Calloway means Iowa will need to replace three all-conference offensive linemen next fall.

"Bryan has been a valued team member, well beyond his outstanding play on the field," Ferentz said in a statement. "I'm very appreciative of his efforts on the team's behalf. I am confident Bryan will do very well in the years to come and again be a valuable asset to his future team. We wish him the best and continued success."

-Adam Rittenberg

He has fallen a bit because of that thyroid condition. personally, being an iowa fan and watching him most of the past three years, i never really found him impressive. I doubt he can make it in the NFL as a LT, like Robert Gallery. He may have to move. But he did have a pretty good game against a pretty good DE prospect in Morgan.

Bulaga is listed at 6'6" 312 lbs

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

ESPN also reporting

that UCLA DE Brian Price, South Florida DE Pierre-Paul, Florida TE Aaron Hernandez all going pro too.

Evan Royster of Penn St is returning for his senior season.

"We're not losers, we just can't win!"

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 6, 2010 11:54 PM CST reply actions

As a fellow Hawkeye fan

I share your doubts about Bulaga being an NFL left tackle. I watched Gallery absolutely dominate that position for 2 years in college. If he couldn’t make it as a LT, I don’t see how Bulaga can. Bulaga was good, no doubt, but not nearly as unbeatable as Gallery was at the college level.

Still, sorry to see him leave but hope he has a great NFL career.

by Black and Gold on Jan 7, 2010 12:27 AM CST reply actions

Agree 100%

Watch every game and he is a very good LT, but he does not dominate. I still think he will be a very good RT or guard. I still think he goes 1st round though unless he has a terrible combine.

by Helmets on Jan 7, 2010 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

Got to agree with my fellow Hawk fans here.

He’s got some of the physical attributes/skills but hasn’t really dominated. But is he a John Tait RT type? Or could he be like Gallery, put on some weight and slide inside to LG?

He’s definitely a talent but needs some serious coaching, and may never be anyone’s left tackle of the future.

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Jan 7, 2010 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

gallery

I don’t know what happened to Gallery (maybe playing in oakland), or maybe he got paid and lost some work ethic.
but as far as Bulaga goes, I think he could play LG very well, he is very good a blocking down the field and could run people over pulling from the guard position.

Patience is truly a virtue, good things will happen soon

by Scalper7 on Jan 7, 2010 12:37 AM CST via mobile reply actions

i do believe playing in oakland

was his biggest problem. i’m sure the money helped, but playing in a circus like that team, there is no way you’d be disciplined.

whether it was coaching, bad habits of teammates, or even the big move from iowa to the big city. i’m willing to bet that if he ever went anywhere with a good line coach, and a coach teaching discipline he’d be good.

to this point, i’d almost say steinbach, nelson, yanda, etc have had better NFL careers.

"We're not losers, we just can't win!"

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 7, 2010 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

Bulaga is overrated

He didn’t even play against Morgan, Iowa moved their best OL, a redshirt freshman, over to shut down Morgan.

Bulaga may be the 3rd best player on that line this year

* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers

by stagdsp on Jan 7, 2010 11:39 AM CST reply actions

that is absolutely false.

and here is how i know it is false: bulaga had a holding call against him while going against morgan.

yes, they did move the offensive linemen around a lot during the game, but Bulaga went up against morgan and morgan didn’t win many, if any of the battles.

that said, Iowa also put TE Tony Moaeki in motion behind bulaga to help run block

"We're not losers, we just can't win!"

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 7, 2010 11:42 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not making it up...that was what my rabid-hawk-friend said

I’m referring to Riley Reiff, who filled in for Bulaga at LT, but then moved over to RT, moving Callaway in to RG.

Reiff has been referred to as the best OL on the team, by Kirk F.

Now, I’m being told that Bulaga did line up against Morgan for much of the game, so I stand corrected.

But, I stand by my assertion that he’s overrated :)

by stagdsp on Jan 7, 2010 12:54 PM CST up reply actions

Morgan beat him right at the beginning on a run play the other way.

I got scared right off the bat.

In the past 10 years, just four team owners have not paid a luxury tax and are not on pace to pay one this year: Donald Sterling, Jerry Reinsdorf, Chris Cohen (Golden State), Bob Johnson (Charlotte).

Two owners’ teams averaged an operating income of over +$10 million per year while their teams have lost over 60% of their games: Donald Sterling and Jerry Reinsdorf.

by tyger1147 on Jan 11, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

yeah, it is fine.

and i never argued that he isn’t over-rated. i believe he is. as i said initially, i do not think he’ll be a LT, and may never play a down at LT in the NFL, unless Al Davis renews his man-crush on Robert Gallery 2.0.

That said, he did do a pretty good job against Morgan, and has went up against the best the Big 10 has had to offer. blame it on the ‘thyroid issue’ if you want, but he just hasn’t looked that great. but apparently the information from the NFL told him that scouts think otherwise, so what do we know? lol.

"We're not losers, we just can't win!"

by chief Stevie_k on Jan 7, 2010 3:07 PM CST reply actions

He was better in 2008 than in 2009

At times in 2008 he was absolutely dominant. It was only late in the 2009 campaign that he started to look like he did the second half of 2008. If he gets totally healthy, however, his upside is enormous. He’s big, physical, and has a mean streak. I do agree he might make a better guard than tackle at the next level, but he’ll be a mainstay on an NFL offensive line if he avoids any further major health problems.

I was at the Orange Bowl Tuesday night. Bulaga played a great game. Iowa sealed the win by running to his side late in the game and he, along with the rest of the OL, were mauling the GT front four.

by DonnyDonovan on Jan 7, 2010 5:15 PM CST reply actions