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Detroit Lions Johnny Culbreath |
ALLEN PARK, Mich.— The Detroit Lions took offensive lineman
Johnny Culbreath with what's likely their final pick of this year's NFL draft, No. 209 overall. Culbreath, 6-foot-5, 322 pounds and a four-year starter, is from Robert Porcher's alma matter South Carolina State.
"A little bit of a developmental project but he has all the tools," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.
The Lions have made five picks in the draft and don't have any selections remaining as the seventh round ticks down to its conclusion.
2011 NFL Draft: Jim Schwartz Discusses Johnny Culbreath Pick
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz met with the media to discuss Johnny Culbreath, the team's seventh-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Via the Lions, here is a transcript of the media session:
On T Johnny Culbreath
"Johnny, four-year starter at South Carolina State, big man, good athlete, lower-level competition, but I spent a lot of time with him. Myself, Dave Sears our area scout, and Jeremiah Washburn our assistant o-line coach went down to South Carolina's workout. We happened to be able to see South Carolina State's also. It was raining so they came over to the indoor facility. They had a really, really good workout and his tape was good so we brought him in here to spend some time with our coaches. We like his size, we like his athletic ability, he's a little bit of a developmental project, but he has the tools. He's a guy that our coaches are very anxious to work with."
On whether he'll be an inside or outside player
"It's probably too early to say. He's played tackle, could play left and right; but there's a possibility to move him to guard. He's a good athlete, bends really well, again, four-year starter. I don't know if this is the gospel truth, but he committed to Florida State out of High School and didn't have the grades, so he ended up at South Carolina State. He's got a pretty good lineage. We didn't pick him because he supposedly committed to Florida State,
we picked him based on his tape from South Carolina State, based on his size and based on the workout that he had and also for when we brought him in for a physical. He wasn't at the combine, so we needed to bring him here to get a physical."
NFL Draft 2011: Johnny Culbreath Speaks About Being Picked By Detroit Lions
Shortly after becoming the Detroit Lions'
seventh-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, South Carolina State offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath had a conference call with the media.
Via the Lions, you can check some quotes from that call below.
On his journey to the NFL
"I had committed to Florida State and ended up going to South Carolina State due to grades and GPA and test scores and stuff. I had a great career there; we were three-time MEAC Championships behind me and my great offensive linemen and great running back corps. and great guys we had there. I had a lot of great achievements there. I was two-time All American; I was also player of the year in our conference my junior year. I had a really great season there. This has all worked out for the better, I guess."
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