North Carolina State Chris Colmer allowed only two sacks in 2004
A good day of marrying need with the best player available continued with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' second pick of the third round on Saturday, as the team tabbed North Carolina State tackle Chris Colmer with the 91st overall selection.
The 6-5, 310-pound Colmer addresses the Buccaneers need for depth along the offensive line. His was the highest pick spent by Tampa Bay on an offensive linemen since Florida's Kenyatta Walker was tabbed in the first round in 2001.
In addition, the Buccaneers are clearly intent on improving their running game, as evidenced by the selection of Auburn running back Carnell Williams with the fifth pick of the first round. Colmer, a very aggressive and hard-nosed competitor, was an accomplished run-blocker at NC State.
Colmer played in 47 games over four seasons with the Wolfpack, though he was redshirted in 1999 and he missed the 2003 campaign due to a nerve condition known as Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. He rebounded to start all 11 games at left tackle and put together an outstanding season. Colmer earned first-team All-ACC honors after recording 59 knockdown blocks and surrendering only two sacks.
Colmer was also a second-team all-conference pick in 2002, his second season as the starting left tackle. He shared the Wolfpack's award for the team's most valuable offensive lineman and was credited with 151 knockdown blocks, a team record. The State offense averaged 391.8 yards per game in 2002 and Colmer was credited with allowing only three sacks.
As a prep in Port Jefferson, New York, Colmer was a standout two-way lineman, and he retained a nasty defensive approach on the collegiate level. The son of two teachers, he was also an Academic All-ACC pick in 2002.
Colmer joined Williams, linebacker Barrett Ruud and tight end Alex Smith as the Bucs' four first-day picks. In Rounds 4-7 on Sunday, the Buccaneers are scheduled to make eight more selections, including two each in the fifth and sixth rounds.
