Former Hoosier Luke Haggard Signs With Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Undrafted Free Agent

Luke Haggard started his journey playing junior college football, but he'll have a chance to play in the NFL after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on Saturday.

Jack Ankony | Apr 30, 2023

Former Hoosier Luke Haggard Signs With Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Undrafted Free Agent /

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Former Indiana offensive lineman Luke Haggard signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on Saturday.

Haggard's spot on an NFL roster was far from a sure thing at one point. After beginning his collegiate career at Santa Rosa Junior College in California, Haggard held five scholarship offers, with Indiana and Oregon State as the lone Power 5 options.

Indiana originally viewed Haggard as multi-year developmental player, unsure of his eventual position on the field. But as his frame 6-foot-7 frame started to fill out, he showed makings of a Big Ten left tackle. Haggard played six games with four starts in his first year at Indiana in 2020, helping the Hoosiers reach the Outback Bowl.

He started the final 11 games of the 2021 season, eventually winning team’s Chris Dal Sasso Award, given to the most outstanding lineman. Haggard was a steady force at left tackle in 2022, starting all 12 games and growing into a leader for the unit.

And now, after a long journey, Haggard has a chance to play on Sundays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It's a really kind of a great story because he was a guy that was not a longtime offensive lineman," Darren Hiller, Indiana's former offensive line coach, said. "He was a high school kid that was tall and skinny and was a defensive end, tight end type of player, and didn't really get recruited just because he didn't really have a position. He was kind of a big baby giraffe, I guess is the best way that I would say it."

Wearing No. 70, Haggard pulled all the way from left tackle to pave the way for a long Shaun Shivers touchdown against Michigan State.

7️⃣9️⃣ YARDS. 😱@V8Blazing x @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/W0kPRAXT6h
— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) November 19, 2022

Here are Haggard's strengths, according to NFLDraftBuzz.com:

He’s a coordinated athlete who can win at the point of attack in the run game, and Haggard can also move to consistently land blocks at the second level.
Carries his weight naturally, wide-framed with low body fat, along with long arms and large, powerful hands. Haggard moves naturally, with agile feet and the natural balance to mirror in pass protection.
Consistently lands blocks at the second level, and he finishes strong. As a pass protector, he has violent, heavy hands. Along with a strong initial punch, he has the hand strength to grip and redirect pass rushers.
In the run game, he explodes off the line of scrimmage and consistently gets out to the second level to do damage.
Is effective when asked to pull, showing the agility, speed, and overall range to get out as a lead blocker, where he locates defenders and shows the ability to adjust and land blocks against linebackers.
He’s especially light on his feet considering his size, a fluid mover who has natural balance as he kick-slides and sets. Haggard has the long arms to ward off pass rushers and send them flying past the pocket.

Here are Haggard's weaknesses, according to NFLDraftBuzz.com:

Needs to work on his technique in pass protection, using more consistent leverage and continuing to move his feet.
While Haggard displays a decent amount of strength at the point of attack, he lacks the raw power to re-establish the line of scrimmage in short-yardage situations.
Is a bit underpowered, often coming off the line of scrimmage too high and struggling to generate movement. Haggard might be no more than a wall-off, angle blocker.

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