Bulaga Goes in the First Round to ‘Titletown’

April 22, 2010

Bulaga NFL Draft Video (ESPN) | Bulaga NFL Draft Video (NFL Network)

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa All-American offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga was selected with the 23rd pick in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Draft on Thursday in New York City.

Bulaga is the 34th Hawkeye to play under head coach Kirk Ferentz to be drafted into the NFL. He is the fourth first-round selection and the first since linebacker Chad Greenway was taken by Minnesota with the 17th pick in the 2006 draft. The other former UI players taken in the first round that played under Ferentz are Robert Gallery (Oakland, 2004) and Dallas Clark (Indianapolis, 2003).

Bulaga was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year after helping the Hawkeyes to a record of 11-2 and a victory in the FedEx Orange Bowl. He is the first Iowa offensive lineman drafted since Seth Olsen was chosen by Denver in the fourth round a year ago. Bulaga is the ninth offensive lineman drafted during Ferentz’s tenure as head coach that began in 1999.

What are the experts saying?

Bulaga is a well-rounded, physical blocker who can hold his own in pass protection and maul in the run game. After a rough start to his junior season, which included some missed games due to a thyroid condition, Bulaga closed it out with a bang by holding Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan without a sack in the FedEx Orange Bowl matchup. Bulaga is characterized as a smart, competitive, hard-working team leader.

At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, Bulaga has prototypical size to play either tackle position as a professional, but it’s his intangibles that made him an elite prospect.

Bulaga is the third Hawkeye offensive lineman selected in the first round by the Packers in the modern draft era, joining Ron Hallstrom (1982) and Ross Verba (1997). Green Bay also selected UI quarterback Randy Duncan in the first round of the 1959 draft.

The selection of Bulaga marks the 33rd consecutive season that Iowa has had a player chosen in the NFL Draft.

Bulaga, who is just 21 years old and started for the UI as a true freshman in 2007, is a native of Crystal Lake, Ill., and a graduate of Marian Central Catholic High School.