B. J. Tucker

Baigeh Joe Tucker (born October 12, 1980) is a former professional football cornerback in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers. He also was a member of the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin. He is distinguished as being the first Sierra Leonean to play in the National Football League.

B.J. Tucker
No. 30
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1980-10-12) October 12, 1980
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Height:5 ft 10.75 in (1.80 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:Glendale (WI) Nicolet
College:Wisconsin
NFL Draft:2003 / Round: 6 / Pick: 178
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:10
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

B.J., short for Baigeh Joe, was born in Sierra Leone and moved with his family to Seattle in 1990. He took up football until his teenage years in Milwaukee. Two years later, B.J. had a son with her wife Christine. He named him Leo Kelly, because he had a high hairline.

Tucker attended Nicolet High School, where he played as a cornerback, wide receiver and running back. He led the team in rushing as a junior. The next year, he received Super Prep All-American, All-conference and North Shore Conference Defensive Back of the Year honors, while registering 38 receptions for 628 yards at wide receiver.

He was a standout track and field athlete, winning the state 100 and 200 metres.[1] He also won those events at the Nike Junior Olympics meet in Seattle in 1998. He won 6 state track titles (two each in the 100, 200 and 4 × 400 relay) and was named Wisconsin's 1998 Track Athlete of the Year.

College career

Football

Tucker accepted a scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. He appeared in only one game as a freshman.

In 2000, he was the top backup and nickel back, appearing in 9 games (2 starts), while making 23 tackles and 7 passes defensed. The next year, he started the first two contests and finished with 9 games appearances, 15 tackles and 2 passes defensed.

As a senior, he focused on football and became a starter at right cornerback, posting 76 tackles, 5 interceptions (led the team and second in the conference), 12 passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He finished his college career after playing in 34 games (18 starts), registering 115 tackles (94 solo), 21 passes defensed and 5 interceptions.

Track and field

In 1999, he was a part of the school's Big Ten Conference Champion indoor and outdoor teams, finishing second in the 60 metres at the 2000 indoor finals. In 2000, he helped defend the Big Ten Conference Champion indoor and outdoor championships. In 2001, he finished second in the 100 metres as the school won the Big Ten Conference outdoor track title.

His personal bests were 10.35 seconds in the 100 metres, 21.10 in the 200 metres and 6.70 seconds in the 60 metres.

Personal bests
Event Time (seconds) Venue Date
60 meters 6.70 Ames, Iowa February 12, 2000
100 meters 10.35 Tempe, Arizona March 18, 2000
200 meters 21.10 Iowa City, Iowa May 20, 2000

Professional career

2003 NFL Combine
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m)		 188 lb
(85 kg)		 4.34 s1.61 s2.56 s3.98 s6.79 s35 in
(0.89 m)		10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		16 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Dallas Cowboys

Tucker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft, because of his track speed. He was waived on August 17.[2]

New Orleans Saints

On August 19, 2003, he was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints and was later released on August 31.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed him to their practice squad on September 4, 2003, but was later cut.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to their practice squad on December 12, 2003. He was signed to the active roster on December 24.[3] He was waived before the start of the season on May 20, 2004.[4]

Seattle Seahawks

On February 1, 2005, he was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Seahawks and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. He had a strong showing there, including being named All-NFL Europe, tied for the league lead with 5 interceptions and helped his team win World Bowl XIII. He was released on September 4.[5]

San Francisco 49ers

On October 8, 2005, the San Francisco 49ers signed him to their roster, before being cut 2 days later and signed him to the practice squad on October 12. He would later be waived and signed during different periods of times. On July 16, 2007, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a pectoral muscle injury.[6] He wasn't re-signed after the season.

BC Lions (CFL)

On September 16, 2008, he signed with the BC Lions of the CFL. He played in four games mainly on special teams, before being released on June 18, 2009.[7]

References
  1. "2012 Athletic Hall of Fame". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. "Lions release four as D-linemen Gibbs, Williams shine". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
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