Buck Gurley

Sheddrick Tobias "Buck" Gurley (born April 7, 1978) is a high school football coach and former American football defensive tackle. Gurley played college football for Florida. He played professionally in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was part of the 2002 Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl XXXVII.

Early life

Gurley was born in Quincy, Florida in 1978. He attended Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Florida, and he played high school football for the Godby Cougars. Gurley was considered one of the nation's top defensive line prospects, and was recognized as a consensus high school All-American, including first-team All-American honors from USA Today, in 1995. As a redshirt senior in 2000, he was a member of the Gators' 2000 SEC Championship team. Gurley graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in health and human performance in 2001.

Professional career

Gurley was not selected during the 2001 NFL draft, and he signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent after the draft in April 2001. He was cut from the Dolphins after the preseason and later was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad for several days during the regular season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 7. He played in eight games during the Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII championship season.