MORGANTOWN -
Add Tyler Urban to the list of Mountaineers turning Tampa,
Fla. into Morgantown South.
The West Virginia University tight end was announced as one
of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' undrafted free agent signings, though he says he
still has not physically put his signature on any documents.
His agent signed his own paperwork, and as he waited for the
fax to come through to make the deal official, Urban spoke about what the
opportunity means for him following a four-year career with WVU.
"I was talking to a bunch of different teams, they all
wanted me to come in and see me more, but Tampa was in touch with me for awhile
now after pro day and in the last three weeks leading up to the draft I talked
to them at least once or twice a week," said Urban. "I knew they had interest
before and it just felt like a good fit. With a whole new coaching staff and
especially with guys that I've played against when they were coaches."
Urban and the other Mountaineers will be trying to impress a
coaching staff led by former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano, who never once
triumphed over West Virginia in his stint with the Scarlet Knights.
The opportunity to play for Schiano now is a clear
indication that these WVU athletes made an impression in their meetings with
Rutgers over the past few seasons.
"It's a little different, but that kind of goes to show that
in college, every game is an audition and a tryout," says Urban. "You've got to
bring your ‘A' game all the time in college because there are always people
watching you and it's giving me an opportunity now."
As an undrafted free agent, Urban will have a difficult path
ahead of him to make the team and progress to the point where he really
contributes on the field. He will report to Tampa along with Najee Goode, Keith
Tandy and Cody Nutter on Thursday and take part in the rookie mini camp
throughout the weekend.
Urban says in his conversations with the Bucs, the coaches
have expressed interest in using him as a tight end, receiver or even as a
fullback, but he knows his quickest path to success could come via special
teams. He believes his time with the Mountaineers has prepared him for whatever
role he is asked to fill in Tampa.
"It's a whole new chapter, but at the same time, when I was
at West Virginia I got game reps doing these multiple positions, so that's
certainly going to help me," says Urban.
Having teammates alongside him who are aware of his talents
and his habits and who he is as a person will go a long way in easing the
transition as Urban and the other WVU contingency get through the coming months
in their rookie campaigns together.
"At this level you've got to push yourself, but having those
guys there also will push me harder just because you know them and we all know
what each other can do," says Urban.
Soon the paperwork will be signed and Urban will begin
packing his bags for the first stop in his quest to fulfill his dream of
playing professional football.
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