Buccaneers Select Tristan Wirfs with No. 13 pick in NFL Draft

Wirfs started at right tackle for the Hawkeyes, but he also started a few games at left tackle

Sports Illustrated | Apr 23, 2020

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected OL Tristan Wirfs with the No. 13 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. An all-around athlete, Wirfs attended Mount Vernon High School where he was a Class 2A Offensive Lineman of the Year, a two-time state champion in the shot put and discus, plus a state wrestling champion during his senior year.

After committing to Iowa, Wirfs was the first true freshman to start for the Hawkeyes under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Wirfs' was dominant on the Iowa offensive line during his junior season and earned 2019 Second-Team Associated Press All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.

For an offensive lineman of his size, Wirfs (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) had an amazing performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He posted a 4.85 time in the 40-yard dash, a 4.68 time in the 20-yard shuttle and a 7.65 time in the 3-cone drill. He also showed off his freakish strength and athleticism by bench-pressing 24 reps, leaping 121 inches in the broad jump drill and positing a 36.5-inch jump in the vertical.

Wirfs is a bully as a run blocker as he consistently pancaked opposing defensive linemen during his career at Iowa. He is also technically sound as a pass blocker and is ready to step in as an offensive line starter during his rookie season.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Wirfs as the No. 11 overall player on his big board:

The first true freshman to start at offensive tackle during the Kirk Ferentz era, Wirfs mostly started at right tackle for the Hawkeyes, but he also started a few games at left tackle. A former state champion wrestler, Wirfs led all offensive linemen at the combine in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and the broad jump.

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Published Apr 23, 2020