If Joe is rooting for any of the rookies to make the Bucs, it has to be seventh round wide receiver Sammie Stroughter. The guy was a stud at Oregon State his junior year when he came down with a bout of depression so severe football was an afterthought.

Maybe that’s why he slipped so far in the draft. Now with his depression under control, Stroughter has impressed coaches with his skills and his work ethic, so writes good guy Backwards Hat, better known as Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger.

Through the first week of camp, Stroughter has carried himself well, receivers coach Richard Mann said.

“We thought he was a good player coming out of (Oregon State),” Mann said. “We thought he’ll make a good inside receiver, and what we’ve seen so far, he has a chance to do that. He’s a hard worker. We’ll see what happens when we take it over to the preseason games, but if it looks like it does right now, he’ll have a chance to compete for time.”

Joe really believes the Bucs got a steal with Stroughter in the seventh round. Joe’s really pulling for the guy. After what he’s been through, it would really be neat if Stroughter could find himself on the Bucs roster.