Aqib Talib

Infobox NFLactive
name=Aqib Talib
currentteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
currentnumber=25
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1986|2|13
birthplace=Cleveland, Ohio
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=205
debutyear=2008
debutteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
college=Kansas
draftyear=2008
draftround=1
draftpick=20
pastteams=
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008-present)
status=Active Player
highlights=
* All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2005)
* All-Big 12 First Team (2006, 2007)
* Consensus First Team All-American (2007)
* FedEx Orange Bowl MVP (2008)
nfl=TAL428789

Aqib Talib (born February 13, 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers 20th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was a unanimous All-American at the University of Kansas in 2007. [cite news |first=Tully |last=Corcoran |title=Talib named All-American, Talib is KU's first undisputed All-America player since Sayers in 1964 |url=http://www.cjonline.com/stories/121207/haw_224827193.shtml |work=Topeka Capital-Journal |location=Topeka, Kansas |date=December 12, 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-03 |quote=With his Associated Press All-America selection on Tuesday, the junior cornerback became just the second Jayhawk ever to earn unanimous All-America honors — AP, Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News — joining Gale Sayers, who did it in 1964.]

Early years

Talib attended Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas and lettered in football, basketball, and track. In football, as a senior, he was named the Berkner High School's Defensive Back of the Year while garnering first-team all-district and first-team all-city honors. As a college football prospect during his senior year, he was rated 2 stars by Rivals.com. He was recruited by Kansas, Kansas State, Wyoming, Tulsa, Arizona, and Baylor. He chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for Kansas. [cite web|url=http://nfldraft.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=24663&sport=1|title=Aqib Talib|publisher=Rivals.com]

College career

2005 season

After redshirting in his first year at Kansas, Talib contributed substantially to a strong Jayhawk defense. Playing alongside now NFL cornerback Charles Gordon, Talib played in 11 games, starting nine. He recorded two interceptions and led the team by breaking up eight passes. He helped Kansas achieve a 7-5 record, including a 42-13 victory against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl. For his efforts, Talib was named all-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the conference coaches, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a freshman all-American by Rivals.com.

2006 season

As a sophomore, Talib was the defensive leader of a Jayhawk team that finished 6-6. He led the nation in passes broken up per game and recorded six interceptions. In the final game of the season against the Missouri Tigers, Talib deflected four passes and scored a 42-yard touchdown after lining up as a wide receiver. He picked up first-team all-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches and was named a second-team all-American by Sports Illustrated.

2007 season

Talib has established himself as one of the best defensive college football players in the country as a junior, becoming a consensus All-American. He also continued to play sparingly as a wide receiver, catching four touchdown passes through the first nine games. Against rival Kansas State, Talib preserved a victory by intercepting a Josh Freeman pass in the final moments of the game. He has also returned an interception 102 yards for a touchdown against Florida International. In the 2008 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, Talib returned an interception for a touchdown and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He announced on Jan. 6, 2008 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 NFL Draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft

As one of the nation's top cornerback prospects, Talib received an invitation to the 2008 NFL Combine, held at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. Talib had an excellent workout, posting a 38-inch vertical leap, running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 6.82-second 3 cone drill, bench pressing 225 pounds 10 times and notching a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. [ [http://www.sportznutz.com/nfl/draft/2008/combine/defensive_backs.htm Results - Defensive Backs ] ]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Talib was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 20th Pick in the NFL draft, becoming the first KU player to be drafted in the first round since 1993. Talib also became the second ever cornerback taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round (Rod Jones 1986) [Wood, Ryan. [http://www2.kusports.com/news/2008/apr/27/talib_first_firstround_jayhawk_1993/?football "Talib First First-round Jayhawks since 1993"] , "Lawrence Journal-World", April 27, 2008.]

At the NFL rookie symposium in July, Talib was involved in a fist fight with fellow Buccaneers rookie Cory Boyd. [ [http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/07/02/symposium-sluggers-identified/ ProFootballTalk.com - SYMPOSIUM SLUGGERS IDENTIFIED ] ]

2008 Season

Talib recorded his first career interception in Week 2 of the 2008 season against the Atlanta Falcons.

Personal

His first name is Arabic and means "the last to come". He was named so by his mother as he was the youngest of 4 children.

References

External links

* [http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/talib_aqib00.html Kansas Jayhawks bio]

Persondata
NAME= Talib, Aqib
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American football player
DATE OF BIRTH= February 13, 1986
PLACE OF BIRTH= Cleveland, OH
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=