“A Fifth-Quarter” Story
June 7th, 2016
Guard Ali Marpet’s Division-III-to-second-round-pick story made NFL history. But perhaps Marpet’s deeper football roots are more stunning.
One would think an NFL player would possess a proud youth football history, assuming he played youth football. That’s not the case for Marpet.
Speaking on Total Access on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Marpet explained that played tight end as a kid but never scored a touchdown and primarily was relegated to the postgame game — reserved for the kids who stink.
“I was a third-string tight end. So we had a fifth-quarter that was set out for the players who weren’t as talented as the others,” Marpet said. “So I was the fifth quarter kind of tight end. There’s hope for the fifth-quarter guys.”
Keep in mind Marpet grew up in suburban New York, which his hardly a football hotbed.
Joe this all pretty damn cool, especially considering Bucs general manager Jason Licht touts how deeply his personnel department researches draft picks. They dive into players’ histories going back as far as elementary school. Despite the Division III status, despite playing tight end with the scrubs, Licht boldly traded up for Marpet.
June 7th, 2016 at 10:56 am
I like Licht… He’s been able to overcome everything but Lovie Smith’s incompetence and pathetic staff of unqualified friends and family. The future is bright for licht now the scrubs are in the cornfields working on the Midwest cursing epidemic.
June 7th, 2016 at 11:29 am
This year’s version’s name is Ryan Smith.
June 7th, 2016 at 11:59 am
Ryan Smith looks like Jalen Ramsey
, measirements, no?
June 7th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Donovan Smith from NY too.
June 7th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
“cursing epidemic” That was funny tmaxcon.
June 7th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
The Realist would tell you that Lovie didn’t believe the football game begins until the fifth quarter…….
June 7th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
@tmaxcon…if the bucs don’t make the playoffs, lichts future wont be so bright…GO BUCS!!!!
June 7th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
@ Pawel
Their measurables are very similar. I’d never thought to compare the two.
June 7th, 2016 at 11:16 pm
I really like Marpet. He seems like just an unassuming regular guy. But stuffed into a nasty ‘tuded NFL body.
June 8th, 2016 at 9:40 am
I too like Marpet but, he is another Bucs’ lineman that must improve his pass-blocking skills, and probably will.
June 8th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
tmaxcon Says
“I like Licht… He’s been able to overcome everything but…”
…his own horrible free agent choices.
June 8th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
No one has to sell me on Marpet. I was the first to sing his praises here, months before he was drafted.