DENMAN IS A BUCCANEER  Former Tehachapi Warrior the first to be drafted by the NFL

HOMETOWN HISTORY CONVERSATION - Chris Denman, at his Tehachapi home on draft day, receives his phone call from Tampa Bay.  The Buccaneers are notifying Denman that he is the fourth pick of the seventh round in the NFL draft. - Photo Michael Duffy

NOT WASTING ANY TIME - Denman lines up in pre-season workouts with Tampa Bay during their mini-camp in early May.  The Buccaneer line across the board has some new blood vying to crack the starting line-up, which bodes well for newcomers like the former Tehachapi and Fresno State tackle.- Photo by Buccaneers.com

Posted 04-29-07

TEHACHAPI NEWS - It was first reported by the Boston Globe just a little after 7 a.m. Sunday morning that the New England Patriots were interested in drafting Chris Denman, with beat-writer Mike Reiss reporting that he “fits what the team profile in what they want in a player.” While Denman may have been heavily considered by the three-time super bowl champion, New England elected to take Corey Hilliard from Oklahoma State instead, opening the door for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lasso in the former Tehachapi Warrior in the early seventh round.

The selection makes Denman the first player in THS history to be drafted by an NFL team, and fourth player to be invited to a pre-season camp. Duane Pettitt (San Diego Chargers), Rodney Michael (Indianapolis Colts), and Michael Hall (Washington Redskins) are the other former Warriors to see NFL stardom.

“Right now I’m just real happy, when I got that phone call it was just great,” said Denman. “The phone rang and I talked to a scout and a few of the offensive line coaches and just worked out the details to get down there for mini camp (this week).”

There was high tension and anxiety for Denman’s potential selection, with the former Fresno State offensive tackle projected in the top 10 on many draft boards and not lower than 18 overall among draft-eligible tackles. There were 17 players in Denman’s position taken before Tampa Bay pulled the trigger, marking some doubt if the selection would arrive at all.

But then the call came, with Tampa Bay inviting Denman to become their eighth overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, and second offensive lineman taken.

“He’s just jazzed right now, we all are,” said father and Warrior football coach Steve Denman. “It was stressful, they projected him going anywhere from the fifth to the seventh round so it was just a waiting game. He’s still got to make the squad, but it’s a great day, we’re glad that it all worked out.”

Denman caught national attention after a stellar four-year career at Fresno State, where he was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection and invitee to the Hula Bowl, a top showcase NCAA all-star game of some of the nation’s top collegiate football players. While playing with the Bulldogs, Denman anchored what many consider to be the best offensive line in school history, helping Fresno state to 228 yards per game and 36 rushing touchdowns in 2004 and a yardage mark that was as high as fifth in the nation during his blocking tenure.

"Chris Denman comes from a good program, we feel that Pat Hill (Fresno State head coach) is one of the best coaches in football, particularly on the offensive line," said Tampa Bay Buccaneer head coach Jon Gruden. "He's a big tackle, a big guy that can play on the right side, has some versatility to go inside, and overall he just has a physical presence that we like."

At the conclusion of his senior year in 2006, Denman was invited to attend the NFL combine and pro-day events, where his stock shot up like a rocket. Denman posted high marks in the 40-yard dash (5.48), 225 pound bench press (21 repetitions), vertical jump (27.5”), three-cone drill (7.97), broad jump (8’1”), and 20-yard shuttle (4.70). These achievements were amassed with a recorded weight of 315 pounds and a height of 6’ 6 3/4”, turning many heads in the scouting box at both events.

Denman was the 214th player selected in the draft, and fourth player overall in the seventh round.

“It’s an honor to be the first Tehachapi Warrior to get drafted,” added Denman. “I’m ready to get (to Tampa Bay) and get a chance to prove myself, I can’t wait.”

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	Spring practice is set to start officially on May 15.  Players - be sure to prepare for the practices ahead by conditioning early!  For information on practices, the summer wing-t camp, or general information contact coach Steve Denman, Chris Olofson, or Ryan Grimes at Jacobsen Middle School.
	The Warrior's Baseball and Softball teams are in first place in the SSL with only two weeks remaining! For a complete schedule, visit the following links: 2007 Tehachapi Baseball Schedule & Highlights; 2007 Tehachapi Softball Schedule & Highlights.
	Be sure to tune in frequently to get the latest new, highlights, and commentary!  Be sure to check out the Central Valley Sports chat room forum at some point this year...and don't forget to follow statistical highlights on all Warrior sports on maxpreps.  On maxpreps, a link to each Tehachapi sport can be found by scrolling on the left-hand side of the page.  Thanks to all of you for logging in and supporting Tehachapi High School Warrior athletics!